4450th Tactical Group

Lineage. Established as the 4450th Tactical Group and activated on 15 Oct 1979. Deactivated on 5 Oct 1989.

Assignments. Tactical Air Command (TACDO), 15 Oct 1979; USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, 1 Apr 1985-5 Oct 1989.

Components. Group. 4450th Tactical Group, Detachment 1, Redesignated: 4452d Test Squadron (Q-Unit), 15 Oct 1979-30 May 1989; 4450th Tactical Group, Detachment 2 (R-Unit), 15 Oct 1979-30 May 1989; 4450th Tactical Group, Detachment 3 (W-Unit) (Intelligence unit), 15 Oct 1979-30 May 1989; 4450th Tactical Group, Detachment 4 (S-Unit) (Medical unit), 15 Oct 1979-30 May 1989;  4461st Support Group ( later – 4450th Combat Support Group) (E-unit), 24 Jan 1989- 5 Oct 1989; 4450th TG – Materials Application Repair Section, (MARS), 15 Oct 1979-30 May 1989.

Squadrons. 4450th Tactical Squadron (I-Unit) “Nightstalkers”, 15 Jul 1981-5 Oct 1989; 4451st Tactical Squadron (P-Unit) “Ghostriders”, 15 Jan 1983-5 Oct 1989; 4450th Maintenance Squadron (T-Unit), 11 Jun 1981-30 May 1989; 4452d Maintenance Squadron (G-Unit), 15 Oct 1979 (later – Aircraft Generation Squadron), 30 May 1989-5 Oct 1989; 4451st Maintenance Squadron (F-Unit), 11 Jun 1981 (later – Component Repair Squadron), 30 May 1989-5 Oct 1989; 4453d Test and Evaluation Squadron (Z-Unit) “Bandits”, 4 Oct 1985-30 May 1989; 4450th TG M.A.R.S. (Materials Application Repair Section)

Stations. Nellis AFB, NV 15 Oct 1979-5 Oct 1989. Operational Locations. Detachment 3, Air Force Flight Test Center, NV, (Groom Lake, Area 51) 15 Oct 1979-28 Oct 1983; Tonopah Test Range Airport, NV, 28 Oct 1983-5 Oct 1989.

Aircraft. A-7D/K, 1981-1989; F-117A, 1981-1989; T-38, 1989.

Operations. Organization set up to guide the F-117A to an initial operating capability located at Groom Lake. Operated the A-7D Corsair II as a surrogate trainer for the F-l17A, and continued until 15 Oct 1982 under the guise of an avionics test mission and used for F-117A chase testing and other weapon tests at the Nellis Range. AT-38 Talon replaced the A-7D in the unit’s inventory as a measure to streamline the F-117A’s training operation in Jan 1989. On 5 Oct 1989 the 4450th Tactical Group at Tonopah Test Range Airport, NV was redesignated the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing in a name-only transfer. The 37th TFW absorbed the manpower, equipment, and the world’s first Stealth fighter, the F-117 Nighthawk.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers.None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:  29 Oct 1981-28 Oct 1983; 1 Jan 1984-31 Dec 1985; 1 Jan 1987-31 Dec 1988.

Emblem.