3200th Proof Test Group
The 3200th Proof Test Group was a United States Air Force unit that is no longer active. Its last assignment was with the Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and it was inactivated on July 1, 1953.
Established in 1948 at Eglin, the group was formed from the 3200th Air Transport Test Squadron and took over the mission of the World War II–era 1st Proving Ground Group. Much of its work was classified, focusing on service testing, training, and demonstrations of weapons systems under development.
The group tested a wide range of aircraft and devices, including the B-50 Superfortress, F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet, F-86 Sabre, B-45 Tornado, Hughes XF-11, Republic XF-12 Rainbow, SA-16 Albatross, C-119 Flying Boxcar, Hughes XH-17 helicopter, and other systems. It operated a climate-controlled hangar to test aircraft in conditions from arctic cold to desert heat.
Notable activities included launching JB-2 missiles from under the wings of B-36 Peacemaker bombers in spring 1949, and later using JB-2s as aerial targets for infrared gunsights under project MX-544 at Wagner Field. The fourth F-82B Twin Mustang (44-65163) carried retractable pylons for ten HVAR rockets, a setup not adopted on later models. The 13th aircraft (44-65171) was fitted with a center-wing pod housing recon cameras and was unofficially designated RF-82B (later changed to F-82 in 1948). An F-84 was modified to carry 32 six-inch HVARs for ground-attack testing. Other programs included testing the TM-61 Madador guided missile, evaluating the YH-12 assault helicopter, and assessing the operational suitability of the B-47 Stratojet.
The group also competed in the National Air Race in Detroit in 1951, winning the Bendix Trophy with an F-86 Sabre.
In July 1953, the 3200th Proof Test Group was inactivated, and its mission, personnel, and equipment were reassigned to the new 3206th Test Group.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:22 (CET).