422d Test and Evaluation Squadron The 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron ( 422 TES ) is a United States Air Force unit . It is assigned to the 53d Test and Evaluation Group , stationed at Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada . The squadron ' s World War II predecessor unit , the 422d Night Fighter Squadron was assigned to Ninth Air Force in England , as a P - 61 Black Widow interceptor unit . Its mission was to defend Allied - controlled airspace over England and the liberated areas of Western Europe against night Luftwaffe attacks . Overview . The 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron is a Geographically Separated Unit ( GSU ) of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group , home stationed at Eglin AFB , Florida . It is the most diverse - equipped aircraft squadron in the United States Air Force . The 422d TES is a composite squadron that executes HQ ACC - directed operational test and evaluation for all aircraft assigned to the command . This currently includes A / OA - 10 , F - 15C , F - 15E , F - 16CM , F - 22 and the F - 35 . Testing and evaluation includes the aircraft hardware , engines , software , and weapons upgrades prior to release of the aircraft or modification to operational Air Combat Command operational units . The squadron also conducts tactics development , foreign combat aircraft evaluation , and special access programs to optimize system combat capability . The Advanced Programs Branch conducted several important foreign materiel exploitation projects and provided support to the F - 22 Raptor , B - 2 Spirit , and F - 117 Nighthawk programs . The squadron also conducts field visits to instruct operational aircrews on new systems tactics . Current Divisions . The squadron is now in preparation to receive its first F - 35A Lightning II . At Nellis , aircraft assigned to the 422d TES carry tail code " OT " , with a green / black checkerboard tail flash . History . World War II . Established in August 1943 as the 422d Night Fighter Squadron , assigned to the 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group , Orlando Air Base , Florida for training . Reassigned to Ninth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations ( ETO ) , March 1944 , received additional training with Royal Air Force night fighter units at several bases in early 1944 . Equipped with Radar - equipped P - 61 Black Widow aircraft . Squadron operated over the United Kingdom and liberated areas of the continent after D - Day , attacking intruding Luftwaffe bombers and night fighters . Moved to France in July 1944 , also performed offensive interdictionary attacks on Axis forces in France and the Low Countries , 1944 , moving eastward through a series of Advanced Landing Ground s until operating from captured Luftwaffe bases in Germany during the spring of 1945 . Ended combat operations , May 1945 and became part of the Army of Occupation until August 1945 . Demobilized in Europe , aircraft flown back to the United States for storage or use with postwar All Weather Air Defense Command interceptor squadrons . Weapons testing . The unit was reactivated in 1969 as the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron when the 4539th Fighter Weapons Squadron became the 422d Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada . Its initial primary mission was the operational test and evaluation of F - 111 aircraft . Took over F - 111As of 4539th Combat Crew Training Squadron , aircraft tail coded " WF " . In 1977 , F - 111 testing ended at Nellis AFB and was relocated to McClellan Air Force Base , California , as Detachment 3 , 57th FWW . McClellan was the Air Force Logistics Command prime support depot for the F - 111 and changes and modifications could be made there and tested by the detachment . The 431st TES was activated at McClellan in 1980 , replacing the detachment and remained active until June 1992 when the F - 111D was retired . In 1971 the F - 4 joined the squadron ; A - 7D ' s were added in 1972 , and were flown until 1975 . A - 10 and F - 15 aircraft were added in 1977 , as were F - 16A ’ s in 1980 . In 1982 the 422 Fighter Weapons Squadron ' s name changed to the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron ( TES ) , to better reflect its role . In 1985 , the F - 4E was retired from the 422 TES . During this time , the F - 16C began testing at Luke Air Force Base , Arizona , as the 57 Fighter Weapons Wing , Det 1 . In October , 1987 , F - 16C Det 1 was closed at Luke , and its aircraft were moved to Nellis AFB . This gave the 422 TES an aircraft complement of A - 10s , F - 15s , F - 16As , and F - 16Cs . 1989 saw the rapid expansion of squadron capability with the addition of the F - 15E and F - 16C Low Altitude Navigation Targeting Infrared Night ( LANTIRN ) aircraft . With these two systems , the 422 TES greatly expanded its ability to fly night tactical missions . 1991 began with Operation DESERT STORM . Although the 422 TES did not deploy for direct participation , it was involved in several quick look evaluations of equipment and employment tactics which directly enhanced the effectiveness of the air war . The outstanding efforts of the 422 TES over the past ten years to improve weapons , avionics , and tactics provided the ultimate reward : a quick and decisive victory . The 422 TES began 1993 with the return of a veteran aircraft to the line - up . The F - 4G Wild Weasel officially became part of the testing program at Nellis AFB on 1 February 1993 . The HH - 60 Blackhawk helicopter came aboard on 1 July 1995 as the newest member of the 422 TES team . Later that year the F - 4 was retired again , as the last test F - 4G was flown to the Aerospace Maintenance Regeneration Center in Arizona . On October 1 , 1996 , the 422 TES was re - aligned under the 53d Wing , Eglin AFB , Florida , as the Air Warfare Center assigned all testing to this wing . The squadron grew to its largest size since World War II when the squadron inherited all test management , advanced programs , and test support from the 57th Test Group . The mission of the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron continues to grow in scope and complexity as new aircraft and systems are developed for use in the combat air forces . Recent testing by the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron has been focused on enhancing mission employment capabilities at night Components . Note : Aircraft tail code initially was " WF " upon formation in 1969 . Recoded to " WA " in October 1971 with yellow / black checkerboard tail stripe . Recoded 1 October 1996 to " OT " tail code , with a green / black checkerboard tail flash .