452nd Flight Test Squadron

452nd Flight Test Squadron
452nd Flight Test Squadron RQ-4B Global Hawk
Active	1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1954–1957; 1972–1993; 1993–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Flight testing
Part of	Air Force Materiel Command
Garrison/HQ	Edwards Air Force Base, California
Engagements	European Theater of Operations[1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
452d Flight Test Squadron emblem[a][1]
452d Fighter-Day Squadron emblem[b][1]
452d Bombardment Squadron emblem[c][2]
World War II fuselage code[2]	DR
Tail Code, 1993–2010; 2017–present	ED
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance	RQ-4B Global Hawk

The 452nd Flight Test Squadron is an active United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group of Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where it performs flight testing on unmanned aerial vehicles. The squadron was first activated as the 452nd Bombardment Squadron in July 1942. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in December 1942. It engaged in combat operations from 1943 to 1945, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for demonstrating the effectiveness of medium bombers in the ETO. Following V-E Day, it participated in the disarmament of the Luftwaffe until September 1945, when it returned to the United States for inactivation.

The squadron served in the reserves from August 1947 to June 1949, when it was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its flying units, although it does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft at this time.

The squadron was activated in July 1954 as the 452nd Fighter-Day Squadron and equipped with North American F-86 Sabre fighters. Although it soon upgraded to the supersonic North American F-100 Super Sabre it was inactivated in November 1957, when Tactical Air Command reduced the number of fighter groups at Foster Air Force Base from two to one.

In 1973, Air Training Command was converting its flying training units from MAJCON status. As part of this reorganization, the squadron was redesignated the 452nd Flying Training Squadron and replaced the 3539th Navigator Training Squadron at Mather Air Force Base, California. It conducted flight training for members of the United States military and foreign allies until inactivating in May 1993 as Mather prepared for closure.

The squadron was activated in November 1993 as the 452nd Test Squadron it performed tests with large transport aircraft until inactivating in June 2010. It was activated again in March 2017 in its current role.

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