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413th Flight Test Group

The 413th Flight Test Group’s history goes back to 1944 when the 413th Fighter Group flew the very long-range escort missions of Twentieth Air Force B-29, Superfortress bombardment groups against Japan. During the Cold War, the unit was a Strategic Air Command fighter-escort wing and later a Tactical Air Command tactical fighter group in the 1950s.


Today, the 413th Flight Test Group is a multi-role Air Force Reserve organization that plays a crucial part in ensuring the operational readiness and advancement of a wide array of Air Force aircraft. Headquartered at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, the 413th Flight Test Group is an independent group that reports directly to the 22nd Air Force Commander.


Mission and Operations
The primary mission of the 413th Flight Test Group is to conduct functional and acceptance check flights on aircraft that have undergone programmed depot maintenance or contractual upgrades. Once maintenance is complete, highly experienced flight crews perform a variety of ground and in-flight checks to ensure the aircraft is airworthy and all systems are functioning correctly. This critical process ensures that mission-ready aircraft are delivered back to the warfighter. The group's responsibilities also extend to developmental and operational test and evaluation, cyber testing, combat flight inspection, and aeromedical staging


Organizational Structure and Units
The 413th Flight Test Group is a diverse organization comprised of full-time Airmen, traditional reservists, and civil servants. It oversees several geographically separated units, each specializing in different aircraft and missions:
1st Aviation Standards Flight (Will Rodgers International Airport, OK): Performs flight inspections of navigational aid and instrument procedures for the Federal Aviation Administration.
10th Flight Test Squadron (Tinker AFB, OK): Performs depot flight test on B-1 Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress, E-3 Sentry, KC-46 Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft following depot-level maintenance.
339th Flight Test Squadron (Robins AFB, GA): Performs depot flight test on C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules, and F-15 Eagle. aircraft following depot-level maintenance.
370th Flight Test Squadron (Edwards AFB, CA): Conducts air refueling test support and provides test personnel to support Air Force Test Center test programs.
413th Aeromedical Staging Squadron (Robins AFB, GA): Provides PHA and dental support and is tasked to prepare patients for medical evacuation in time of war.
413th Force Support Flight (Robins AFB, GA): Provides personnel services for Airmen, civilians, family members and contractors.
415th Flight Test Flight (Randolph AFB, TX): Performs depot flight test on T-6 Texan II and T-38 Talon aircraft following depot-level maintenance.
514th Flight Test Squadron (Hill AFB, UT): Performs depot flight test on A-10 Thunderbolt II, C-130 Hercules, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II aircraft following depot-level maintenance.
413th FTG Operating Location-Alpha: Conducts functional check flights on regenerated F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft prior to drone package installation.


Assignments:
15 Oct 1944: First Air Force
2 Nov 1944—15 Oct 1946: 301 Fighter Wing
11 Nov 1954: Ninth Air Force
11 Nov 1954—7 Oct 1957: 479 Fighter-Day Wing
1 Oct 1957: Eighteenth Air Force
8 Oct-15 Mar 1959: 831 Air Division
1 Oct 2003—present: Twenty-Second Air Force


Stations:
15 Oct 1944: Seymour Johnson Field, NC
9 Nov 1944—6 Apr 1945: Bluethenthal Field, NC
19 May 1945: Ie Shima (ground echelon)
15 Jun 1945: Kadena, Okinawa, Japan (air echelon)
29 Jan—15 Oct 1946: Yontan, Okinawa, Japan
11 Nov 1954—15 Mar 1959: George AFB, CA
1 Oct 2003: Robins AFB, GA


Lineage:
5 Oct 1944: Established as 413 Fighter Group, Single Engine
15 Oct 1944: Activated
15 Oct 1946: Inactivated
27 Oct 1954: Redesignated 413 Fighter-Day Group
11 Nov 1954: Activated
8 Oct 1957: Inactivated
26 Sep 1957: Redesignated 413 Fighter-Day Wing
8 Oct 1957: Activated
1 Jul 1958: Redesignated 413 Tactical Fighter Wing
15 Mar 1959: Inactivated
18 Jul 2003: Redesignated 413 Flight Test Group
1 Oct 2003: Activated in the Reserve


Historical Figures
General Harrison R. Thyng, one of the earliest commanders and WWII ace, led the group on the first ever Pacific-crossing of single seat fighters flying P-47N aircraft from the west coast to Ie Shima, Japan. He later added five more kills flying F-86s becoming one of only six U.S. Airmen who were both a piston and jet ace. The 413th Flight Test Group’s annual award for the Outstanding Airman is named in his honor.
Captain Manuel “Pete” Fernandez was the third leading ace in Korea with 15 kills before being assigned to the 413th flying the F-100.
Before Brigadier General Robbie Risner rose to fame as a Vietnam hero and POW, he first served as the commander of the 413th Fighter Day Group’s 34th Fighter Day Squadron flying the F-100 Super Sabre.
Another well-known aviator, Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, served as the 413th Director of Operations alongside Risner. These men set the standard for the men and women of the 413th Flight Test Group, today and tomorrow.