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between Egypt and the Soviet Union had become strained, and Soviet advisers were ordered out. The
Soviets had provided the Egyptian air force with MiGs since the mid-1950s. Before breaking up with Soviet Union, Egypt had received MiG-23 fighters and modern MiG-21 fighters and Soviet advisers taught Egyptian pilots how to use them against Israeli F-4 Phantoms. With their traditional source out of the picture, the Egyptians began looking West to keep their MiGs in service. They turned to United States companies for parts to support their late-model MiG-21s and MiG-23s. Very soon, a deal was made with the USAF. Egyptian president
691:
110:
719:
679:, only 70 miles (110 km) to the northwest of Groom Lake and on the controlled AEC Tonopah Test Range fitted the need for a new home. The AEC airport had the potential for improvement and expansion, with the only public land overlooking the base miles away. Although not as hidden as Groom Lake, the airport would be remote enough to operate the Soviet aircraft. In fact, the security surrounding the Tonopah Test Range was so effective that the new base was not publicly reported as an Air Force military airfield until 1985. On 1 April 1977 Tactical Air Command established the
176:
52:
158:
992:. The T-38s used by the Aggressor squadrons were trainers and similar to the F-5, but were not combat aircraft and were not ideal in the role of simulating the performance of the Soviet MiG, however the higher-performance F-5E was. When South Vietnam collapsed, the T-38s were replaced by the F-5Es as the "Aggressor" aircraft. The circumstances also allowed the creation of two more Aggressor Squadrons in 1975/1976, the
525:, California. During the remainder of the Vietnam War, the Navy kill ratio climbed to 8.33 to 1. In contrast, the Air Force rate improved only slightly to 2.83 to 1. The reason for this difference was TOPGUN. The Navy (including the Marine Corps) had revitalized its air combat training, while the Air Force had stayed stagnant. Most of the Navy MiG kills were by TOPGUN graduates.
271:
259:
949:(DACT) employing pilots trained in Soviet fighter tactics, using aircraft with flight characteristics similar to the MiGs that American aircrews would face in combat. Combat training would change from an F-4 flying against another F-4 to flying against a fundamentally different aircraft, flown by a pilot who would think and fly like a Soviet pilot.
481:(later redesignated F-4) was the first fighter designed from the start without cannon. The air-to-air training given to new Navy and Marine Corps F-4 crews was extremely limited. It involved about ten flights and provided little useful information. By 1964, few in the Navy and Marine Corps were left to carry on the tradition of classic dogfighting.
1503:
506:
dogfight. In contrast to the lighter MiG-17, the F-4 was large and heavy. When a tight turn was made, the F-4 would lose energy and airspeed. The MiG-17's superior turning capability then allowed it to close to gun range. All too often, hits from the MiG-17's "outmoded" cannons would then destroy the F-4.
1106:
Also in 1993, the United States and
Germany trained with former East German MiG-23s and two Su-22s which were sent to the United States. With East and West Germany now unified, there was an ample supply of both Soviet-built planes and the spare parts needed to support them. In October 1994, Aerospace
956:
was activated in
October 1972 as the USAF's first "Aggressor" squadron. Its pilots were trained against the Soviet MiGs at Groom Lake, and would use the T-38s to fly against Tactical Air Command pilots, employing known Soviet fighter tactics against them in air-to-air combat training. They were also
1082:
Anecdotal evidence suggests that exploitation of foreign aircraft today has returned to the original hierarchy seen in the 1960s and 1970s when HAVE IDEA became the umbrella program for exploiting foreign tactical fighters: the 'assets' are exploited first for performance, materials and qualities by
776:
From 1977 to 1988 the 4477th
Squadron flew three models of MiGs. After being active for more than a decade, the secret Aggressor unit flew their MiGs in more than 15,000 sorties. To minimize risks, MiGs never flew in bad weather or at night. The end of Cold War and the high costs of keeping the MiGs
623:
By the late 1970s, United States MiG operations were undergoing another change. After a decade, purchased MiGs had been superseded by later-model MiG-21s and new MiG-23 fighters. Fortunately, a new source of supply of Soviet aircraft became available in Egypt and
Somalia. In the mid-1970s, relations
430:
It is not known exactly the actual number or types of aircraft involved, where they came from, or the complete history of the program. It is estimated that in 1985 the USAF had 26 MiGs (MiG-21s and MiG-23s as MiG-17s had already been phased out) and by the end of the program USAF had mainly MiG-21s.
