The 39th Flying Training Squadron is part of the
340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the
12th Flying Training Wing
The 12th Flying Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force. It is headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. The wing is the parent organization for the 479th Flyin ...
based at
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base was an United States Air Force base located at Universal City, Texas ( east-northeast of Downtown San Antonio).
Opened in 1931, Randolph has been a flying training facility for the United States Army Air Corps, the Un ...
, Texas.
The
squadron
Squadron may refer to:
* Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies
* Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, ...
was first activated as the 39th Pursuit Squadron in the buildup of the
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical r ...
in response to the
War in Europe. It moved to the Pacific Coast in response to the
attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii ...
and briefly flew
antisubmarine
An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapo ...
patrols before deploying to the
Southwest Pacific Theater
The South West Pacific theatre, during World War II, was a major theatre of the war between the Allies and the Axis. It included the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies (except for Sumatra), Borneo, Australia and its mandate Territory of ...
, earning two
Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC)s and a
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States mi ...
for its actions during the war.
The squadron remained in the Far East and as the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was part of the
air defenses of Japan when North Korea invaded South Korea. The 39th earned two more DUCs and a
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation () is a military unit award of the government of South Korea that may be presented to South Korean military units, and foreign military units for outstanding performance in defense of the Republic o ...
during
combat in Korea. Following the 1953 truce, the squadron returned to Japan, serving as an air defense unit until inactivating in December 1957.
The squadron was activated as the 39th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron in 1969 when
Tactical Air Command replaced its
Command controlled (4 digit) units with Air Force controlled units. It trained
Douglas B-66 Destroyer
The Douglas B-66 Destroyer is a light bomber that was designed and produced by the American aviation manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company.
The B-66 was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) and is heavily based upon the United Stat ...
aircrews until inactivating in 1974.
The squadron has been a flying training unit since 1990, except for a brief stint as a test squadron.
Mission
It operates the
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company ( Textron Aviation since 2014). A trainer aircraft based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 has replaced the United States Air Force's Cessna ...
,
Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk and
Northrop T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first, and the most produced, supersonic trainer. The T-38 remains in service in several air forces.
The United States Air Force (USAF) operates the most ...
aircraft conducting Pilot Instructor Training.
History
World War II
Activated by Northeast Air District (later
First Air Force) as the 39th Pursuit Squadron, a
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time an ...
pursuit squadron, at
Selfridge Field
Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens. Selfridge Field was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the Unit ...
, Michigan, where it was one of a number of units drawing its
cadre from the
1st Pursuit Group
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and reco ...
, stationed there. The squadron moved to
Baer Field
Baer (or Bär, from german: bear, links=no) or Van Baer is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Baer
* Alan Baer, American tuba player
* Arthur "Bugs" Baer (1886–1969), American journalist and humorist
* Buddy Baer (1915–198 ...
, Indiana the day before the
attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii ...
, but was soon rushed to
Bellingham Army Air Field, where it flew
antisubmarine
An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapo ...
patrols off the coast of Washington until the middle of January 1942, when it was reassigned from the
31st Pursuit Group to the
35th Pursuit Group Military units
*35th Fighter Wing, an air combat unit of the United States Air Force
*35th Infantry Division (United States), a formation of the National Guard since World War I
*35th Infantry Regiment (United States), a regiment created on 1 July 1 ...
, which was preparing for deployment to Australia.
[
]
Re-equipped with long-range Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and deployed to Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organizat ...
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 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in late 1943. Conducted combat operations in the 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.
Far East Air Forces
Re-equipped with North American P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...
s and moved to Japan as part of the army of occupation, September 1945, remaining as part of the Far East Air Forces
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (fo ...
air defense mission throughout the postwar era. Engaged in combat, June 1950, during the initial actions of the Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
. Re-equipped with Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, prod ...
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 Lockheed F-94 Starfire
The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was a first-generation jet powered all-weather, day/night interceptor of the United States Air Force. A twin-seat craft, it was developed from the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star trainer in the late 1940s. It reached o ...
interceptor flying air defense missions.
The squadron moved to Johnson Air Base on 20 July 1954 and established temporary air defense detachments on the same day at Komaki Air Base
, also known as Komaki Airport or Nagoya Airport, is an airport which lies within the local government areas of Toyoyama, Komaki, Kasugai and Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was once an international airport, but is now a domestic sec ...
,[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 183. Haulman misspells this as Komati.] Japan to 4 August 1954 and at Misawa Air Base
is an air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), List of United States Air Force installations, the United States Air Force, and the United States Navy located in Misawa, Aomori, Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, Aomori, in the northern p ...
