#1755 85 TES F-16C, F-15C, F-15E and F-15EX print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1755 - F-16C, F-15C, F-15E, F-15EX, 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53d Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida.
The 85th Test and Evaluation squadron started as the 85th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 January 1942 and activated on 9 February 1942 at Dale Mabry Field, Florida, now designated the 85th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin-Engine). While flying the P-40 Warhawk, the squadron briefly moved to Morris Field, North Carolina, then Bedford, Massachusetts, before deploying to Egypt on 12 November 1942, now designated the 85th Fighter Squadron of the 79th Fighter Group. The squadron flew their first mission on 14 March 1943, escorting 11 B-25s which bombed German positions on the Mareth Line, Tunisia, without enemy interference. In the following two months, no bombers were lost and the group shot down or damaged over 150 enemy aircraft, suffering only 23 loses. By 13 May 1943, the airspace was entirely owned by friendly forces. The squadron then assisted in the Pantelleria campaign, starting on 4 June 1943. The group flew 668 sorties in the ensuing 11 days, netting 31 kills while suffering no loses. The squadron transitioned to flying the P-47 Thunderbolt that winter, and continued successful operations over Italy, Austria, and France until deactivation on 25 June 1947. The squadron was reactivated on 1 November 1952 at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, now flying the P-51 Mustang and designated the 85th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. The squadron flew the first F-86D on 17 August 1953, before fully transitioning from the Mustang. On 1 July 1959, the 85th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was deactivated once again. The squadron was designated the 4485th Test Squadron and reactivated on 12 April 1971 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, as a member of the United States Air Force Tactical Air Warfare Center. The squadron conducted operational test and evaluation on the F-4 Phantom II from 1971 to 1996, the F-111 Aardvark from 1971 to 1995, and the A-10 Thunderbolt II from 1977-1998. The squadron also received F-15C Eagles in 1976, F-16 Fighting Falcons in 1978, and F-15E Strike Eagles in 1988, all of which remain in the inventory. On 1 December 1991, the squadron was redesignated the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, a member of the 53d Test and Evaluation Wing. In 2021, the squadron also received its first F-15EX Eagle II from the first lot of production. Today, the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron is responsible for the operational test and evaluation of the F-15C/E/EX and the F-16C. The squadron continues to lead the way in developing new tactics and improvements for advanced sensors, air-delivered weapons, and other technologies to deliver to the combat air force, ensuring continued air dominance for the United States Air Force in the F-15 and F-16 platforms.