1066:
The assets of the
Squadron could not go to the boneyard at Davis–Monthan AFB, and the fate of some of them remain classified. Several of the F-110s (MiG-21) were sent to museums or now are on static display. Some of the airplanes may have been broken up, and its rumored that some were buried in the
698:
The 4477th pilots and tactical controllers were
Aggressors, Fighter Weapons School or Top Gun instructors. Most were majors, a few captains, with 2000–3000 hours. Two pilots of the 4477th died flying the Soviet planes. USAF claims pilots had no manuals for the aircraft, although some tried to write
505:
The emphasis on air-to-air missile interception meant the fighter combat crews had only the sketchiest knowledge of dogfighting. Originally conceived as a naval fleet air defense aircraft, and later adapted as an Air Force fighter-bomber, the design of the F-4 made it ill-suited for a tight-turning
619:
MiGs were acquired from scrapyards, dug out of remote places where they’d crashed, recovered from warehouses where they had been left or just bought from other air forces. CIA clandestine purchase sources in Poland and
Romania may have supplied MiG spare parts. Mig-19s were tested in the HAVE BOAT
610:
Clandestine procurement of MiG-17, MiG-19 and MiG-21, all in operating condition but stored, was negotiated in the end of 1960s with
Indonesia. The USAF offered $ 250,000 for each plane, as previously when MiG planes had been received from Korea, Pakistan, Cambodia and Israel. Additional MiGs were
528:
By 1970, the HAVE DRILL program was expanded; a few selected fleet F-4 crews were given the chance to fight the MiGs. The most important result of HAVE DRILL is that no Navy pilot who flew in the project defeated the MiG-17 in the first engagement. The HAVE DRILL dogfights were by invitation only.
772:
The maintainers of the 4477th overcame significant obstacles to keep the MiGs in service. No instruction manuals and technical data were available, and spare parts or components were difficult to get. MiGs were delivered from unknown sources and dismantled for spares. When that was not available,
1062:
Near the end of the Cold War the program was ostensibly abandoned and the squadron was disbanded. Flight operations at
Tonopah closed down in March 1988, although the 4477th was not inactivated until July 1990, according to one official Air Force history. In the interim, a handful of pilots flew
964:
The training program was successful, and beginning in November 1975, a large-scale exercise "Red Flag 1" was held at Nellis AFB where training was held on a large scale. The acquired Soviet air defense radar was installed at several locations on the Nellis range, and simulated Soviet integrated
768:
shot down in Afghanistan. This practice proved to be very important as tests with real Soviet equipment proved several times that USAF equipment was designed according to American specifications, different from the Soviet ones, and results against the "real thing" were many times surprisingly
636:
fighter-bomber in 1977. Egypt may have included in the deal MiG-21MFs together with the Mig-23s. The USAF supplied 36 F-4Es in exchange. The two MiG-23 variants were assigned to secret test programs HAVE PAD and HAVE BOXER. The Egyptian planes were disassembled and shipped from Egypt to
484:
Then came the Vietnam War. The early years showed the faith placed in missiles was terribly in error. Between 1965 and the bombing halt in 1968, the USAF had a 2.15 to 1 kill ratio. The U.S. Navy was doing slightly better with a 2.75 to 1 rate. For roughly every two North Vietnamese
937:, Nevada, during the early 1970s. Combat reports showed that the lack of training in flying basic fighter maneuvers was a major cause of the low air-to-air kill rate, as well some technical limitations in the F-4, the primary fighter in use by the Air Force in Vietnam. The
501:
would be lost. Crucially, the percentage of United States fighters being lost in air-to-air combat was growing. During 1966, only 3 percent of U.S. aircraft were lost to MiGs. This rose to 8 percent in 1967, then climbed to 22 percent for the first three months of 1968.
710:
The mission of 4477th squadron was to train U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps pilots on the best ways to fight and win when encountering MiGs in aerial combat. During the first year 1,015 sorties were done and 372 Air Force and Navy pilots took the
1063:'continuation training' sorties at Groom Lake. The decision to shut down operations may have had something to do with the fact that a new generation of Soviet aircraft was entering service and also the inevitable round of budget cuts from Washington.
671:
During the 1970s, the number of acquired Soviet aircraft increased to include more MiG-21s and some MiG-23s. The number of aircraft and the expanded use of the facility at Groom Lake to train new Aggressor pilots was becoming more and more awkward.
1036:, entered a spin while dogfighting a U.S. Navy F-5. Brown recovered, but entered a second irrecoverable spin too low to eject. The plane hit the ground at a steep angle near the Tonopah Test Range airfield boundary, killing the pilot instantly.
764:, where they were flown by the squadron. The squadron operated MiG-17s until 1982, but mostly MiG-21s and MiG-23s. When possible, additional Soviet equipment was added to the planes and tested against USAF planes, like a flare dispenser from a
434:
It is known that the activities of the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron brought about a fundamental change in United States Air Force and United States Navy / United States Marine Corps air combat tactics. They revitalized the art of
1507:
1090:
There have been multiple sightings of foreign aircraft over Nevada since the end of Constant Peg and the inactivation of the 4477th TES: In a March 1994 article on Groom Lake in Popular Science, a photo was published of an
352:, the unit was created to expose the tactical air forces to the flight characteristics of fighter aircraft used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The declassified history of the squadron shows that it operated
1797:
957:
trained to fly against acquired Soviet air defense systems similar to those that US pilots had faced over North Vietnam. The pilots of the 64th were also well-seasoned combat veterans of the Vietnam War, many with
611:
desired for testing and eventually the creation of a MiG mock training squadron. In the early 1970s Indonesia sold 10 MiG-21F-13, 1 MiG-21U and 2 PZL-Mielec Lim-5P (a Polish MiG 17 variant). In the mid 1970s 16
517:
programs, the first MiGs flown in the United States, were used to evaluate the aircraft in performance and technical capabilities, as well as in operational capability, pitting the types against U.S. fighters.
