Editing Nellis Air Force Base (section)

=====57th Fighter Weapons Wing=====
[[File:US Air Force Thunderbirds.jpg|thumb|The United States Air Force [[United States Air Force Thunderbirds|Thunderbirds]]]]

The [[57th Fighter Weapons Wing]] was activated at Nellis on 15 October 1969 to replace the 4525th FWW (its [[Fighter Weapons Squadron]]s transferred to the 57th).{{r|Mueller}} The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (the "[[U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds|Thunderbirds]]") was assigned to the 57th in February 1974, and the wing incorporated [[military intelligence|intelligence]] training after March 1980.{{r|Mueller}} Redesignated the 57th Tactical Training Wing in 1977, the wing trained [[military tactics|tactical]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] aircrews, conducted operational tests and evaluations, demonstrated tactical fighter weapon systems, and developed fighter tactics. The 57th's [[4440th Tactical Fighter Training Group (Red Flag)]] assumed operational control of Red Flag exercises in October 1979; and the 57th developing realistic combat training operations featuring adversary tactics, dissimilar air combat training, and [[electronic warfare]].{{r|Mueller}}

Nellis' [[4477th Tactical Evaluation Flight]] ("Red Eagles") operated [[MiG-17]]s, [[MiG-21]]s and [[MiG-23]]s at the [[Tonopah Test Range Airport]] (late 1960s-{{circa|lk=no|1990}}) to simulate combat against U.S. combat aircraft.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Steve |year=2008 |title=Red Eagles. America's Secret MiGs |publisher=Osprey Publishing}}</ref> Named [[Constant Peg]] in 1980, the operation assessed the Soviet technology and developed adversary tactics for dissimilar air combat training.  After completion of training, the Aggressor pilots were assigned to the [[DACT squadrons]], one of which was assigned to Nellis.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Constant Peg |journal=Air Force Magazine |date=April 2007 |volume=90 |issue=4}}</ref> During the 1970s, [[Las Vegas Air Force Station|a site northwest of Nellis]] evaluated a Soviet "Barlock" search radar to develop techniques for countering Soviet air defense systems.<ref>{{Cite report |last1=Winkler |first1=David F |last2=Webster |first2=Julie L |date=June 1997 |title=Searching the Skies: The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program |url=http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA331231 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201202922/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA331231 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2012 |location=Champaign, IL |lccn=97020912 |publisher=U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories |access-date=23 April 2013 }}</ref>{{Failed verification|reason=A search of "Barlock" indicates it does not appear in the source.|date=June 2013}}

[[File:66th Fighter Weapons Squadron - McDonnell Douglas F-4E-38-MC Phantom 68-0400.jpg|thumb|The Las Vegas Range of mountains is visible beyond a 66th FWS F-4E on the Nellis tarmac.|alt=|left]]

The [[USAF Fighter Weapons School]] reactivated 30 December 1981 in the 57th wing{{r|AFHRA15354}} and the 66th, 414th and 433d Fighter Weapons Squadrons became its "A-10", "F-4E" and "F-15A" divisions (the 414th was the "Red Flag Training Squadron" in 1996).{{r|Manning}}{{rp|205}} The 422d FWS aircraft and personnel became the "F-16 Division" and the squadron heraldry transferred to the [[422d Test and Evaluation Squadron]].{{r|Mueller}} The FWS mission expanded on 15 June 1993 to include all [[Air Combat Command]] weapons ([[B-52]] & [[B-1 Lancer|B-1]] Divisions) and in 1995, rescue helicopters ([[HH-60]] Division). RC-135 Rivet Joint and EC-130 Compass Call courses were also added to the CCO Division in 1995, as well as a Space Division in 1996 (UAVs in 2008).<ref name="AFHRA15354">{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Patsy |quote=Posted 8/19/2009 |title=USAF Weapons School (ACC) |url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15354 |format=AFHRA fact sheet |access-date=10 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220113845/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15354 |archive-date=20 February 2013 }}</ref>

In 1981, the [[Gunsmoke (aerial gunnery competition)|Gunsmoke]] gunnery meet was first held{{r|Rininger}} and the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing was reorganized as part of the establishment of the Fighter Weapons School, e.g., the [[422d Test and Evaluation Squadron]] for aircraft modifications was established on 30 December 1981 from the 422d Fighter Weapons Squadron. In 1990, the [[64th Aggressor Squadron|64th]] and [[65th Aggressor Squadron|65th Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor Squadron]]s and the 4440th TFTG were inactivated in 1990 at the end of the Cold War.{{r|Martin}} In November 1991, the 57th implemented the USAF Objective Wing organization which was the most comprehensive USAF reorganization plan since 1947,<ref name="Rogers">Rogers, Brian (2005). ''United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978''. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. {{ISBN|1-85780-197-0}}.</ref> activating the [[57th Operations Group]] for Nellis airfield operations and establishing the [[57th Test Group]].<ref name="fs" />