Lineage

Established as 46th Bombardment Group (Light) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Disestablished on 1 May 1944. Reestablished, and consolidated (31 Jan 1984) with the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing, which was established on 10 Feb 1975. Activated on 15 Mar 1975. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1983. Redesignated 46th Test Wing on 24 Sep 1992. Activated on 1 Oct 1992.

Assignments

Air Force Combat Command, 15 Jan 1941; V Air Support Command (later, Ninth Air Force), 1 Sep 1941; Third Air Force, 18 Apr 1942; XII Bomber Command, 2 May 1942; III Bomber Command, 8 May 1942; Second Air Force, c. 8 Jul 1942; I Ground Air Support Command, c. 10 Nov 1942; III Air Support Command, 25 Jan 1943; III Bomber Command, 6 Aug 1943? 1 May 1944. Aerospace Defense Command, 15 Mar 1975; 4th Air Division, 1 Oct 1979?1 Apr 1983. Air Force Development Test Center, 1 Oct 1992?.

Components

Group. 46th Operations: 8 Sep 1993?.

Squadrons. 8th Reconnaissance (later, 87th Bombardment): 15 Jan 1941? 1 May 1944. 40th Test: 1 Oct 1992?8 Sep 1993. 46th Flying Training: 15 Mar 1975?1 Oct 1979. 46th Weather: 1 Oct 1992?8 Sep 1993. 50th Bombardment: 15 Jan 1941?1 May 1944. 51st Bombardment: 15 Jan 1941? 1 May 1944. 53rd Bombardment: 15 Jan 1941?1 May 1944.

Flight: 32d Airlift: 31 May?1 Oct 1993.

Stations

Savannah, GA, 15 Jan 1941; Bowman Fld, KY, 20 May 1941; Barksdale Fld, LA, 2 Feb 1942; Galveston Muni Aprt, TX, 1 Apr 1942; Blythe AAB, CA, 23 May 1942; Will Rogers AAFld, OK, 10 Nov 1942; Drew Fld, FL, 9 Oct 1943; Morris Fld, NC, 6 Nov 1943?1 May 1944. Peterson Field (later, AFB), CO, 15 Mar 1975?1 Apr 1983. Eglin AFB, FL, 1 Oct 1992?.

Commanders

Maj Guy L. McNeil, 15 Jan 1941; Maj Otto C. George, 18 Apr 1941; Col Richard H. Lee, 9 May 1941; Lt Col Robert D. Gapen, 1 Nov 1942; Lt Col Martin P. Crabtree, 11 Apr 1943; Lt Col Robert V. DeShazo, 21 Jul 1943; Col Harold L. Mace, 13 Sep 1943; Lt Col Robert V. DeShazo, 21 Oct 1943? 1 May 1944. Col Donald J. Parsons, 15 Mar 1975; Col Edward L. Ellis, 12 Aug 1976; Col Alfred H. Uhalt, Jr., 2 Mar 1977; Col William G. Dolan, Jr., 6 Aug 1979; Col Glenn A. Griffith, 6 Feb 1981?1 Apr 1983. Col Elton T. Pollock, 1 Oct 1992?.

Aircraft

A?20, 1941?1944; B?25, 1944. C?118, 1975; C?131, 1975; T?29, 1975; T?33, 1975?1979; T?37, 1975?1979; T?39, 1975; U?4, 1975?1979. RF?4, 1992?; F?15, 1992?; F?16, 1992?; F?111, 1992?; UH?1, 1992?; C?130, 1992?.

Operations

Activated on 15 Jan 1941, trained with A?20?s and participated in maneuvers. Flew some antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico early in 1942. Served as an operational training unit until late in 1943, then became a replacement training unit until 1 May 1944. Replaced 4600th Air Base Wing in Mar 1975, taking over the mission of administering facilities of North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), Air Defense Command (ADC), and Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM) located on Ent AFB, Peterson Field (later, AFB), and Cheyenne Mountain Complex, plus various other nearby off-base facilities. Although the provision of administrative and logistical support was the wing?s primary mission, its flying training squadron served NORAD and ADC mission requirements and provided flying training for cadets of the USAF Academy until 1 Oct 1979. Became part of Strategic Air Command in Oct 1979. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1983. Redesignated 46th Test Wing and activated 1 Oct 1992, replacing the 3246th Test Wing at Eglin AFB, FL. Designed and performed flight and ground developmental tests with uniquely modified aircraft and facilities for conventional weapons and electronic combat systems. Supported DOD components and numerous allied nations during test and exercises. Managed the largest test range in the free world.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1975?30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1977?30 Jun 1979, [1 Oct]?31 Dec 1992.

Emblem

Azure, a bend invected within a diminished bordure Or. Motto: PROOF BY TRIAL. Approved on 9 Dec 1993 (DFSC 94?02415); replaced emblems approved on 14 Jul 1942 (K 2654) and 25 Mar 1975 (K 12631).