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370th Flight Test Squadron

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370th Flight Test Squadron
KC-10, KC-46 and KC-135 in formation at Edwards AFB
Active
  • 1942–1946
  • 1946–1965
  • 2001–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFlight testing
Part ofAir Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQEdwards Air Force Base
EngagementsSouthwest Pacific Theater
Korean War[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation[1]
Insignia
370th Flight Test Squadron emblem[a][1]
370th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][1]

The 370th Flight Test Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit assigned to the 413th Flight Test Group, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It has been active in the flight test role since 2001.

The squadron was first activated in April 1942 as the 370th Bombardment Squadron, one of the original four squadrons of the 307th Bombardment Group. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Pacific, serving mainly in the Southwest Pacific Theater. The squadron earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions in combat. Following V-J Day, it returned to the United States for inactivation.

The squadron was reactivated as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber squadron in 1946. During the Korean War, it deployed to Okinawa and engaged in combat missions under the control of Far East Air Forces. Following the end of hostilities in Korea, it returned to the United States, converting to Boeing B-47 Stratojets. It flew the Stratojet until it was inactivated in 1965 as that plane was withdrawn from the SAC inventory.

Mission

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The squadron is assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve and conducts operational flight tests. The squadron embeds individual military reserve pilots into each of the 412th Wing's flight test squadrons. The squadron also operates Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers to provide air refueling for 412th flight tests, enabling extended testing on a single test mission.[2]

History

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World War II

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The squadron was activated at Geiger Field, Washington on 15 April 1942 as the 370th Bombardment Squadron, one of the original four squadrons of the 307th Bombardment Group.[3][4] The squadron drew its initial cadre from the 301st Bombardment Group.[5] It was first equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, but while still in training converted to Consolidated B-24 Liberators. In addition to training with these heavy bombers, it also flew some antisubmarine patrols off the Pacific northwest coast. In October 1942, it began its movement to Hawaii.[1][4] The ground echelon sailed from San Francisco on the MS Torrens, while the air echelon ferried the squadron's Liberators to Hawaii.[5]

B-24D Frenisi at Wakde Airfield[c]

The squadron arrived at Kipapa Airfield, Hawaii in November 1942, continuing its training in the Liberator and flying search and antisubmarine patrols in defense of Hawaii as part of Seventh Air Force. In December 1942, it staged through Naval Air Station Midway to attack Wake Island.[4]

In February 1943, the squadron was relieved from assignment to Seventh Air Force and began to operate under the control of Thirteenth Air Force, although it did not move to Koli Airfield, Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands until March.[1] From Guadalcanal, it struck enemy airfields and military installations along with shipping in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago. It helped neutralize enemy bases in Yap, Truk and Palau. On 29 March 1944, the squadron made an unescorted daylight attack on heavily defended airfields in the Truk Islands for which it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[4]

As American forces moved forward, it supported operations in the Philippines by strikes against enemy shipping in the southern Philippines and striking airfields on Leyte, Luzon, Negros, Ceram and Halmahera and supported Allied operations in the Netherlands East Indies. It flew an unescorted mission attacking the oil refineries at Balikpapan on Borneo on 3 October 1944, for which it was awarded a second DUC.[4]

In the closing months of the war in the Pacific, it supported Australian forces on Borneo and attacked targets in Indochina. After V-J Day, it ferried liberated prisoners from Okinawa to the Philippines and flew patrols along the coast of China. It moved to Clark Field in the Philippines in September 1945 and returned to the United States for inactivation at the Port of Embarkation in January 1946.[4][1]

Strategic Air Command

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The squadron was reactivated at MacDill Field, Florida in August 1946, when it assumed the personnel and Boeing B-29 Superfortresses of the 873d Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously inactivated.[6] Starting in September 1947, the squadron trained other Strategic Air Command (SAC) units for antisubmarine warfare.[1]

307th Bombardment Group B-29 deployed to England during the Berlin Airlift [d]

In the summer of 1948, SAC placed the squadron on three hour alert for deployment to Europe during the Berlin Airlift. on 18 July, the squadron deployed to RAF Marham, remaining there until October, when it was replaced by elements of the 97th Bombardment Group[7][8] Starting in February 1949, it conducted transition training for SAC B-29 aircrews.[9]

