Lineage. Constituted as 586 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 15 Feb 1943. Activated on 5 Mar 1943. Redesignated as: 586 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 9 Oct 1944; 586 Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 3 Dec 1945. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946. Consolidated (1 Oct 1992) with the 6586 Test Squadron, which was designated, and activated, on 15 Dec 1982. Redesignated as: 586 Test Squadron on 1 Oct 1992; 586
Flight Test Squadron on 15 Mar 1994.
Assignments. 394 Bombardment Group, 5 Mar 1943–31 Mar 1946. 6585 (later 46) Test Group, 15 Dec 1982; 96 Test Group, 1 Oct 2012; 704 Test Group, 1 Dec 2016-.
Stations. MacDill Field, FL, 5 Mar 1943; Ardmore AAFld, OK, 12 Jul 1943; Kellogg
Field, MI, 23 Aug 1943–15 Feb 1944; Boreham, England, 11 Mar 1944; Holmsley, England, 28 Jul 1944; Tour-en-Bassin, France, 29 Aug 1944; Bricy, France, 27 Sep 1944; Cambrai/Niergnies, France, 12 Oct 1944; Venlo, Holland, 7 May 1945; Kitzingen, Germany, Sep 1945–15 Feb 1946; Bolling Field, DC, 15 Feb–31 Mar 1946. Holloman AFB, NM, 15 Dec 1982–.
Commanders. Capt Harold G. Senften, 5 Mar 1943; Lt Col Joseph M. Silk, 12 Apr 1943-unkn, at least through Dec 1945. Lt Col William W. Dobbs, 9 May 1983; Lt Col John M. DeZonia, 9 May 1986-unkn; Lt Col K. T. Hutchinson, c. 1989-unkn; Lt Col L. C. Grace, 8 Sep 1993; Lt Col Robert W. Mason, 27 Oct 1994; Maj Danile A. Draeger, 1 Jul 1996-unkn; Lt Col Ryan J. Smith, 8 Aug 2003; Lt Col Dawn Dunlop, 8 Jul 2005; Lt Col Robert Haug, 28 Jun 2007-.
Aircraft. B–26, 1943–1945; A–26, 1945–1946. None, 1982-1990; AT–38, 1991–; C-12, 1997-.
Operations. Combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 23 Mar 1944–20 Apr 1945. Provided operational and maintenance support for all Department of Defense (DOD) test aircraft staging out of Holloman AFB, NM, 1982-1990. Flew developmental test and evaluation missions; supported DOD test flights on White Sands Missile Range, NM, 199l-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, 7–9 Aug 1944. Meritorious Unit Award: 30 Apr 2008-1 May 2009. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1984–31 Dec 1985; 1 Jan–31 Dec 1987; 1 Jan 1991–31 Dec 1992; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1993; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1994; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1995; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1997; 1 Jan 1998-31 Dec 1999; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2000; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2001; 1 Jan 2000-31 Dec 2002; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2003; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2004; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2005; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2006; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2008; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2009; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2010; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2011; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2013; 1 Jan 2014-31 Dec 2015; 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 6 Jun–14 Sep 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 1 Jul 2021.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 2007.
Supersedes statement prepared on 15 Aug 2008.
Emblem. Approved on 26 Jan 1996.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.