3225th Drone Squadron

The 3225th Drone Squadron is an discontinued United

3225th Drone Squadron
States Air Force unit. It was last active with the Air Force
Missile Development Center, based at Holloman Air
Force Base, New Mexico. It was discontinued on 25
October 1963.

Contents
History
Lineage
Assignments Unidentified QB-17L Flying Fortress, 3225th
Stations Drone Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico,
Aircraft 1959

References Active 1953-1963

External links Country United States

Branch United States Air Force
Role Drone operations
History
Organized as "Detachment 1", 3201st Air Base Support Squadron, on 26 April 1950, taking over mission of
2d Guided Missiles Squadron (GMS), 550th Guided Missiles Wing. Operated QB/DB-17 Flying Fortress
drone/director aircraft drones as flying targets for the early Army Nike Ajax surface-to-air missile or for the
Hughes Falcon air-to-air missiles being tested at White Sands Missile Range. Also supplied aerial targets as
needed by the Air Force Missile Development Center.

Upgraded to squadron level in 1953. Began operating BQM-34A Firebee Drones in 1957 to provide remote-
controlled target aircraft for Center. The squadron would also support test projects and provide land
recovery for target drones. A notable moment in the squadron's history is that a Douglas/Long Beach DB-
17P (Formerly B-17G-90-DL) 44-83684 flew the last operational mission by a USAF Flying Fortress on 6
August 1959.

Began operating Ryan Q2-C, the improved version of the first Firebee in 1960. It had more powerful
engines, could climb faster and higher. Formally transferred to the Missile Development Center in 1961,
operated Firebee drones and assisted in its development. Inactivated 1963 when program consolidated with
Air Defense Command at Tyndall AFB, Florida.

Lineage
Organized as 3225th Drone Squadron on 1 January 1953

Discontinued on 25 October 1963

Assignments
 3205th Drone Group, 1 January 1953
Air Proving Ground Center, 1 February 1961
Air Force Missile Development Center, 1 March 1961 – 25 October 1963

Stations
Holloman AFB, NM. 1 January 1953 – 25 October 1963

Aircraft
DB-17P Flying Fortress (Director Aircraft)
QB-17L Flying Fortress (Drone Aircraft)
QB-17N Flying Fortress (Drone Aircraft)
BQM-34A Firebee (Drone)

References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website
http://www.afhra.af.mil/ (http://www.afhra.af.mil/).

E-mail communication, AFHRA, Lineage and Honors History, 3225th Drone Squadron, 10
August 2012

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=3225th_Drone_Squadron&oldid=904582668"

This page was last edited on 3 July 2019, at 03:53 (UTC).

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