50th Flying Training Squadron

50th Flying Training Squadron
Four T-38Cs from Columbus AFB
Active	1941-1944; 1947-1949; 1972-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Undergraduate Pilot Training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Columbus Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Strikin' Snakes
Engagements	European Theater of Operations^[1]
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award^[1]
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Jason Hilburn
Insignia
50th Flying Training Squadron emblem^[1]
50th Pursuit Squadron emblem (approved 1 April 1942)^[2]

The 50th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. It operates Northrop T-38C Talon aircraft conducting flight training.

Mission

Training Combat Pilots for America

The advanced phase of undergraduate pilot training is conducted by the 50th Flying Training Squadron. This phase consists of 101.69 hours of academic instruction, 69 hours of ground training, 36.9 hours of simulator instruction, and 69 sorties comprising 96.9 hours of flight instruction in the Northrop T-38C. Training includes advanced aircraft handling, tactical navigation, fluid maneuvering and an increased emphasis in two- and four-ship formation. At the completion of training, the graduate is awarded the aeronautical rating of pilot.

History

World War II

Lockheed P-38F-5-LO Lightning 42-12596 of the 50th Fighter Squadron in Iceland, 1942

The 50th flew patrols on the West Coast of the United States from February–June 1942 then provided air defense of Iceland from August 1942-February 1944. It was not operational between February 1944 and its inactivation in August 1944.

Air Force reserves

The squadron was active in the reserve from 1947 to 1949.

Flying training

The squadron has conducted undergraduate pilot training since, 1 June 1972.^[1]

Lineage

Constituted as the 50th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 20 November 1940

Activated on 15 January 1941

Redesignated 50th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942

Redesignated 50th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 28 February 1944

Disbanded on 9 August 1944

Reconstituted and redesignated 50th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 23 May 1947

Activated in the reserve on 12 June 1947

Inactivated on 27 June 1949

Redesignated 50th Flying Training Squadron on 22 Mar 1972

Activated on 1 June 1972^[1]

Assignments

14th Pursuit Group (later 14th Fighter Group), 15 January 1941
342d Composite Group, 14 November 1942
Eighth Air Force, February–9 Aug 1944 (attached to 8th Reconnaissance Group (Provisional) [later, 802d Reconnaissance Group {Provisional)])
Second Air Force, 12 June 1947
381st Bombardment Group, 30 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
14th Flying Training Wing, 1 Jun 1972
14th Operations Group, 15 December 1991 – present^[1]

Stations

Hamilton Field, California, 15 January 1941
March Field, California, 10 June 1941
Metropolitan Oakland Municipal Airport, California, 8 February 1942
Hamilton Field, California, 9 May–16 July 1942
RAF Atcham (Station 342),^[3] England, 18 August 1942 (operated from Meeks Field, Iceland)
Meeks Field, Iceland, 14 November 1942

RAF Nuthampstead (Station 131),^[3] England, Feb 1944
RAF Cheddington (Station 113),^[3] England, c. 15 Mar 1944
RAF Watton (Station 376),^[3] England, 12 April–9 August 1944
Offutt Field (later Offutt Air Force Base), Nebraska, 12 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, 1 Jun 1972 – present)^[4]

Aircraft

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1941–1942)
Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1942–1944)
North American AT-6 Texan (1947–1949)
Northrop T-38A Talon (1972–2003)
Northrop T-38C Talon (2002–Present)^[1]

References

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Robertson, Patsy (April 3, 2014). "Factsheet 50 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 215-216
1 2 3 4 Station number in Anderson.
↑ Stations in Robertson, except as noted.

External links

50th Flying Training Squadron Website

Columbus AFB Public Site:

http://www.columbus.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5233

Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
Air Forces	Second Nineteenth Air University
Bases	Altus Columbus Goodfellow Gunter Annex Keesler Lackland Laughlin Luke Maxwell Randolph Sheppard Tyndall Vance
Wings	12th Flying Training 14th Flying Training 17th Training 33d Fighter 37th Training 42d Air Base 47th Flying Training 56th Fighter 58th Special Operations 59th Medical 71st Flying Training 80th Flying Training 81st Training 82d Training 97th Air Mobility 314th Airlift 502d Air Base
Groups	336th Training Group 381st Training Group

United States Air Force

Leadership

Structure

Commands	Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations
Direct Reporting Units	District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy
Major Commands	Air Combat Air Education and Training Air Mobility Global Strike Materiel Reserve Space Special Operations Europe & Africa Pacific
Numbered Air Forces	First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Fourth Twenty-Fifth Air Forces Central
Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol

Personnel and
training

Uniforms and
equipment

History and
traditions

Category
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