Major Suits was assigned to the 6512th Test Squadron, also known as "Test Ops", which was activated on October 1, 1969 and was responsible for providing test support for the various test teams under the 6510 Test Wing. The Wing's test teams were responsible for their own test pilots and test aircraft, however, Test Ops (6512th TS) would provide support aircraft and crews as required. The 6512th TS operated F-4C, F-4D, F-4E, and RF-4C aircraft for flight test operations and for test pilot training purposes. Test Ops was also involved in small test projects that did not warrant the organization of a large or dedicated test force. It was here, in 1972 that a special test branch of the 6512th was organized to support the relatively small, but highly classified flight test program to determine the performance capabilities and handling characteristics of the MiG aircraft under Project HAVE IDEA. This would include systems level testing, such as HAVE LIGHTER.
During this period Suits, who was flight testing the F-111, was acting as the HAVE IDEA test pilot for the project in a "part-time or as an additional duty effort," requiring him and the other six members of the branch to travel from Edwards AFB to other, more remote areas to conduct the tests. Winters (also involved in the F-111 test and crashing the aircraft in September 1972 after a spin. He later become a Area 51's Base Commander) and other test pilots soon began to arrive assisting in technical exploitation of the MiGs. As the activity grew and more MiGs began to arrive at the remote site, then Commander of Edwards AFB, General Thomas Stafford (former Gemini and Apollo astronaut), who was commander there from November 1975 to April 1978, recognized that the classified aircraft testing effort needed to be recategorized from a "branch" to a "squadron."
General Stafford found that the chief of the special project branch was directly responsible for the test scheduling, flying safety, flying operations, personnel, maintenance, refurbishment, and security clearances. He was, in fact, the on-site representative of the Flight Test Center commander, and thus responsible for insuring that the HAVE IDEA mission was effectively and safely accomplished. His responsibilities were much more those of a squadron commander than a branch chief.
The branch designation also resulted in difficulties and delays for the HAVE IDEA team to get the needed resources it deserved for such an important mission. General Stafford believed that organizing the branch as a separate squadron would eliminate these problems and officially reflect the role which the branch had already unofficially assumed. The organization would not require any new manpower authorizations; the new squadrons would be staffed with existing branch personnel. Their job titles would simply be adjusted to reflect actual squadron duties. The most notable change would come at the top of the organization where a lieutenant colonel would be designated as squadron commander, replacing Major Suits, who had been the chief of the branch.
The request to activate the squadron was approved at Systems Command on 22 November 1977, and the 6513th Test Squadron "Red Hats" was officially activated on December 1 with its first commander, Lt. Col. David L. Ferguson (later renown test pilot for Lockheed on the F-117A and F-22).
