Squadron awarded Grover Loening Trophy Published April 8, 2016 Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida, is the recipient of the Grover Loening Trophy for 2015. The 84th TES is a geographically separated unit assigned to the 926th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada. The award, announced March 31, recognizes Air Force Reserve Command's best flying unit, exclusive of combat rescue and special operations units. The squadron was recognized for performance from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2015. According to the award citation, squadron personnel led and executed high profile test and evaluation programs, including the combat air force's air-to-ground Weapons System Evaluation Program and Electronic Warfare Evaluation Program, and tested nearly all emerging 4th generation operational flight software. The squadron's efforts were key to executing the 53rd Wing's annual flying hour program of more than 3,000 hours and 1,900 sorties in support of a $21 billion test portfolio. In the early 1920s, Grover and Albert Loening made history when they designed the Loening OA-1A, a unique observation amphibian aircraft. The Army ordered 45 OA-1As that were used in the Pacific theater of operations, and a total of 169 aircraft were built for other military uses, to include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Around the 1960s, the Loening brothers requested more recognition programs for certain units and personnel. Soon after, the request was approved, and the first Grover Loening trophy was presented in September 1963. The award was given to a troop carrier wing that achieved the most outstanding tactical excellence that year. Albert Loening also established an award, which recognized operational excellence amongst Reserve rescue and recovery units.