1817:
726:
The United States-operated MiGs received special designations due to the practical problem of what to call the aircraft in mission logs and paperwork. This was solved by giving them numbers in the
1792:
448:
439:
at a time when it had seemingly been nearly forgotten. The knowledge gained from testing the aircraft the squadron flew was reflected in the success of United States air operations during the
1812:
1216:
961:
and over 100 combat missions over North Vietnam. Beginning in the spring of 1973, the squadron began deploying to TAC bases in the United States to perform DACT training against F-4 pilots.
683:, which assumed the personnel and equipment of the un-designated testing unit at Groom Lake and moved the program to Tonopah TRA. The unit was officially assigned to Nellis AFB under the
1822:
427:, Foreign Aircraft Technology operations still remain classified. Despite the declassification of the Constant Peg program in 2006, the evaluation of foreign aircraft likely continues.
391:
can symbolically trace their histories back to the 4477th, as well as the paint motifs on their aircraft, which were used by the aircraft of the squadron in the 1970s and 1980s.
737:(AFSC) limited the use of the MiGs as tools with which to understand the performance, capabilities, and qualities of the enemy. By contrast, TAC was interested in training the
1005:
945:
MiG-17F, which was fundamentally different than flying against the F-105 and other United States fighters. It was considered useful to establish a squadron dedicated to
652:
tests ended. Other MiG-23s were received many years later from ex-East German stocks. Germany is believed to have sold 12 MiG-23ML, 2 MiG-23BN, 2 Su-22M4 and 1 MiG-29.
1807:
578:(TAC) established the 4477th Test and Evaluation Flight as the formal USAF testing unit on 1 April 1977. It began with three MiGs: two MiG-17Fs and a MiG-21 loaned by
1054:
930:
1630:
1111:
on two occasions. The Su-27 is a Russian first-line advanced interceptor. It is in operation with both the Russia and People's Republic of China air forces.
745:
at Edwards Air Force Base, California, who were usually graduates from either the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards or the Naval Test Pilot School at
702:
Students fighting those USAF MiGs were supposed to learn enough to be able to kill a MiG, or at least to survive, in their first real dogfight with a MiG.
207:
1439:
958:
753:
and Aggressors at Nellis AFB. Similarly, the US Navy and US Marine Corps pilots were recruited from the instructors of the Navy Fighter Weapons School.
537:
portion of the Nellis Range was closed. On aeronautical maps, the exercise area was marked in red ink. The forbidden zone became known as "Red Square".
1787:
1385:
730:. The MiG-21s and Shenyang F-7Bs were called the "YF-110" (the original designation for the USAF F-4C), while the MiG-23s were called the "YF-113".
699:
one, nor was there a consistent supply of spare parts, which had to be refurbished or manufactured at high cost or procured from friendly nations.
399:
The longest continuing United States classified military airplane program is the testing and evaluation of Foreign Aircraft Technology. During the
993:
620:
program, but were not assigned to 4477th. Finland, Yugoslavia, Algeria and India could have been contacted for assistance in MiG-21 maintenance.
1782:
750:
1528:
560:
1095:
fighter in flight. The plane was painted in a green and tan finish. The Su-22 is a swing-wing, light-attack aircraft. It was in frontline
521:
Data from the HAVE DOUGHNUT and HAVE DRILL tests were provided to the newly formed United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) at
545:
757:
444:
404:
1591:
1560:
1123:
87:
690:
1623:
544:, a Vietnam veteran F-4 pilot, who was dissatisfied with his service's fighter pilot training. After the war, he worked at the
270:
258:
946:
938:
715:
at Tonopah. Each training course lasted 7 days on average and included 5 mock aerial combats, three MiG-21s and two MiG-23s.
380:
1357:
718:
109:
1827:
989:
974:
965:
missile and antiaircraft artillery batteries, similar to what was faced in Vietnam and by Israeli pilots during the 1973
742:
1832:
1802:
1616:
60:
1675:
1197:
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and Su-27 aircraft somewhere in Nevada (most likely Groom Lake) flying against Fighter Weapons School instructors,
676:
372:
212:
38:
1518:
1175:
734:
684:
119:
114:
Members of the 4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron in front of a MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C/E, "85 Red", USAF serial
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612:
424:
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in 1953. This effort has continued to the present day. Unlike the other "black" airplane programs, such as the
1449:
1837:
1250:
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1227:
1040:
549:
490:
486:
361:
357:
353:
341:
296:
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288:
181:
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534:
477:, the paradigm for the new generation of jet fighters was that dog-fighting was obsolete. The U.S. Navy's
376:
1687:
1188:
530:
1467:
1465:
1463:
1461:
1459:
1653:
1131:
591:
575:
548:, where he heard about the HAVE DRILL and HAVE DOUGHNUT programs. He won the support of USAF General
379:, in air combat tactics against these foreign aircraft and was instrumental in the re-development of
345:
66:
1747:
1682:
1668:
1212:
1100:
1075:
After the 4477 TES was inactivated, the remaining assets were reconstituted as a detachment of the
953:
615:
were delivered to Indonesia in exchange for those stored MiG-21s which ended up in 4477th Squadron.
