39th Flying Training Squadron

39th Flying Training Squadron[1]

39th Flying Training Squadron Patch
Active 1 February 1940 – 8 December 1957
15 October 1969 – 15 March 1974
1 July 1977 – 11 May 1984
2 April 1990 – 15 December 1991
8 September 1993 – 1 September 1999
2 April 2001 – 21 July 2007
12 September 2007 – present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Pilot Training
Decorations DUC
AFOUA
PPUC
ROK PUC
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Lt. Col. Thomas J. Lynch
39th FTS formation flying
General Dynamics F-16B Block 1 Fighting Falcon – 78-0097 when assigned to the 39th TS at Eglin AFB, about 1995. The oldest active F-16 in the USAF inventory, originally delivered to the 388th TFW, Hill AFB in 1979
Above aircraft being expended on 19 August 2010 on the Eglin AFB range testing validity of the QF-16 target program
39th TFTS F-4C 64-0781 at George AFB, About 1980
F-86D Sabre Interceptor 52-4038 at Yokota Air Base, 1955
Emblem of the 4417th Combat Crew Training Squadron

The 39th Flying Training Squadron (39 FTS) is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Mission

It operates the T-6 Texan II, T-1A Jayhawk and T-38 Talon aircraft conducting Pilot Instructor Training.

History

Activated by Northeast Air District (later First Air Force) as a P-40 Warhawk pursuit squadron, assigned to Selfridge Field, Michigan. Moved to Baer Field, Indiana during the summer of 1941. Deployed to the Pacific Northwest after the Pearl Harbor Attack and flew Antisubmarine patrols off the coast of Washington from, c. 15 December 1941-c. 15 January 1942.

Re-equipped with long-range P-38 Lightnings and deployed to Fifth Air Force in Australia, June 1942. Engaged in combat operations against the Japanese in the Lightning, but became the second Pacific Theater Fighter Group to convert to the P-47 in late 1943. Conducted combat operations in the P-47 Thunderbolt from late 1943 through Spring 1945. Participated in offensives in the Netherlands East Indies, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa.

Re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs and moved to Japan as part of the Army of Occupation, September 1945, remaining as part of the Far East Air Forces air defense mission throughout the postwar era. Engaged in combat, June 1950, during the initial actions of the Korean War. Re-equipped with F-80 Shooting Star jets, fighting air-to-air combat against communist aircraft and engaging in ground support missions supporting United Nations Forces, 1950–1953. Returned to Japan after the 1953 armistice and upgraded to the purpose-built F-94 Starfire interceptor flying air defense missions. Inactivated 1957 due to budget restraints.

Reactivated by Tactical Air Command in 1969 at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Equipped with reconnaissance and electronic warfare versions of the B-66 Destroyer and trained tactical reconnaissance and electronic warfare crews from, 1969–1974 when the B-66 was retired. Moved to George AFB, California and equipped with F-4E Phantom IIs. Trained Wild Weasel aircrews in SAM suppression tactics from, 1977–1984. Inactivated when the F-4 was retired.

Re-activated by Air Training Command as an UPT squadron with T-38s, 1990–1991. Transferred to Air Force Material Command, 1993 as a flight test squadron on various weapons systems from 1993 to 1999, then went back to AETC providing flying training from 2001 onwards.[1]

Lineage

39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron – Emblem
Activated on 1 February 1940
Redesignated: 39th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated: 39th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 27 October 1942
Redesignated: 39th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 19 February 1944
Redesignated: 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 January 1950
Inactivated on 8 December 1957
Organized on 15 October 1969, assuming personnel and equipment of 4417th Combat Crew Training Squadron
Redesignated 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron on 15 February 1970[note 1]
Inactivated on 15 March 1974
Activated on 1 July 1977
Redesignated 39th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 9 October 1980
Inactivated on 11 May 1984
Activated on 2 April 1990
Inactivated on 15 December 1991
Activated on 8 September 1993
Redesignated 39th Flight Test Squadron on 15 March 1994
Inactivated on 1 September 1999
Activated in the Reserve on 2 April 2001.

[1]

Assignments

Attached to: 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 7 May 1951 – 1 Jun 1952
Attached to: 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 Jun 1952 – 14 Jul 1954
Attached to: 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 April 1969 – 31 December 1971

[1]

Stations

Rogers (Rarona) Airfield (30 Mile Drome)
Schwimmer Airfield (14 Mile Drome)

[1]

Aircraft

[1]

Operations

[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ The 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron is not related to the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, which was constituted on 18 March 1969 and activated 1 April 1969 at Spangdahlem Air Base, and inactivated 1 January 1973.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AFHRA 39 FTS Page

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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