337th Test and Evaluation Squadron

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337th Test and Evaluation Squadron

Insignia of the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron.
Approved 29 August 1967.
Active 1942 - 1945
1947 - 1949
1953 - 1994
2004 -
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Part of Air Combat Command (ACC)
53d Wing
Garrison/HQ Dyess AFB, TX
Equipment B-1 Lancer
Decorations
Commanders
Commander Lt. Colonel Pete VanDeusen

The 337th Test and Evaluations Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is a part of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group of the 53d Wing. Its primary task is to test and evaluate modifications on the B-1 bomber, as well as to train future aircrews to fly upgraded B-1s [1]. The 337th is headquartered at Dyess AFB, Texas, though it operates out of a number of bases throughout the United States[2].

Contents

[edit] Lineage

[edit] Operations

From 14 May 1943 to 21 Apr 1945, the squadron conducted strategic bombardment of shipyards, submarine bases, marshaling yards, oil facilities, airfields, and aircraft plants. On occasion, it flew tactical sorties against gun emplacements, rocket sites, enemy troops, and communications centers.

On 17 August 1943, it earned its first Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC), striking targets at Regensburg and Schweinfurt, Germany. Soon after, on 14 October 1943, the squadron participated in the war's single most important raid on ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt.

On 9 April 1944, it earned a second DUC in an attack on aircraft component factories at Poznań, Poland. The squadron subsequently attacked enemy field batteries and miscellaneous targets in support of Normandy operations on 6 June 1944.

Beginning in 1968, B-52 aircraft and crews deployed to Southeast Asia (SEA) for bombardment operations. For much of the conflict, the squadron furnished aircraft and crews to SAC organizations based in SEA. When the Air Force switched to the B-1 Lancer, the 337th was the first unit to fly the new bomber.

As part of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group, the 337th conducts testing of various upgrades to the B-1, as well as trains aircrews to operate and maintain the upgraded aircraft. The squadron has been currently working on the increasing the B-1's weapons payload, attempting to increase the bomber's ability to deliver weapons into heavily defended areas [1].

[edit] Stations, Assignments, & Aircraft

Date Base Assignment Aircraft
15 July 1942 Salt Lake City AAB, Utah 96th Bombardment Group B-17 Flying Fortress
6 August 1942 Gowen Field, Idaho
31 August 1942 Walla Walla AAF, Washington
29 September 1942 Rapid City AAB, South Dakota
3 November 1942 Pocatello AAB, Idaho
7 January - 15 April 1943 Pyote AAB, Texas
13 May 1943 Great Saling (Andrews Field), England
29 May 1943 - 22 November 1945 Snetterton Heath, England
27 - 29 November 1945 Camp Kilmer,New Jersey
29 May 1947 - 27 June 1949 Gunter Field (later AFB) Alabama T-6 Texan
AT-11 Kansan
18 November 1953 Altus AFB, Oklahoma 96th Bombardment Wing B-47 Stratojet
8 September 1957 - 15 March 1963 Dyess AFB, Texas
15 September 1963 - 1 October 1994 Dyess AFB, Texas 20 March 1963 — Strategic Air Command
15 September 1963 — 96th Operations Group
1 October 1993 - 1 October 1994 — 7th Operations Group		 B-52 Stratofortress (until 1985)
B-1 Lancer (after 1985)
14 May 2004 - present Dyess AFB, Texas 53d Test and Evaluation Group

[edit] Decorations

[edit] Distinguished Unit Citations

[edit] Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Unit: 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron. USAFEngineers.com. Accessed: 3 November 2007. [1]
  2. ^ 53rd Wing official website. Accessed: 3 November 2007. [2]