4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron: Difference between revisions
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===HAVE MiGs=== |
===HAVE MiGs=== |
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Under the '''HAVE DOUGHNUT''', '''HAVE DRILL''' and '''HAVE FERRY''' programs, the first MiGs flown in the [[United States]], were used to evaluate the [[aircraft]] in performance and technical capabilities, as well as in operational capability, pitting the types against U.S. fighters.<ref name="Red Eagles"/> The focus of [[Air Force Systems Command]] limited the use of the fighter as a tool with which to train the [[front line]] tactical fighter pilots.<ref name="Red Eagles"/> [[AFSC]] recruited its pilots from the [[Air Force Flight Test Center]] at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California, who were usually graduates from various test pilot schools. [[Tactical Air Command]] selected its pilots primarily from the ranks of the [[United States Air Force Weapons School|Weapons School]] graduates. |
Under the '''HAVE DOUGHNUT''', '''HAVE DRILL''' and '''HAVE FERRY''' programs, the first MiGs flown in the [[United States]], were used to evaluate the [[aircraft]] in performance and technical capabilities, as well as in operational capability, pitting the types against U.S. fighters.<ref name="Red Eagles"/> The focus of [[Air Force Systems Command]] limited the use of the fighter as a tool with which to train the [[front line]] tactical fighter pilots.<ref name="Red Eagles"/> [[AFSC]] recruited its pilots from the [[Air Force Flight Test Center]] at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California, who were usually graduates from various test pilot schools. [[Tactical Air Command]] selected its pilots primarily from the ranks of the [[United States Air Force Weapons School|Weapons School]] graduates. |
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==Accidents== |
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* On 23 August 1979, [[MiG-17|MiG-17F]], ''002'', of the 4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron, was lost due to pilot induced loss of control. Pilot Lt. M. Hugh Brown, [[USN]], 31, of [[VX-4]], "Bandit 12", originally of [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]], Virginia, entered a spin while engaging adversary, [[U.S. Navy]] [[F-5 Freedom Fighter|F-5]], recovered, but entered a second spin too close to ground, irrecoverable, and impacted at steep angle near [[Tonopah]] airfield boundary, killed instantly. No bail-out attempted.<ref>Davies, Steve, "Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs", Osprey Publishing, Botley, Oxford, UK, 2008, ISBN 978-1-84603-378-0, pages 86-89, 334.</ref> |
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===End of operations=== |
===End of operations=== |
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Revision as of 23:40, 6 August 2010
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| 4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Members of the 4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron in front of a MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C/E, "Red 85", USAF serial 014. This airframe is now at the Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida. | |
| Founded | May 1, 1980 |
| Disbanded | Last sorties on March 4, 1988. |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Tactical evaluation squadron |
| Role | Testing of MiG fighters. |
| Garrison/HQ | Tonopah Test Range and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Gaillard Peck, George Gennin |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, MiG-21 and MiG-23. |
| Trainer | Northrop T-38 Talon |
| Transport | Cessna 404, Mitsubishi MU-2 |
The 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron (4477th TES) is a squadron in the USAF under the command of the Tactical Air Command[1]. Its purpose to train and expose USAF pilots to Soviet MiGs so that they will be able to more effectively fight them[1]. The squadron is the product of the project Constant Peg. The squadron is also called DET 3[1].
Over the course of its history, the unit operated MiG-17s, MiG-21s and MiG-23s.[1] There have been 69 Bandits (pilots of the MiGs) associated with the program[1].
History
The 4477th had its roots in three MiGs: two MiG-17Fs, and a MiG-21, loaned by Israel, all of which were captured examples from the Syrian Air Force. Later MiG-21 acquisitions included former Indonesian Air Force examples. [1]
HAVE MiGs
Under the HAVE DOUGHNUT, HAVE DRILL and HAVE FERRY programs, the first MiGs flown in the United States, were used to evaluate the aircraft in performance and technical capabilities, as well as in operational capability, pitting the types against U.S. fighters.[1] The focus of Air Force Systems Command limited the use of the fighter as a tool with which to train the front line tactical fighter pilots.[1] AFSC recruited its pilots from the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California, who were usually graduates from various test pilot schools. Tactical Air Command selected its pilots primarily from the ranks of the Weapons School graduates.
Accidents
- On 23 August 1979, MiG-17F, 002, of the 4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron, was lost due to pilot induced loss of control. Pilot Lt. M. Hugh Brown, USN, 31, of VX-4, "Bandit 12", originally of Roanoke, Virginia, entered a spin while engaging adversary, U.S. Navy F-5, recovered, but entered a second spin too close to ground, irrecoverable, and impacted at steep angle near Tonopah airfield boundary, killed instantly. No bail-out attempted.[2]
End of operations
Flight operations closed down in March 1988, although the 4477th was not inactivated until July 1990, according to one official Air Force history.[1]