Korean War

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Following the North Korean invasion of South Korea, the squadron deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa in August 1950.[1] The squadron began operations against North Korea on 8 August. For the following two months, the squadron concentrated its attacks on enemy transportation systems and industrial facilities. In November 1950, it carried out a concentrated attack on bridges over the Yalu River between Korea and Manchuria. It then concentrated on interdiction targets and air support of United Nations ground forces.[10] On 10 February 1951, the 307th Bombardment Wing deployed to Kadena and absorbed the resources of the 307th Bombardment Group, including direct control of the squadron.[11] The 307th Group existed as a "paper" unit until June 1952,[4] when the squadron was assigned directly to the wing.[9] On 23 May 1951, the squadron participated in a nighttime close air support effort, destroying enemy positions along the entire battlefront with radar-aimed fragmentation bombs. Until the end of the war, it continued attacks against industrial targets, bridges, troop concentrations, airfields, supply dumps, rail yards, enemy frontline positions, and lines of communication. By late 1952, the squadron flew short-range night missions, concentrating on enemy airfields and dams. As the truce talks neared their conclusion in July 1953, the squadron helped spoil a last minute enemy ground offensive, which earned it another DUC.[1][11]

In August 1953 the squadron's assignment at Kadena was made permanent. It remained in Okinawa until November 1954 when the squadron returned to the United States.[1]

Return to the United States

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B-47E Stratojet as flown by the 370th at Lincoln AFB[e]

The squadron ferried its B-29s back to the United States for storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, then reformed at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska in 1955 as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium jet bomber squadron.[1]

From July to October 1956, the squadron deployed to RAF Lakenheath.[1] Operation Reflex alert operations began for B-47s on 1 October 1957. Reflex placed Stratojets and Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters at bases closer to the Soviet Union for 90 day periods, although individuals rotated back to home bases during unit Reflex deployments.[12] From 1958, SAC's B-47 squadrons began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases. General Thomas S. Power set an initial goal of maintaining one third of SAC’s planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.[13]

During the 1958 Lebanon Crisis, the United States deployed tactical forces in Operation Blue Bat. Meanwhile, in a show of force, SAC brought additional bombers to an increased alert status for five days in July.[14] The squadron's alert commitment was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962.[15]

On 22 October 1962, soon after the detection of Soviet missiles in Cuba, SAC began to disperse its B-47 force.[16] Dispersing bombers carried nuclear weapons in ferrying configuration.[17] On 24 October SAC went to DEFCON 2, placing all squadron aircraft on alert.[18] On 27 November SAC returned to normal alert posture and began the return of squadron planes to Lincoln.[19] With the phaseout of B-47 in 1965 it was inactivated.[1]

Flight Testing

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The squadron was redesignated the 370th Flight Test Squadron and activated at Edwards Air Force Base, California in October 2001.[1]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 370th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 15 April 1942
Redesignated 370th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. March 1944
Inactivated on 18 January 1946
Redesignated 370th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 15 July 1946
Activated on 4 August 1946
Redesignated 370th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 28 May 1948
Discontinued and inactivated, on 25 March 1965
Redesignated 370th Flight Test Squadron on 24 September 2001
Activated in the reserve on 1 October 2001[1]

Assignments

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  • 307th Bombardment Group, 15 April 1942 – 18 January 1946
  • 307th Bombardment Group, 4 August 1946 (attached to 307th Bombardment Wing after 10 February 1951)
  • 307th Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952 – 25 March 1965
  • 413th Flight Test Group, 1 October 2003 – present[1]

Stations

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Aircraft

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  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942
  • Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1942–1945
  • Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1946–1954
  • Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1955–1965[1]
  • Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 2001–present[2]

