combat aircraft

Nellis AFB, Nevada, is arguably

one of the most important

installations when it comes

to the US Air Force fi ghter

community. Spearheading the

tactics and capabilities charge

here is the 422nd Test and

Evaluation Squadron, which

boasts a mightily impressive

inventory that arguably eclipses

many complete air forces

REPORT Jake Melampy

One of

the most

impressive

groups of

fi ghters in the

world — and

a group that

resides within

the 422nd

TES. All photos

Jake Melampy

unless credited

otherwise

R

APTORS, EAGLES,

LIGHTNING IIs, Fighting

Falcons and Thunderbolt

IIs — all in one squadron.

Most air forces would be

envious of this roll-call,

but for the 422nd Test and Evaluation

Squadron (TES) this dream team

represents a cross-section of the USAF

 ghter community and the staple of its

daily work. It’s an inventory that allows

the squadron to be at the center of

capabilities and tactics development

for these types in the continual

journey involved in maintaining the

cutting edge.

The 422nd TES ‘Green Bats’ was 75

years old on August 1, 2018. It charts its

history back to the 422nd Night Fighter

Squadron, which was established in 1943

and  ew the P-61 Black Widow during

the  nal year of World War Two as part

of the Ninth Air Force in the UK. Current

commander Lt Col Brad ‘Split’ Darling

comments, ‘I’m very fortunate to be the

guy in this seat while we celebrate our

75th anniversary. Looking back at where

this squadron started, they get this new

platform and have little time to train in

it before they deploy to the European

theatre. The 422 was the  rst to employ

the type in combat and, while they’re

doing that, they’re still trying to  gure out

such things as how high the new airplane

can go, how fast it can go, and they are

testing it while they are  ghting with it.

50 November 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net