4450th Tactical Group
Inactive United States Air Force unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 4450th Tactical Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and operationally located at Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada. It was inactivated on 5 October 1989.
4450th Tactical Group | |
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Active | 15 October 1979 – 5 October 1989 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Group |
Role | Development of F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter |
Part of | Tactical Air Command |
Garrison/HQ | Headquartered at: Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Operationally located at Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada |
Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (3x) Awarded Air Force Association's David C. Schilling Award for 1988 for "breaking new ground in flight, operational planning, and tactical execution. " |
Insignia | |
4450th Tactical Group emblem |
The United States Air Force F-117A Stealth Fighter program began on 15 October 1979 with the activation of the Tactical Air Command 4450th Tactical Group (TG) at the Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada. The 4450th Tactical Group was a pathfinder unit, moving the F-117A from the research and development stage to becoming a fully operational weapons system.
On 10 November 1988, the Air Force officially announced the F-117A's existence to the public, and set the 4450th on the road to inactivation. On 5 October 1989, its F-117A aircraft, equipment personnel and mission were transferred to the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing was transferred from George Air Force Base, California, to carry out the F-117's sensitive worldwide mission.