| 1st Proving Ground Group | |
|---|---|
 1st Proving Ground Group- Emblem | |
| Active | 1939-1947 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Missile training |
The 1st Proving Ground Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active with the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, based at Eglin Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 April 1944. The unit's personnel/equipment/mission was taken over by the 610th Army Air Forces Base Unit, which was discontinued on 30 June 1947
History
Established in Orlando, Florida, August 1939. Undetermined whether manned or equipped. Transferred from Orlando for permanent assignment to Eglin Field to conduct flight testing activities, June 1941.[1]
1944, conducted "Operation Crossbow" program to determine the best method of attacking German V-1 “buzz bomb” sites along the French and Dutch coasts, February 1944. Began testing the JB-2 Loon, an American version of the German V-1, which became the foundation of the Air Force guided missile program, October 1944.[2]
Lineage
- Re-designated as: Air Corps Proving Ground Detachment. 1 July 1941
- Re-designated as: Air Corps Proving Ground Group, 10 April 1942
- Re-designated as: 1st Proving Ground Group, 16 April 1943
- Inactivated on 1 April 1944.
- 610th Army Air Forces Base Unit, activated 1 April 1944
- Assumed equipment and personnel of 1st Proving Ground Group
- Discontinued on 30 June 1947
Assignments
- Air Corps Training Center, 1 August 1939[3]
- Southeast Air Corps Training Center, 27 August 1940
- Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, 1 April 1942-1 April 1944
- Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, 1 April 1944
- Army Air Forces Center, 1 June 1945
- Re-designated Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, 8 March 1946-30 June 1947
Stations
- Orlando, Florida, 1 August 1939[1][3]
- Eglin Field, Florida, 30 June 1941- 1 April 1944
- Eglin Field, Florida, 1 April 1944-30 June 1947
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ a b c AFHRA Document 00155482
- ^ History of Eglin Air Force Base. Air Armament Center Office of History
- ^ a b c Mueller, Robert (1989). Volume 1: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. ISBN 0-912799-53-6, ISBN 0-16-002261-4