309:
242:
34:
552:
and launched "Constant Peg," named after Vandenberg's callsign, "Constant," and Peck's wife, Peg.
1639:
1115:
1043:
761:
746:
494:
388:
368:
304:
1028:. U.S. Navy Lieutenant M. Hugh Brown, 31, of the U.S. Navy's Test and Evaluation Squadron FOUR (
533:
were not to know about the U.S.-operated MiGs. To prevent any sightings, the airspace above the
773:
reverse engineering was needed. Sometimes CIA sources or US manufacturers supplied components.
1742:
1597:
1587:
1566:
1556:
1534:
1524:
1096:
1033:
644:
In November 1980, the first MiG-23 was flown by the 4477th at Tonopah when the first MiG-23BN
601:
A few Algerian MiG 21F-13s and MiG-17s were delivered via Israel as the result of pilot error.
470:
675:
It was decided to move the Aggressor training program to a more secure, remote facility. The
1842:
583:
540:
The idea of a more realistic training program for the Air Force was devised by USAF Colonel
474:
283:
812:
1987: all MiGs-21F-13 retired and replaced by Chengdu J-7B. 14 x MiG-21, 10 x MiG-23BN/MS.
587:
412:
325:
741:
tactical fighter pilots.> Air Force Systems Command recruited its MiG pilots from the
411:
aircraft was an ongoing mission dating back to the acquisition of the first Soviet-built
663:
program. At the same time, it retired the remaining MiG-21F-13 acquired from Indonesia.
465:
In the 1950s in the United States, with the development of air-to-air missiles, such as
1762:
1712:
1694:
1658:
1119:
1087:(the successor to TAC) is then given access to the aircraft for tactical exploitation.
997:
981:
966:
727:
478:
316:
1776:
1444:
1390:
1108:
1067:
Nevada desert. Also a few were used for target practice on Air Force weapons ranges.
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985:
510:
238:
163:
1488:
Email from Daniel L. Haulman, PhD, Air Force Historical Research Agency 19 June 2004
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861:
765:
660:
568:
498:
466:
420:
408:
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824:
Not all evaluation programs were completed, and planes were later transferred to
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1233:
929:
The lackluster performance of USAF fighter pilots in Vietnam was studied by the
656:
625:
522:
440:
384:
1580:
1024:
On 23 August 1979, a pilot lost control of the squadron's MiG-17F, USAF serial
969:
were set up. Selected TAC pilots were taken to Groom Lake to train against the
641:. They were then transferred initially to Groom Lake for reassembly and study.
607:
In 1990 Luftwaffe sold to USAF 12 MiG-23ML, 2 MiG-23BN, 2 Su-22M4 and 1 MiG-29.
1663:
1127:
942:
934:
909:: Recovery operation of 3 Iraqi MiG-29 Fulcrums (in various states of damage).
895:: Training program involving mock fights with Somali pilots and their MiG-21s.
738:
514:
321:
1570:
1538:
1601:
1546:
1076:
988:
fighter aircraft in storage, which were paid for by Congress to send to the
541:
416:
123:
17:
1079:
at Nellis AFB, now known as Detachment 3, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group.
597:
In the late 1960s, the MiG-17 and MiG-21F were still frontline aircraft.
571:
Es flanking a MiG-17 and MiG-21 of the 4477th Tactical Evaluation Squadron
364:
between 1977 and 1988, but it was not formally disbanded until July 1990.
266:
Emblem of the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron (Subdued or camouflaged)
835:: Iraqi MiG-21F-13 and Algerian MiG-21F-13, 1968. Transferred as YF-110B.
436:
400:
864:
purchased in 1969 and PLAAF's Shenyang J-6 defected to Taiwan in 1977.
749:, Maryland. TAC selected its MiG pilots primarily from the ranks of the
460:
1722:
1608:
1552:
America's Secret MiG Squadron: The Red Eagles of Project CONSTANT PEG
579:
144:
1099:
service at the time and was exported widely to Eastern European and
941:, part of the Fighter Weapons School had flown its F-4s against the
786:
1979 inventory: 1 x MiG-17F, 1 x Lim-5P (MiG-17PF), 6 x MiG-21F-13.
1717:
1053:
1013:
1001:
717:
689:
559:
1362:
1029:
853:: Cambodian MiG-17 (Shenyang F-5), 1970. Transferred as YF-113C.
565:
254:
Emblem of the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron. Regular Patch
31:
1612:
798:
1983: 6 x MiG-21F-13, 3 x MiG-21MF, 2 x MiG-23BN, 4 x MiG-23MS.
795:
1982: 6 x MiG-21F-13, 2 x MiG-21MF, 1 x MiG-23BN, 2 x MiG-23MS.
777:
in flight condition meant the program was ended in March 1988.
72:
You can help by providing page numbers for existing citations.
