85th Test and Evaluation Squadron The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron ( 85 TES ) is part of the 53d Wing at Eglin Air Force Base , Florida . It conducts testing and evaluation for the F - 15C , F - 15E , and F - 16CG / CJ airframes . Mission . The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron is responsible for conducting operational test and evaluation , tactics development , and programs for F - 15C , F - 15E , and F - 16CM aircraft . Utilizing specially instrumented aircraft , the 85th tests and evaluates current and future weapons , associated electronic warfare subsystems , the newest air - to ground munitions , air - to - air missiles , electronic warfare systems , and associated subcomponents and avionics . It provides operational fighter expertise to U . S . Air Force Headquarters , DoD agencies , and the aerospace industry in the development of future aircraft and employment techniques and concepts . The 85th ' s core competencies are air - to - air missile employment and tactics , suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses and lethal precision engagement . History . World War II . Activated on 9 February 1942 . Moved to Egypt , October – November 1942 , and became part of Ninth Air Force . Trained with P - 40 Warhawk s ' s while moving westward in the wake of the British drive across Egypt and Libya to Tunisia . Although many of the unit ' s pilots flew combat missions with other organizations , the 79th group itself did not begin operations until March 1943 . By escorting bombers , attacking enemy shipping , and supporting ground forces , took part in the Allied operations that defeated Axis forces in North Africa , captured Pantelleria , and conquered Sicily . Assigned to Twelfth Air Force in August 1943 and continued to support British Eighth Army by attacking troop concentrations , gun positions , bridges , roads , and rail lines in southern Italy . Operated in the area of the Anzio beachhead , January – March 1944 . Participated in the drive on Rome , March – June 1944 , and converted to P - 47 Thunderbolt s during that time . Flew escort and strafing missions in southern France during August and September 1944 , and afterward engaged in interdictory and close support operations in northern Italy . Remained overseas as part of United States Air Forces in Europe after the war as part of the occupation force . Transferred , without personnel and equipment , to the US in June 1947 . Inactivated on 15 July 1947 . Air Defense Command . Reactivated in 1952 as part of Air Defense Command as an air defense squadron , initially equipped with F - 51D Mustang fighters , being assigned to Scott AFB , Illinois with a mission for the air defense of St Louis and the western Ohio River Valley . Re - equipped in January 1953 with F - 86D Sabre Interceptor s . In 1957 began re - equipping with the North American F - 86L Sabre , an improved version of the F - 86D which incorporated the Semi Automatic Ground Environment , or SAGE computer - controlled direction system for intercepts . The service of the F - 86L destined to be quite brief , since by the time the last F - 86L conversion was delivered , the type was already being phased out in favor of supersonic interceptors , inactivated on 1 March 1960 .