Awards and campaigns

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Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Presidential Unit Citation29 March 1944Truk, 370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Presidential Unit Citation3 October 1944Borneo, 370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Presidential Unit Citation11–27 July 1953Korea, 370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award3 September 2006–2 September 2008370th Flight Test Squadron[1]
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation17 October 1944–4 July 1945370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation[August] 1950–27 July 1953370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Central Pacific2 November 1942–6 December 1943370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Air Combat, Asiatic–Pacific Theater2 November 1942-2 March 1946370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Guadalcanal22 December 1942–21 February 1943370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
New Guinea24 January 1943–31 December 1944370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Northern Solomons23 February 1943–21 November 1944370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Eastern Mandates7 December 1943–14 April 1944370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Bismarck Archipelago15 December 1943–27 November 1944370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Leyte17 October 1944–1 July 1945370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Luzon15 December 1944–4 July 1945370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Southern Philippines27 February 1945–4 July 1945370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
China Offensive5 May 1945–2 September 1945370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
UN Defensivec. 4 August 1950–15 September 1950370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
UN Offensive16 September 1950–2 November 1950370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
CCF Intervention3 November 1950–24 January 1951370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
1st UN Counteroffensive25 January 1951–21 April 1951370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
CCF Spring Offensive22 April 1951–9 July 1951370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
UN Summer-Fall Offensive9 July 1951–27 November 1951370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Second Korean Winter28 November 1951–30 April 1952370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Korea Summer-Fall 19521 May 1952–30 November 1952370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Third Korean Winter1 December 1952–30 April 1953370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Korea Summer-Fall 19531 May 1953–27 July 1953370th Bombardment Squadron[1]
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In 1943, Kellogg's inserted a pin-back button into each box of its Pep Cereal. They were known as the "Pep's War Insignia Pins" and were a set of 36 military squadron emblems. The 370th emblem was one of the set.[20]

See also

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References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Approved 19 June 2002.
  2. ↑ Approved 27 March 1943. Description: On a blue disc, border gold, a gold aerial bomb dropping to dexter base behind a white lightning flash, point to sinister base.
  3. ↑ Aircraft is Consolidated B-24D-50-CO Liberator, serial 42-40323. This aircraft flew 104 combat missions in the Pacific. Photo taken: 8 September 1944, Wakde Airfield, Netherlands East Indies. It was condemned on 31 October 1944. Baugher, Joe (7 September 2023). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  4. ↑ Aircraft is Boeing B-29A-75-BN Superfortress, serial 44-62328. This was the last B-29 delivered to the Army Air Forces. Dirkx, Marco (21 June 2024). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher’s Serial Number List. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Aircraft is Boeing B-47E-55-BW Stratojet, serial 51-2394. In March 1960, it was modified as an NB-47E. Dirkx, Marco (21 July 2025). "1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher’s Serial Number List. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Kane, Robert B. (29 June 2010). "Factsheet 370 Flight Test Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 Casem, Giancarlo (6 May 2024). "The 370th Flight Test Squadron: Reserve unit provides unique support to Edwards mission". Air Force Reserve Command Publc Affairs. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons. pp. 457-61, 520-21
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 181-82
  5. 1 2 Weislow, Maj Saul C. (1 January 1945). "History of the 307th Bombardment Group (Hv)" (PDF). The 307th Bombardment Group (HV) Association. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 792-93
  7. 1 2 No byline (10 November 1971). "Four Crises: Berlin, Lebanon, Cuba and Korea, SAC Historical Study No. 132". Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command Index. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 Willard, p. 40
  9. 1 2 Ravenstein, pp. 153-56
  10. ↑ Endicott, p. 76
  11. 1 2 Endicott, p. 76
  12. ↑ Narducci, p. 2
  13. ↑ Schake, p. 220 (note 43)
  14. ↑ No byline (10 November 1971). "Four Crises: Berlin, Lebanon, Cuba and Korea, SAC Historical Study No. 132". Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command Index. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  15. ↑ No byline (1 April 1975). "Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  16. ↑ Kipp, et al., p. 49
  17. ↑ Kipp, et al., pp. 31-32
  18. ↑ Kipp, et al., p. 35
  19. ↑ Kipp et al., p. 61
  20. ↑ Carter, Joel; Carter, Christen. "Kelllogg's [sic] Pep 370th Bombardment Squadron". Busy Beaver Button Museum. Retrieved 17 July 2026.

Bibliography

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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