, Japan to 27 August 1954.[ The squadron was inactivated in December 1957.][
]
Tactical Air Command
Reactivated by Tactical Air Command in 1969 at Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately west-northwest of downtown Sumter, South Carolina. It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is under the jurisdict ...
, South Carolina, assuming the personnel and equipment of the 4417th Combat Crew Training Squadron. Equipped with reconnaissance and electronic warfare versions of the Douglas B-66 Destroyer
The Douglas B-66 Destroyer is a light bomber that was designed and produced by the American aviation manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company.
The B-66 was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) and is heavily based upon the United Stat ...
and trained tactical reconnaissance
In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities.
Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...
and electronic warfare
Electronic warfare (EW) is any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponen ...
crews from, 1969–1974 when the B-66 was retired. Moved to George Air Force Base
George Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located within the city limits, 8 miles northwest, of central Victorville, California, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California.
Established by the United States Army Air C ...
, California and equipped with McDonnell F-4E Phantom IIs. Trained Wild Weasel
Wild Weasel is a code name given by the United States Air Force (USAF) to an aircraft of any type equipped with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD): destroying the radar and surface-to-air mis ...
aircrews in surface to air missile suppression tactics from, 1977–1984. Inactivated when the F-4 was retired.
Reactivated by Air Training Command as an undergraduate pilot training squadron with Northrop T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first, and the most produced, supersonic trainer. The T-38 remains in service in several air forces.
The United States Air Force (USAF) operates the most ...
s, 1990–1991. Transferred to Air Force Materiel Command, 1993 as a flight test squadron on various weapons systems from 1993 to 1999, then went back to Air Education and Training Command providing flying training from 2001 onwards.[
]
Lineage
* Constituted as the 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939
: 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
* Redesignated 39th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron on 18 August 1969
: Organized on 15 October 1969
: Redesignated 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron on 15 February 1970[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.]
: Inactivated on 15 March 1974
* Redesignated 39th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 1 June 1977
: Activated on 1 July 1977
: Redesignated 39th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 9 October 1980
: Inactivated on 11 May 1984
* Redesignated 39th Flying Training Squadron on 9 February 1990
: Activated on 2 April 1990
: Inactivated on 15 December 1991
* Redesignated 39th Test Squadron on 31 August 1993
: Activated on 8 September 1993
: Redesignated 39th Flight Test Squadron on 15 March 1994
: Inactivated on 1 September 1999
* Redesignated 39th Flying Training Squadron on 30 September 1999
: Activated in the reserve on 2 April 2001[
]
Assignments
* 31st Pursuit Group, 1 February 1940
* 35th Pursuit Group (later 35th Fighter Group, 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group), 15 January 1942 (attached to 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 7 May 1951; 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 June 1952 – 14 July 1954)
* 41st Air Division
The 41st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifth Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 15 January 1968.
History
"The 41st Air Division was organized, administered, equipp ...
, 1 October–8 December 1957
* 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 15 October 1969 – 15 March 1974 (attached to 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 April 1969 – 31 December 1971)
* 35th Tactical Fighter Wing
The 35th Fighter Wing is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The wing is part of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)'s Fifth Air Force.
The wing was first activated in August 1948 at Johnson Ai ...
, 1 July 1977 – 11 May 1984
* 47th Flying Training Wing, 2 April 1990 – 15 December 1991
* 46th Operations Group, 8 September 1993 – 1 September 1999
* 340th Flying Training Group, 2 April 2001 – present[
]
Stations
* Selfridge Field, Michigan, 1 February 1940
* Baer Field, Indiana, 6 December 1941
* Bellingham Army Air Field, Washington, 10 December 1941 – 23 January 1942
* Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
, Australia, 25 February 1942
* Ballarat Airport, Australia, 8 March 1942
* Mount Gambier Airport
Mount Gambier Regional Airport is an airport in the Limestone Coast, South Australia.
It is located on the Riddoch Highway in Wandilo, about north of Mount Gambier. It is the only commercial airport servicing the Limestone Coast region of ...
, Australia, 16 March 1942
* Williamtown Airport, Australia, 3 April 1942
* Woodstock Airport, Queensland
Donnington Airpark is located on the Flinders Highway at Woodstock, a suburb of Townsville in Australia. It is also called Woodstock Airport and is known for its airshows.
History
The airpark and associated grass runways were constructed on ...
, Australia, 20 April 1942
* Port Moresby Airfield Complex New Guinea, 2 June 1942
* RAAF Base Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville (formerly RAAF Base Garbutt) is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) air base located in , west of Townsville in Queensland, Australia. It is the headquarters for No. 1 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets and, along with L ...
