576th Flight Test Squadron The 576th Flight Test Squadron ( 576 FTS ) is a United States Air Force direct reporting unit ( DRU ) assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command ( AFGSC ) . The 576 FTS is stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base , California . Overview . The mission of the 576 FTS is to execute Air Force Global Strike Command ' s Force Development Evaluation program for America ' s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force and serve as the command ' s experts for missile systems capability and Air Force application demonstrations . In executing the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Initial Operational Test and Evaluation and Force Development Evaluation programs , the 576th Flight Test Squadron prepares for and conducts ground and flight tests to collect , analyze , and report performance , accuracy , and reliability data for the Joint Staff , USSTRATCOM , Air Staff , and AFGSC . The 576th Flight Test Squadron identifies missile system requirements , demonstrates current and future war fighting capabilities , and validates missile system improvements and upgrades . History . World War II . The 576th Flight Test Squadron was first activated at Davis - Monthan Field , Arizona , on 26 January 1943 as the 576th Bombardment Squadron ( Heavy ) where it participated in the strategic bombardment campaigns of Europe and Germany as part of Eighth Air Force . Their involvement during the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge resulted in seven European - African - Middle Eastern Theater campaign streamers and one Distinguished Unit Citation . The 576th was inactivated on 13 September 1945 with the close of World War II . It was reactivated on 24 September 1947 as a very heavy bombardment squadron at Barksdale Field Louisiana , the squadrons mission was changed in November 1947 to a light jet bomber squadron . It was again inactivated in November 1949 . Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron . The squadron was reactivated on 6 March 1958 as the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron ( SMS ) assigned to Cooke Air Force Base ( later renamed Vandenberg AFB ) . On 1 April 1958 , the 576th was assigned to the Strategic Air Command ( SAC ) as an SM - 65 Atlas ICBM unit , the nation ' s first ICBM unit . On 2 April 1966 , the 576th was once again inactivated . ICBM Testing Squadron . Re - designated the 576th Test Squadron on 29 August 1991 , it was again activated on 1 September 1991 as part of the activation of the Twentieth Air Force , America ' s only ICBM numbered Air Force . The 576th designation was chosen to ensure the history and lineage of the 576th would continue with the important job of testing ICBMs . The 576th has almost made a complete circle since the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron tested the Atlas missile in the late 50 ' s and early 60 ' s . In July 1993 , the 576th was assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force at Vandenberg AFB . The squadron was re - designated the 576th Flight Test Squadron ( FLTS ) on 1 July 1994 . Then , on 22 February 1996 the squadron was reassigned from the Fourteenth Air Force to Space Warfare Center ( SWC ) at Schriever AFB , Colorado . On 14 March 1996 , the 576th , the 30th Maintenance Squadron ( MXS ) , and portions of the 30th Logistics Squadron ( LSS ) merged to form the new 576 FLTS . Whereas the three organizations previously reported , through different commanders , to the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB , this merger aligned all personnel directly involved with Intercontinental Ballistic Missile ( ICBM ) testing at Vandenberg under one commander . As part of the merger , the 576 FLTS also became a direct reporting unit to the Space Warfare Center , which later became the Space Innovation & Development Center ( SIDC ) . On December 1 , 2009 the 576 FLTS was reassigned , along with the Air Force ' s ICBM mission , to Air Force Global Strike Command ( AFGSC ) .