45:
1798:
Tactical evaluation squadrons of the United States Air Force
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1058:
Squadron members with one of the F-5E Trainers/DACT aircraft
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Dark Eagles: A History of Top Secret U.S. Aircraft Programs
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Air Force Materiel Command (the successor to AFSC), before
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1981: 2 x MiG-17F, 1 x Lim-5P, 6 x MiG-21F-13, 1 MiG-23BN.
1358:"Media Advisory: AF Declassifies Elite Aggressor Program"
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1980: 1 x MiG-17F, 1 x Lim-5P (MiG-17PF), 6 x MiG-21F-13.
1107:
Daily reported that "reliable observers" had sighted an
694:"Red 84" MiG-21F-13 taxiing past the control tower, 1986
348:(TAC). It is currently inactive. The product of Project
841:: Syrian Lim-5 (MiG-17F), 1969. Transferred as YF-113A.
1386:""We didn't know what 90 percent of the switches did""
1474:, Chapter 2: A Genesis for the Red Eagles, 1972–1977.
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1990
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was established as the second "Aggressor" squadron.
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The mission of Constant Peg was to train Air Force,
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20th-century history of the United States Air Force
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1006:527th Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor Squadron
920:(YF-113C) borrowed from Cambodia in November 1970.
888:: Egyptian MiG-21MF, 1980. Transferred as YF-110D.
882:: Egyptian MiG-23BN, 1978. Transferred as YF-113B.
876:: Egyptian MiG-23MS, 1978. Transferred as YF-113E.
1813:Military units and formations established in 1980
952:The 64th Fighter Weapons Squadron, equipped with
1823:MAJCOM squadrons of the United States Air Force
1152:Status changed to Squadron and re-designated:
847:: Syrian MiG-17F, 1969. Transferred as YF-114C.
931:United States Air Force Fighter Weapons School
1673:
1624:
1440:"How Americans secretly used Soviet aircraft"
1379:
1377:
1134:"Aggressor" aircraft flying from Nellis AFB.
815:1988 inventory: 14 x MiG-21, 9 x MiG-23BN/MS.
443:, as well as the founding of the Air Force's
8:
1692:
1215:measure, the Soviet aircraft had their own
809:1986: 14 x MiG-21F-13/MF, 10 x MiG-23BN/MS.
806:1985: 17 x MiG-21F-13/MF, 10 x MiG-23BN/MS.
208:Air Force Flight Test Center (Detachment 3)
1631:
1617:
1609:
1586:(Rev. ed.). Novato, Calif: Presidio.
1366:. 13 November 2006. 071106. Archived from
803:1984: 15 x MiG-21F-13/MF, 4 x MiG-23BN/MS.
1169:57th Tactical Training Wing, 1 April 1977
722:"Red 49" MiG-23 on the Tonopah ramp, 1988
88:Learn how and when to remove this message
1247:YF-113E Soviet MiG-23MS NATO:"Flogger-E"
118:. This airframe is now displayed at the
1808:Military units and formations in Nevada
1484:
1482:
1480:
1425:
1276:
1143:Established by Tactical Air Command as
994:26th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron
493:shot down, an American F-4 Phantom II,
1471:
1344:
1332:
1283:
99:
1191:, Nevada, 1 April 1977 – 15 July 1990
1071:Ongoing foreign technology evaluation
628:is believed to have sold 12 MiG-23MS
447:program and the United States Navy's
103:4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron
7:
1512:Air Force Historical Research Agency
1261:Used as a chase/DACT training planes
1219:in order to avoid using the actual
1154:4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron
973:MiG-17. In the summer of 1975, the
756:The aircraft were collected at the
590:. Later, it added MiG-21s from the
383:(DACT) methods developed after the
338:4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron
1286:, Chapter 14: Arrival Shows, 1988.
405:Mikoyan-and-Gurevich Design Bureau
25:
1520:Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs
1438:Egorov, Boris (19 January 2021).
1145:4477th Test and Evaluation Flight
1124:422d Test and Evaluation Squadron
681:4477th Test and Evaluation Flight
604:Morocco sold some stored MiG-17s.
582:, who had captured them from the
340:(4477 TES) was a squadron in the
1788:1990 disestablishments in Nevada
1506: This article incorporates
1501:
1384:Sweetman, Bill (7 August 2012).
984:, the United States had some 70
902:: East Germany MiG-29 (YF-116A).
655:In 1987, the USAF bought 12 new
269:
257:
174:
156:
108:
50:
1032:), "Bandit 12", originally of
947:dissimilar air combat training
939:414th Fighter Weapons Squadron
632:interceptors and one MiG-23BN
381:dissimilar air combat training
1:
1783:1980 establishments in Nevada
1259:Northrop T-38/F-5E/F Tiger II
1178:, 1 March 1980 – 15 July 1990
1114:In 2014, it is believed that
990:Republic of Vietnam Air Force
975:65th Fighter Weapons Squadron
199:Foreign Technology Evaluation
1103:during the 1970s and 1980s.
