17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron

17th Defense System Evaluation System
Martin RB-57E 55-4253 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron, about 1975
Active	1974–1979
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Air Defense Command
Part of	24th Air Division
Garrison/HQ	Malmstrom Air Force Base
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Meritorious Unit Commendation
Commanders
Current commander	Col Thomas W. Liner, 28 June 1974 Maj Gen Louis G. Leiser, 30 July 1974 Col David B. Ballou, 29 March 1977 (interim) Maj Gen Don D. Pittman, 29 April 1977 Maj Gen Walter H. Baxter III, 29 September 1978
Insignia
17th DSES Squadron Patch

The 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 24th Air Division of Aerospace Defense Command at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. It was inactivated on 13 July 1979.

The squadron was first activated during World War II at Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii. It provided gunnery training to fighter aircraft of Seventh Air Force until being inactivated in the post war reduction of the United States military.

The squadron was again activated under Air Defense Command (ADC) at Vincent Air Force Base, Arizona in 1955 as an element of the 4750th Air Defense Wing. It moved with the wing to MacDill AFB, Florida in 1959, where it was inactivated when ADC concentrated its fighter weapons training at Tyndall AFB, Florida.

The squadron was first activated during World War II at Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii. It provided gunnery training to fighter aircraft of Seventh Air Force until being inactivated in the post war reduction of the United States military. For its "resourcefulness and efficiency" the unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. After April 1946, the squadron flew very few missions as it prepared for inactivation.