| Unit Name: | 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron |
| Dates: | 1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1953–1963; 1963–1994; 2004–present |
| Role: | Operational Testing |
| Command Structure: | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison: | Dyess Air Force Base, Texas |
| Battles: | European Theater of Operations[1] |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commander1 Label: | Commander |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron emblem[2] |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 337th Bombardment Squadron emblem[3] [4] |
| Aircraft Bomber: | Rockwell B-1 Lancer |
The 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is a part of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group of the 53d Wing. The 337th is stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, though it operates out of a number of bases throughout the United States.[5]
The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 337th Bombardment Squadron. It served in the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.
This squadron was again active from 1947 to 1949 in the reserves, although it was apparently never fully manned or equipped. It was active as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet squadron in Strategic Air Command from 1953 to 1963. It later flew the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the Lancer before transferring its assets to another squadron in 1994.
The squadron's primary task is to test and evaluate modifications on the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, as well as to train aircrews to fly upgraded B-1s.[6]
The first predecessor of the squadron was activated at Salt Lake City Army Air Base in July 1942 as the 337th Bombardment Squadron, one of the original squadrons of the 96th Bombardment Group.[1] [7] In early August the squadron moved to Gowen Field, Idaho, where it received its initial cadre, then, later that month to Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington to begin training with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.[1] On 1 November, the squadron moved to Pocatello Army Air Field, Idaho, where it began to act as a Operational Training Unit. It moved to Pyote Army Air Base, Texas in January 1943 and resumed training for overseas movement.[8]
The air echelon of the squadron began ferrying their B-17s via the North Atlantic ferry route, stopping at Presque Isle Army Air Field, Newfoundland, Iceland, then at Prestwick Airport, Scotland on 4 April 1943. The ground echelon left Pyote on 16 April for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey in the New York Port of Embarkation, sailing on the on 5 May and arriving in Scotland on 13 May.[8]
The squadron was established at RAF Great Saling by 12 May, and flew its first combat mission the next day, an attack against the airfield at Saint-Omer, France.[7] However, the squadron was late assembling and did not complete the mission. The following day, it made its first strike on a target, an airfield at Courtrai.[9] [10] Eighth Air Force decided to transfer its new Martin B-26 Marauder units from VIII Bomber Command to VIII Air Support Command and concentrate them on bases closer to the European continent. As a result, the 322d Bombardment Group moved to Great Saling on 12 June, forcing the 96th Group and its squadrons to relocate to RAF Snetterton Heath, which would be its combat station for the rest of the war.[11]
The squadron engaged in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It attacked airdromes, aircraft factories, harbors, oil refineries, railway yards, shipyards, and other industrial targets in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. Targets included airfields at Bordeaux and Augsburg; marshalling yards at Kiel, Hamm, Braunschweig, and Gdynia; aircraft factories at Chemnitz, Hanover, and Diósgyőr; oil refineries at Merseburg and Brüx, and chemical works in Wiesbaden, Ludwigshafen, and Neunkirchen[7]
During an attack on the Messerschmitt factory at Regensberg on 17 August 1943, the squadron was without escort after its escorting Republic P-47 Thunderbolts reached the limit of their range. It withstood repeated attacks, first by enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 interceptors, then by Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Junkers Ju 88 night fighters, to strike its target, earning its first Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). This was a "shuttle" mission, with the squadron recovering on bases in North Africa, rather than returning to England.[7] [12]
The squadron formed part of the leading 45th Combat Bombardment Wing formation on very long-range mission against the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 factory at Poznan Heavy clouds led an entire wing and some combat boxes of the 45th Wing to abandon the mission and return to England. The 96th Group and one other combat box proceeded to the target and were surprised to find they were able to bomb visually, although the target was defended by intense flak fire, earning the squadron its second DUC.[7] [13]
In addition to strategic operations, the squadron participated in air support and interdiction missions. In the preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, it bombed coastal defenses, railway bridges, gun emplacements, and field batteries in the battle area prior to and during D-Day in June 1944. It attacked enemy positions in support of Operation Cobra the breakout at Saint Lo in July 1944, aiding the campaign in France in August by striking roads and road junctions, and by dropping supplies to the Maquis. During the early months of 1945, it attacked the communications supplying German armies on the western front.[7]
After V-E Day, the 337th flew food missions to the Netherlands and hauled redeployed personnel to French Morocco, Ireland, France, and Germany. The squadron was scheduled for occupation duty, but that plan was cancelled in September 1945. In November 1945 its aircraft were flown back to the United States or transferred to other units in Europe. The unit's remaining personnel returned to the United States and it was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 29 November 1945.[1] [7] [8]
The squadron was activated in the reserves under Air Defense Command (ADC) at Gunter Field, Alabama on 29 May 1947, and was again assigned to the 96th Group.[1] [7] In 1948, Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[14]
The squadron does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft.[15] In 1949, as ConAC was reorganizing its operational units under the Wing Base Organization system, President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of flying units in the Air Force,[16] and the 337th was inactivated.[1]
Beginning in 1968, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress aircraft and crews deployed to Southeast Asia (SEA) for bombardment operations. For much of the conflict, the squadron furnished aircraft and crews to Strategic Air Command organizations based in SEA.[1] When the Air Force switched to the B-1 Lancer, the 337th was the first unit to fly the new bomber. On 1 October 1994, the squadron was inactivated and transferred its personnel, mission and equipment to the 28th Bomb Squadron, which was simultaneously activated.
As part of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group, the 337th conducts testing of various upgrades to the B-1, as well as trains aircrews to operate and maintain the upgraded aircraft. The squadron has been currently working on the increasing the B-1's weapons payload, attempting to increase the bomber's ability to deliver weapons into heavily defended areas.[6]
Activated on 15 July 1942
Inactivated on 29 November 1945
Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947.
Inactivated 27 June 1949.
Activated 18 November 1953
Discontinued and inactivated on 15 March 1963
Activated on 20 March 1963 (not organized)
Organized on 15 September 1963
Redesignated 337th Bomb Squadron on 1 September 1991
Inactivated on 1 October 1994
Activated on 14 May 2004[1]