959:Distinguished Flying Crosses
743:Air Force Flight Test Center
389:aggressor training squadrons
27:Squadron in the US Air Force
1674:
1159:Inactivated on 15 July 1990
1147:and activated, 1 April 1977
667:Establishment of the 4477th
344:under the claimancy of the
1859:
1198:Tonopah Test Range Airport
1196:Operationally located at:
677:Tonopah Test Range Airport
659:from China for use in the
529:The other pilots based at
458:
373:United States Marine Corps
213:Tonopah Test Range Airport
30:This article is about the
29:
1228:YF-110B Soviet MiG-21F-13
1176:57th Fighter Weapons Wing
1039:On 21 October 1982, USAF
769:different than expected.
735:Air Force Systems Command
685:57th Fighter Weapons Wing
120:Air Force Armament Museum
107:
1578:Peebles, Curtis (1999).
1217:US aircraft designations
1085:Air Force Combat Command
1020:4477th TEF/TES Accidents
1000:, Philippines, to train
613:Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II
487:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17s
425:Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
403:, secret test flying of
1255:YF-114D Soviet MiG-17PF
1243:YF-113B Soviet MiG-23BN
1239:YF-110D Soviet MiG-21MF
1200:, Nevada, entire period
1118:(ACC) shares access to
1046:crashed with a MiG-23.
870:: Egyptian Su-20, 1977.
550:Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr.
377:weapon systems officers
342:United States Air Force
297:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
293:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
289:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
182:United States Air Force
135:1 May 1980–15 July 1990
59:This article cites its
1693:
1555:. Oxford: Osprey Pub.
1523:. Oxford: Osprey Pub.
1517:Davies, Steve (2008).
1508:public domain material
1251:YF-114C Soviet MiG-17F
1236:B (MiG-21F-13 variant)
1059:
723:
695:
639:Edwards Air Force Base
572:
37:. For other uses, see
1688:Psychological warfare
1189:Nellis Air Force Base
1101:Third World countries
1057:
721:
693:
563:
546:Department of Defense
531:Nellis Air Force Base
459:Further information:
1828:Espionage techniques
1654:Denial and deception
1370:on 15 November 2006.
1132:F-16 Fighting Falcon
954:Northrop T-38 Talons
758:Department of Energy
592:Indonesian Air Force
576:Tactical Air Command
346:Tactical Air Command
1683:Military camouflage
1669:Information warfare
1452:on 19 January 2021.
1213:operations security
1012:, England to train
648:was received after
594:and other sources.
310:Northrop T-38 Talon
1833:Military deception
1803:Nye County, Nevada
1640:Military deception
1116:Air Combat Command
1060:
925:Aggressor training
762:Tonopah Test Range
747:NAS Patuxent River
724:
696:
573:
495:F-105 Thunderchief
369:United States Navy
1770:
1769:
1547:Peck, Gaillard R.
1530:978-1-84603-378-0
1398:on 29 April 2014.
1097:Russian Air Force
1077:57th Fighter Wing
1050:End of operations
1034:Roanoke, Virginia
556:MiGs acquisitions
471:AIM-7 Sparrow III
331:
330:
98:
97:
90:
65:does not provide
16:(Redirected from
1850:
1698:
1679:
1633:
1626:
1619:
1610:
1605:
1585:
1574:
1542:
1505:
1504:
1489:
1486:
1475:
1469:
1454:
1453:
1448:. Archived from
1435:
1429:
1423:
1400:
1399:
1394:. Archived from
1381:
1372:
1371:
1354:
1348:
1342:
1336:
1330:
1287:
1281:
1232:YF-110C Chinese
781:4477th inventory
584:Syrian Air Force
475:AIM-9 Sidewinder
407:(MiG) and other
273:
261:
180:
178:
177:
162:
160:
159:
147:on 4 March 1988.
112:
100:
93:
86:
82:
79:
73:
54:
53:
46:
21:
1858:
1857:
1853:
1852:
1851:
1849:
1848:
1847:
1773:
1772:
1771:
1766:
1752:
1727:
1701:
1642:
1637:
1594:
1577:
1563:
1545:
1531:
1516:
1502:
1498:
1493:
1492:
1487:
1478:
1470:
1457:
1437:
1436:
1432:
1424:
1403:
1383:
1382:
1375:
1356:
1355:
1351:
1343:
1339:
1331:
1290:
1282:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1209:
1185:
1174:Re-designated:
1166:
1140:
1120:Mikoyan MiG-29s
1073:
1052:
1022:
1004:pilots and the
927:
822:
783:
708:
669:
588:Iraqi Air Force
558:
463:
457:
413:Yakovlev Yak-23
397:
387:. Today's USAF
334:
326:Mitsubishi MU-2
241:
234:
211:
191:Flight/Squadron
175:
173:
157:
155:
127:
94:
83:
77:
74:
71:
67:page references
55:
51:
42:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1856:
1854:
1846:
1845:
1840:
1838:Special forces
1835:
1830:
1825:
1820:
1815:
1810:
1805:
1800:
1795:
1790:
1785:
1775:
1774:
1768:
1767:
1763:The Art of War
1760:
1758:
1754:
1753:
1751:
1750:
1745:
1735:
1733:
1729:
1728:
1726:
1725:
1720:
1715:
1713:Military dummy
1709:
1707:
1703:
1702:
1700:
1699:
1695:Ruse de guerre
1690:
1685:
1680:
1671:
1666:
1661:
1659:Disinformation
1656:
1650:
1648:
1644:
1643:
1638:
1636:
1635:
1628:
1621:
1613:
1607:
1606:
1592:
1575:
1561:
1543:
1529:
1514:
1497:
1494:
1491:
1490:
1476:
1455:
1430:
1401:
1373:
1349:
1347:, p. 328.
