Description
Korean computer made 4.0 inch-98mm
53rd WEAPONS EVALUATION GROUP (ACC)
Lineage. Established as 475 Fighter Group (Twin Engine) on 7 May 1943. Activated on 14 May 1943. Redesignated: 475 Fighter Group, Twin Engine on 20 Aug 1943. 475 Fighter Group, c. 29 Dec 1943. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949. Redesignated 475 Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 Jun 1955. Activated on 18 Aug 1955. Inactivated on 2 Jan 1958. Redesignated 475 Weapons Evaluation Group on 14 Oct 1983. Activated on 15 Oct 1983. Inactivated on 20 Nov 1998. Consolidated (25 Jul 2000) with the 53 Weapons Evaluation Group, which was established on 1 Nov 1998. Activated on 20 Nov 1998. Consolidated Group retains designation 53 Weapons Evaluation Group.
Assignments. V Fighter Command, 14 May 1943 (attached to First Air Task Force, c. 14 Aug 1943-c. 31 Jan 1944; 308 Bombardment Wing, c. 1 Feb-24 Mar 1944; 310 Bombardment Wing, c. 14 May-16 Jun 1944); 85 Fighter Wing, 16 Jun 1944; V Fighter Command, 18 May 1945 (attached to 309 Bombardment Wing, 29 May-c. Aug 1945; 308 Bombardment Wing, c. 23 Sep 1945-c. 31 Jan 1946); 308 Bombardment Wing, c. 1 Feb 1946; Fifth Air Force, 22 Mar 1947; 475 Fighter Wing, 18 Aug 1948-1 Apr 1949. 31 Air Division (Defense), 18 Aug 1955-2 Jan 1958. USAF Air Defense Weapons Center, 15 Oct 1983; USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center (later, USAF Air Warfare Center; 53 Wing), 23 Jan 1991-20 Nov 1998. 53 Wing, 20 Nov 1998-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 46 Troop Carrier: attached 22 Mar 1947-c. 1 Aug 1948. 80 Fighter: attached 13 Dec 1943-24 Feb 1944. 82 Tactical Aerial Targets (later, 82 Aerial Targets): 15 Oct 1983-20 Nov 1998, 20 Nov 1998-. 83 Fighter Weapons: 15 Oct 1983-20 Nov 1998, 20 Nov 1998-. 86 Fighter Weapons: 23 Aug 1999-. 431 Fighter: 14 May 1943-1 Apr 1949 (detached 15 Nov 1947-28 Aug 1948). 432 Fighter (later 432 Fighter-Interceptor); 14 May 1943-1 Apr 1949; 18 Aug 1955-2 Jan 1958. 433 Fighter: 14 May 1943-1 Apr 1949 (not operational, 1 Nov 1945-17 Apr 1946 and 18 Jul-11 Sep 1946; detached 18 Nov 1947-28 Aug 1948).
Stations. Amberley Field, Australia, 14 May 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, 14 Aug 1943; Nadzab, New Guinea, 24 Mar 1944, Hollandia, New Guinea, 15 May 1944; Biak, c.14 Jul 1944; Dulag, Leyte, 28 Oct 1944; San Jose, Mindoro, 5 Feb 1945; Clark Field, Luzon, 28 Feb 1945; Lingayen, Luzon, c. 20 Apr 1945; Ie Shima, Japan, 8 Aug 1945; Kimpo, South Korea, c. 23 Sep 1945; Itazuke, Japan, 28 Aug 1948; Ashiya, Japan, 25 Mar-1 Apr 1949. Minneapolis-St Paul IAP, MN, 18 Aug 1955-2 Jan 1958. Tyndall AFB, FL, 15 Oct 1983-20 Nov 1998. Tyndall AFB, FL, 20 Nov 1998-.
Aircraft. P-38, 1943-1946; P-51, 1946-1949; C-47, 1947-1948; C-46, 1948. F-89, 1955-1958. QF-102, 1983-1984; QF-100, 1983-1993; QF-106, 1991-1996, F-15, 1994-1998, 1998-; F-117, 1993-1998, 1998-2006; QF-4, 1996-1998, 1998-; numerous subscale drones, 1983-1998, 1998-; HH-60, 1997-1998, 1998-; MQ-9, 2008-.
Operations. Combat in Asiatic-Pacific Theater, 1943-1945. Served in Korea, Sep 1945-1948 as part of the Far East Air Forces occupation force. Air defense in the United States 1955-1958. From 1983 to present, group responsibilities included management of the Air Force Weapon System Evaluation program, range control for live-firing missile programs on the Gulf Range, and providing aerial targets support for special test projects, which included full-scale and sub-scale drones.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater; China Defensive; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; China Offensive; Southern Philippines.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: New Guinea, 18 and 21 Aug 1943; New Guinea, 15 and 17 Oct 1943; Philippine Islands, 25 Oct-25 Dec 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1986-31 Oct 1988; 1 Jan 1994-31 May 1995; 1 Jun 1998-31 May 2000; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2004-31 May 2006. Air Force Organizational Excellence Award: 1 Jan 1992-31 Dec 1993. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).
Emblem. Group will use the Wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll.