The 337th Flight Test Squadron was most recently part of the 46th Test Wing and based at McClellan Air Force Base, California. It performed depot acceptance testing until being inactivated with the closure of McClellan on 13 July 2001.
History
World War II
Activated in 1942 at Keflavik, Iceland, equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings. Mission was to intercept and destroy German planes that on occasion attempted to attack Iceland or that appeared in that area on reconnaissance missions. Returned to the United States in November 1942 as a IV Fighter Command Lightning Replacement Training Unit. Trained P-38 pilots in California and Washington State until phaseout of Lightning training in March 1944.
Air defense
Reactivated in 1953 as an Air Defense Command interceptor squadron. Performed air defense mission over Minneapolis and Upper Midwest United States, 1953–1955 with Northrop F-89D Scorpions. Reassigned to air defense of Boston and New England with North American F-86D Sabres. In 1957 began re-equipping with the North American F-86L Sabre, an improved version of the F-86D which incorporated the Semi Automatic Ground Environment, or SAGE computer-controlled direction system for intercepts. The service of the F-86L destined to be quite brief, since by the time the last F-86L conversion was delivered, the type was already being phased out in favor of supersonic interceptors. Received new Lockheed F-104A Starfighter interceptor aircraft in early 1958, the third ADC squadron to receive the F-104. In addition, the squadron received the two-seat, dual-control, combat trainer F-104B. The performance of the F-104B was almost identical to that of the F-104A, but the lower internal fuel capacity reduced its effective range considerably. However, the F-104A was not very well suited for service as an interceptor. Its low range was a problem for North American air defense, and its lack of all-weather capability made it incapable of operating in conjunction with the SAGE system. Service with the ADC was consequently quite brief, and the F-104As of the 337th were transferred to the Air National Guard. With the transfer of the Starfighters, ADC shut down operations at Westover Air Force Base and the 337th was inactivated in July 1960.
Was a flight test squadron at McClellan Air Force Base. Conducted flight tests on aircraft returning to active service after depot maintenance, modification, or repair from 1988–2001. Inactivated with closure of McClellan.
Lineage
; 337th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Constituted as the 337th Fighter Squadron on 29 August 1942
Reconstituted, and redesignated 337th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on 23 March 1953
Redesignated 337th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 11 December 1981
Consolidated with the 2874th Test Squadron as the 337th Test Squadron on 1 October 1992
; 337th Flight Test Squadron
Designated as the 2874th Test Squadron and activated, on 15 January 1988
Consolidated with the 337th Tactical Fighter Squadron as the 337th Test Squadron on 1 October 1992
