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{{About|the [[USAF]] [[squadron]]||Red Eagle}}
{{About|the [[USAF]] [[squadron]]||Red Eagle}}
{{Merge from |Constant Peg |discuss=Talk:4477th Tactical Evaluation Squadron#Merge discussion |date=August 2010}}

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Revision as of 21:26, 5 August 2010

4477th Tactical Evaluation Squadron
Members of the 4477th Tactical Evaluation Squadron in front of a MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C/E. This airframe is now at the Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida.
FoundedMay 1, 1980
DisbandedLast sorties on March 4, 1988.
Country United States
BranchUnited States United States Air Force
TypeTactical evaluation squadron
RoleTesting of MiG fighters.
Garrison/HQTonopah Test Range and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Gaillard Peck, George Gennin
Aircraft flown
FighterMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, MiG-21 and MiG-23.
TrainerNorthrop T-38 Talon
TransportCessna 404, Mitsubishi MU-2
Two USAF F-5Es flanking a MiG-17 and MiG-21 of the 4477th Tactical Evaluation Squadron

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.[1]

HAVE DOUGHNUT

Under the HAVE DOUGHNUT program, the first MiGs flown in the United States, was 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.

HAVE DRILL

HAVE FERRY

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.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Davies, Steve (2008), Red Eagles, Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey, p. 352, ISBN 978-1-84603-378-0
  2. ^ Davies, Steve, "Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs", Osprey Publishing, Botley, Oxford, UK, 2008, ISBN 978-1-84603-378-0, page 328.