4758th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron The 4713th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit . It was last assigned to the 26th Air Division , Aerospace Defense Command at Holloman AFB , New Mexico . It was inactivated on 31 October 1970 . History . World War II . The 4758th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron started life at Biggs Army Airfield , Texas in 1939 as the 129th Observation Squadron , part of the ground observation network , Civil Air Patrol . The squadron was equipped with a single Martin B - 10 bomber used for making aerial observations along the Mexican border . During World War II , Biggs AAF became a hub of training activity for B - 17 Flying Fortress and B - 24 Liberator s under II Bomber Command . The squadron ' s designation was changed to the 6th Tow Target Squadron , flying B - 10s and other obsolete aircraft for aerial gunnery practice . Its aircraft were painted in bright orange on their upper surfaces and were silver underneath . The target banner was launched by having the cable drum draw in a short amount of cable that was threaded out through the tail and attached to the forward end of a folded - up target banner carried inside the canister . Once the target banner was drawn out of the canister , it unfurled in the airstream and the cable drum extended it out to about 5000 feet behind the aircraft . The unit went though several designations at Biggs Field , eventually becoming the 406th Army Air Force Base Unit . In December , 1944 the unit moved to Deming AAF , New Mexico . In September 1945 the unit returned to Biggs and was redesignated the 27th Tow Target Squadron . Late 1947 brought another name change ; the 1st TTS , and was eventually inactivated in October 1949 . Cold War . The 1 TTS was reactivated in July 1950 as a tenant unit under the 97th Bombardment Wing , Strategic Air Command . Its mission was to furnish airborne target and tracking missions for the Army Anti - Aircraft Artillery School at Fort Bliss . During the 1950s , the squadron operated World War II T B - 26 Invaders being retired by TAC and B - 45 Tornado s retired by SAC after its B - 47 s became operational . The squadron was reassigned on 1 January 1958 to Tactical Air Command , and placed under Twelfth Air Force . Its aircraft were replaced with the B - 57E Canberra . The B - 57E ( Martin Model 272E ) was originally a target - towing version of the B - 57B tactical bomber , and could operate at altitudes over 40 , 000 feet , providing much more realistic combat training than was possible with piston - engined target towing aircraft . On 30 June 1960 the squadron was re - designated as the 1st Aerial Tracking Squadron . The 1st ATS was additionally equipped with former TAC F - 100C Super Sabre s , with a mission of providing supersonic target aircraft for Air Defense Command radars , exercising SAGE Direction Centers to vector F - 102 and F - 106 interceptors to the target aircraft . On 1 June 1962 the squadron was transferred to Air Defense Command , continuing its mission and being re - designated as the 4758th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron . . Biggs AFB was closed in April 1966 and the squadron was reassigned to Holloman AFB , New Mexico . At Holloman the squadron operated as a tenant organization being logistically supported by the 6580th Air Base Group , Air Force Systems Command . The F - 100s were sent to the Air National Guard and the unit continued its training mission with the EB - 57Es . It additionally provided training and assistance to Army anti - aircraft missile units at the White Sands Missile Range . It was inactivated on 31 October 1970 , due to budget reductions , its personnel and aircraft being reassigned to the 4677th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron at Hill AFB , Utah .