1337:
1288:
1275:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1263:
1262:
1256:
1253:
1248:
1245:
1240:
1237:
1230:
1223:designations.
1208:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1193:
1192:
1184:
1181:
1180:
1179:
1171:
1170:
1165:
1162:
1161:
1160:
1157:
1149:
1148:
1139:
1136:
1072:
1069:
1051:
1048:
1021:
1018:
998:Clark Air Base
982:Fall of Saigon
967:Yom Kippur War
926:
923:
922:
921:
910:
903:
896:
889:
883:
877:
871:
865:
854:
851:Have Privilege
848:
842:
836:
821:
818:
817:
816:
813:
810:
807:
804:
800:
799:
796:
793:
790:
787:
782:
779:
751:Weapons School
728:Century Series
713:MiG experience
707:
704:
668:
665:
657:Shenyang F-7Bs
617:
616:
608:
605:
602:
557:
554:
479:F4H Phantom II
456:
453:
396:
393:
332:
329:
328:
319:
313:
312:
307:
301:
300:
286:
280:
279:
278:Aircraft flown
275:
274:
267:
263:
262:
255:
251:
250:
246:
245:
236:
230:
229:
225:
224:
221:
217:
216:
205:
201:
200:
197:
193:
192:
189:
185:
184:
171:
167:
166:
153:
149:
148:
141:
137:
136:
133:
129:
128:
113:
105:
104:
96:
95:
58:
56:
49:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1855:
1844:
1841:
1839:
1836:
1834:
1831:
1829:
1826:
1824:
1821:
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1804:
1801:
1799:
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1791:
1789:
1786:
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1781:
1780:
1778:
1765:
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1759:
1755:
1749:
1746:
1744:
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1740:
1738:
1734:
1730:
1724:
1721:
1719:
1716:
1714:
1711:
1710:
1708:
1704:
1697:
1696:
1691:
1689:
1686:
1684:
1681:
1678:
1677:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1651:
1649:
1645:
1641:
1634:
1629:
1627:
1622:
1620:
1615:
1614:
1611:
1603:
1599:
1595:
1593:9780891416234
1589:
1584:
1583:
1576:
1572:
1568:
1564:
1562:9781849089760
1558:
1554:
1553:
1548:
1544:
1540:
1536:
1532:
1526:
1522:
1521:
1515:
1513:
1510:from the
1509:
1500:
1499:
1495:
1485:
1483:
1481:
1477:
1473:
1468:
1466:
1464:
1462:
1460:
1456:
1451:
1447:
1446:
1445:Russia Beyond
1441:
1434:
1431:
1427:
1422:
1420:
1418:
1416:
1414:
1412:
1410:
1408:
1406:
1402:
1397:
1393:
1392:
1391:Aviation Week
1387:
1380:
1378:
1374:
1369:
1365:
1364:
1359:
1353:
1350:
1346:
1341:
1338:
1334:
1329:
1327:
1325:
1323:
1321:
1319:
1317:
1315:
1313:
1311:
1309:
1307:
1305:
1303:
1301:
1299:
1297:
1295:
1293:
1289:
1285:
1280:
1277:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1238:
1235:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1224:
1222:
1218:
1214:
1206:
1204:
1199:
1195:
1194:
1190:
1187:
1186:
1182:
1177:
1173:
1172:
1168:
1167:
1163:
1158:
1155:
1151:
1150:
1146:
1142:
1141:
1137:
1135:
1133:
1129:
1126:aircrews and
1125:
1121:
1117:
1112:
1110:
1109:Su-27 Flanker
1104:
1102:
1098:
1094:
1088:
1086:
1080:
1078:
1070:
1068:
1064:
1056:
1049:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1037:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1019:
1017:
1015:
1011:
1010:RAF Alconbury
1007:
1003:
999:
995:
991:
987:
986:F-5E Tiger II
983:
978:
976:
972:
968:
962:
960:
955:
950:
948:
944:
940:
936:
932:
924:
919:
915:
911:
908:
904:
901:
897:
894:
890:
887:
884:
881:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
859:
855:
852:
849:
846:
843:
840:
837:
834:
833:Have Doughnut
831:
830:
829:
827:
820:HAVE programs
819:
814:
811:
808:
805:
802:
801:
797:
794:
791:
788:
785:
784:
780:
778:
774:
770:
767:
763:
759:
754:
752:
748:
744:
740:
736:
733:The focus of
731:
729:
720:
716:
714:
705:
703:
700:
692:
688:
686:
682:
678:
673:
666:
664:
662:
658:
653:
651:
647:
642:
640:
635:
631:
627:
621:
614:
609:
606:
603:
600:
599:
598:
595:
593:
589:
585:
