412th Test Wing
412th Test Wing
 | |
|---|---|
 412th Test Wing Headquarters at Edwards Air Force Base, California | |
| Active |
|
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Flight testing |
| Size | 5,000 |
| Part of | Air Force Materiel Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Edwards Air Force Base, California |
| Motto | Proof by Trial |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Thomas M. Tauer |
| Insignia | |
| 412th Test Wing emblem |  |
| Tail Code | ED |
| 6510th Test Wing emblem |  |
The 412th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The 412th Test Wing was established in 1972 as the 6510th Test Wing, which assumed the flying mission of the Air Force Flight Test Center upon activation. The wing has performed flight testing of fighter, bomber, mobility, and rotary wing aircraft. In addition, the 412th Test Wing has carried out free-flight testing of space vehicles such as the Space Shuttle.
In 1992, the 6510th Wing was consolidated with the 412th Fighter Group, which was activated during World War II as the first unit in the Army Air Forces to fly jet aircraft. It was inactivated in 1946, transferring its fighters and personnel to another unit. The group was again activated in 1955 to provide air defense on the northern border of the United States, inactivating in 1960 as Strategic Air Command assumed control of its base for use by heavy bombers.