59th Test and Evaluation Squadron The 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron is an United States Air Force unit . It is assigned to the Air Combat Command 53d Wing , 53d Test Management Group at Nellis AFB , Nevada . Overview . The 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron is responsible for the management of A - 10 , F - 15C / E , F - 16 , F - 22 , HH - 60 , and Guardian Angel weapon system testing including force development evaluations , tactics development and evaluations , and software evaluations . Squadron personnel direct operational test planning and execution , as well as data gathering , analyzing , and reporting for the above systems operated by the CAF . Additionally , the squadron manages OT & E of weapons and support systems in order to improve current and future U . S . Air Force combat capabilities . History . World War II . Trained with P - 39s in 1941 , but soon changed to P - 40s and served as part of the United States defense force for the east coast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor . The squadron moved to North Africa as part of the invasion force on 8 November 1942 and operated with Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater until February 1944 , providing close air support for ground forces , and bombing and strafing personnel concentrations , port installations , fuel dumps , bridges , highways , and rail lines . Took part in the reduction of Pantelleria and flew patrol missions while Allied troops landed after surrender of the enemy ' s garrison . It also participated in the invasion and conquest of Sicily by supporting landings at Salerno , southern Italy , and the beachhead at Anzio . After moving to India in February 1944 , the unit trained with P - 38s and P - 47s . It then moved to China where it continued training and flew patrol and intercept missions . Upon returning to India in September 1944 , it flew dive bombing and strafing missions in Burma until the Allied campaigns in that area had been completed . From August 1946 , the 33d served as part of the US occupation force in Germany , being assigned to USAFE airfields at Neubiberg and Bad Kissingen , operating P - 47 Thunderbolt s . Strategic Fighter Escort Squadron . Returned to United States in August 1947 , being assigned to Strategic Air Command . Assigned administratively to Andrews Field , Maryland , then being formed operationally at Roswell Army Airfield , New Mexico on 16 August 1947 as part of Eighth Air Force . Equipped with P - 51D Mustang s . In June 1948 , transitioned to the first - generation F - 84C Thunderjet . Air Defense Command . Reassigned to the Air Defense Command First Air Force on 1 December 1948 . With the new ADC assignment , was reassigned to Otis AFB , Massachusetts on 16 November 1948 as part of the ADC 26th Air Division . In February 1949 , transitioned to F - 86A Sabre day interceptor with the F - 84s being sent to Republic Aircraft for refurbishment and reassignment to Air National Guard units . Was moved to Goose AFB , Labrador under Northeast Air Command on 28 October 1952 , assigned to NEAC ' s 64th Air Division , headquartered at Pepperrell AFB . The 59th FIS operated F - 89 Scorpion jet interceptors from the airfield , assisting in the air defense of the region . While SAC received jurisdiction of the United States facilities at Goose AFB in 1957 with the inactivation of NEAC , Air Defense Command ( ADC ) took over the USAF atmospheric defense forces ( including the NEAC 64th Air Division ) . The 59th FIS was upgraded to the F - 102A Delta Dagger supersonic interceptor in 1960 . It continued defensive patrols over the region . Moved to Bergstrom AFB , Texas in 1967 and was upgraded to the McDonnell F - 101B Voodoo and the F - 101F operational and conversion trainer . The two - seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls , but carried the same armament as the F - 101B and were fully combat - capable . Moved to Kingsley Field , Oregon in 1968 then inactivated on 31 December 1969 as part of the drawdown of ADC interceptor bases , the aircraft being passed along to the Air National Guard . Tactical Air Command . Reactivated at Eglin AFB , Florida in 1970 and equipped with F - 4 Phantom II s . Supported the Tactical Air Warfare Center in weapon systems evaluation program tests from January – December 1973 , and periodically thereafter until July 1978 . Aircrews ferried F - 4Es to Israel in October 1973 . The 59th augmented intercept defense forces of the North American Air Defense Command ( NORAD ) beginning 1 January 1976 – 15 January 1979 and 4 January 1982 – 5 April 1982 . In 1979 , " The Golden Pride " traded in their last F - 4s for the McDonnell Douglas F - 15 Eagle . Later , they provided personnel and equipment to fly combat air patrols and air intercept missions for contingency operations in Grenada from October – November 1983 , and Panama December 1989 – January 1990 . Modern era . The 59th TFS did not deploy during Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm . However , some of their personnel deployed with the 58th TFS from 26 August 1990 – 12 April 1991 , to help support manning , and to provide some experience . One of the 59th ' s members who deployed to the Gulf was the late Captain Rhory " Hoser " Draeger , who , on 26 January 1991 , shot down a MiG - 23 , while flying an F - 15C . Personnel and aircraft continued rotations to Saudi Arabia to protect coalition assets and to ensure that Iraq complied with treaty terms . Continued deployments to Saudi Arabia , Canada , the Caribbean , South America , Jamaica , Iceland , Italy , and Puerto Rico and participated in various operations until inactivated in 1999 . Reactivated at Nellis AFB in 2004 assuming current mission .