581:
577:
570:
567:
562:
555:
553:
551:
547:
543:
538:
536:
532:
526:
524:
519:
516:
512:
511:HAVE DOUGHNUT
507:
503:
500:
496:
492:
488:
482:
480:
476:
472:
468:
462:
454:
452:
450:
446:
442:
438:
432:
428:
426:
422:
418:
414:
410:
406:
402:
394:
392:
390:
386:
382:
378:
374:
370:
365:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
339:
333:Military unit
327:
323:
320:
318:
314:
311:
308:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
287:
285:
281:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
247:
244:
243:George Gennin
240:
239:Gaillard Peck
237:
231:
226:
222:
218:
214:
209:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
183:
172:
168:
165:
164:United States
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
134:
130:
125:
121:
117:
111:
106:
101:
92:
89:
81:
69:
68:
62:
57:
48:
47:
44:
40:
36:
33:
19:
1761:
1737:World War II
1581:
1551:
1519:
1496:Bibliography
1450:the original
1443:
1433:
1426:Peebles 1999
1396:the original
1389:
1368:the original
1361:
1352:
1340:
1279:
1210:
1203:
1156:, 1 May 1980
1153:
1144:
1113:
1105:
1089:
1081:
1074:
1065:
1061:
1038:
1025:
1023:
979:
970:
963:
951:
928:
918:Shenyang F-5
913:
906:
899:
892:
885:
879:
873:
867:
862:Shenyang J-6
860:: Pakistani
857:
850:
844:
838:
832:
825:
823:
775:
771:
766:Sukhoi Su-25
755:
732:
725:
712:
709:
701:
697:
680:
674:
670:
661:Constant Peg
654:
649:
645:
643:
633:
629:
622:
618:
596:
574:
539:
527:
520:
508:
504:
499:F-8 Crusader
483:
467:AIM-4 Falcon
464:
433:
429:
421:Lockheed U-2
398:
366:
350:Constant Peg
349:
337:
335:
115:
84:
75:
64:
43:
18:Constant Peg
1472:Davies 2008
1345:Davies 2008
1333:Davies 2008
1284:Davies 2008
1234:Chengdu J-7
1164:Assignments
1044:Mark Postai
626:Anwar Sadat
523:NAS Miramar
441:Vietnam War
437:dogfighting
385:Vietnam War
375:pilots and
220:Nickname(s)
204:Garrison/HQ
78:August 2023
1777:Categories
1732:Operations
1676:Maskirovka
1664:False flag
1647:Techniques
1266:References
1128:F-15 Eagle
971:HAVE FERRY
943:HAVE FERRY
935:Nellis AFB
880:Have Boxer
845:Have Ferry
839:Have Drill
828:Squadron.
739:front line
706:Operations
535:Groom Lake
515:HAVE DRILL
509:Under the
322:Cessna 404
235:commanders
228:Commanders
223:Red Eagles
126:, Florida.
1748:Bodyguard
1706:Equipment
1571:769425325
1539:231885515
1271:Citations
980:With the
914:Privilege
886:Have Coat
646:Flogger F
634:Flogger F
630:Flogger E
542:Gail Peck
417:Have Blue
317:Transport
140:Disbanded
124:Eglin AFB
39:Red Eagle
1602:68131838
1549:(2012).
1207:Aircraft
1183:Stations
1016:pilots.
874:Have Pad
826:Red Hats
451:school.
445:Red Flag
401:Cold War
249:Insignia
215:, Nevada
210:, Nevada
35:squadron
1843:Area 51
1743:Bertram
1138:Lineage
1041:Captain
868:Have Up
650:Area 51
491:MiG-21s
461:Area 51
455:Origins
395:History
362:MiG-23s
358:MiG-21s
354:MiG-17s
305:Trainer
284:Fighter
233:Notable
152:Country
145:sorties
61:sources
1723:Q-ship
1600:
1590:
1569:
1559:
1537:
1527:
1221:Soviet
1211:As an
580:Israel
473:, and
449:TOPGUN
409:Soviet
179:
170:Branch
161:
132:Active
1757:Texts
1718:Decoy
1093:Su-22
1014:USAFE
1002:PACAF
912:Have
905:Have
898:Have
893:Track
891:Have
856:Have
497:, or
423:, or
143:Last
1598:OCLC
1588:ISBN
1567:OCLC
1557:ISBN
1535:OCLC
1525:ISBN
1363:USAF
1130:and
1030:VX-4
907:Nose
900:Loan
858:Boat
586:and
566:USAF
564:Two
513:and
371:and
360:and
336:The
295:and
196:Role
188:Type
63:but
32:USAF
1026:002
1008:at
996:at
933:at
760:'s
569:F-5
489:or
116:014
1779::
1739::
1596:.
1565:.
1533:.
1479:^
1458:^
1442:.
1404:^
1388:.
1376:^
1360:.
1291:^
916::
687:.
469:,
419:,
356:,
324:,
291:,
122:,
1632:e
1625:t
1618:v
1604:.
1573:.
1541:.
1428:.
1335:.
299:.
91:)
85:(
80:)
76:(
70:.
41:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
