Hobby Master Archive

The 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron is based at the Tonopah Test Range Airfield, Nevada and was tasked with training USAF, USN and USMC crews how to better fight Soviet aircraft. The 4477th pilots would act as aggressors called Bandits flying Soviet built aircraft acquired by countries friendly to the US. Some of the aircraft used were MiG-17, 21, 23 and the Chinese Shenyang F-7B. MiG-23MS “Red 49” was used by Major Thomas Drake in 294 sorties and was the most experienced pilot of the 69 Bandits.