, Australia, 26 July 1942
* Port Moresby Airfield Complex New Guinea, 18 October 1942
* Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea, 15 December 1943
* Gusap Airfield, New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
, 27 January 1944
* Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea, 9 June 1944
* Kornasoren Airfield
Kornasoren (Noemfoor) Airport is a civil airport in Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, Indonesia. . Commercial service is provided by Susi Air to Manokwari and Biak from this Airport.
History
The airfield was one of three constructed by the Japanese ...
, Noemfoor, Schouten Islands
The Schouten Islands ( id, Kepulauan Biak, also Biak Islands or Geelvink Islands) are an island group of Papua province, eastern Indonesia in the Cenderawasih Bay (or Geelvink Bay) 50 km off the north-western coast of the island of New ...
, 7 August 1944
* Owi Airfield, Schouten Islands, Netherlands East Indies, 12 September 1944
* Wama Drome, Morotai, Moluccas Islands, Netherlands East Indies, 23 October 1944
* Mangaldan Airfield, Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
, Philippines, 22 January 1945
* Lingayen Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, c. 10 April 1945
* Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 21 April 1945
* Yontan Airfield
Yontan Airfield (also known as Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield) is a former military airfield located near Yomitan Village on the west coast of Okinawa. It was closed in July 1996 and turned over to the Japanese government in December 2006. Today it i ...
, Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
, 30 June 1945
* Irumagawa Air Base, Japan, 10 October 1945
* Yokota Air Base
, is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) base in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.
It occupies portions of Akishima, Fussa, Hamura, Mizuho, Musashimurayama, and Tachikawa.
The base houses 14,000 perso ...
, Japan, c. 1 April 1950
* Ashiya Air Base, Japan, 8 July 1950
* Pohang Air Base
Pohang Gyeongju Airport is an airport in Pohang, South Korea . In 2011, 255,227 passengers used the airport.
History
Pohang Airfield was originally developed during the Korea under Japanese rule, Japanese Imperial period.
Korean war
In early J ...
, South Korea, 7 August 1950
* Tsuiki Air Base
is a military aerodrome of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force . It is located in Tsuiki, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
History
Tsuiki Airfield was originally built by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force during World War II. The airfield was attack ...
, Japan, 14 August 1950
* Pohang Air Base, South Korea, 3 October 1950
* Yonpo Airfield, North Korea, 19 November 1950
* Pusan Air Base, South Korea, 7 December 1950
* Chinhae Air Base, South Korea, 12 May 1951
* Suwon Air Base, South Korea, 1 June 1952
* Johnson Air Base, Japan, 20 July 1954
* Yokota Air Base
, is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) base in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.
It occupies portions of Akishima, Fussa, Hamura, Mizuho, Musashimurayama, and Tachikawa.
The base houses 14,000 perso ...
, Japan, 31 July 1954
* Komaki Air Base, Japan, 25 August 1955 – 8 December 1957
* Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 15 October 1969 – 15 March 1974
* George Air Force Base, California, 1 July 1977 – 11 May 1984
* Laughlin Air Force Base
Laughlin Air Force Base is a facility of the United States Air Force located east of Del Rio, Texas.
Overview
Laughlin AFB, the largest pilot training base in the US Air Force, is home to the 47th Flying Training Wing of the Air Education an ...
, Texas, 2 April 1990 – 15 December 1991
* Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 8 September 1993 – 1 September 1999
* Moody Air Force Base
Moody Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation near Valdosta, Georgia.
Geography
The base is in northeastern Lowndes County, Georgia, with the eastern border of the base following the Lanier County line. Georgia State Rout ...
, Georgia, 2 April 2001
* Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base was an United States Air Force base located at Universal City, Texas ( east-northeast of Downtown San Antonio).
Opened in 1931, Randolph has been a flying training facility for the United States Army Air Corps, the Un ...
, (later, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph), Texas, 13 September 2007 – present)[Station information in Haulman, except as noted.]
Aircraft
* Seversky P-35 Guardsman (1940–1941)
* Curtiss P-36 Hawk (1940–1941)
* Bell P-39 Airacobra
The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by t ...
(1941–1942)
* Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1942–1943)
* Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1944)
* North American P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...
(later F-51) (1944–1945, 1945–1952)
* Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star (1950)
* North American F-86D Sabre (1952–1957)
* Lockheed F-94 Starfire (1954)
* Douglas RB-66 Destroyer (1969–1970)
* Douglas WB-66 Destroyer (1969–1970)
* Douglas EB-66 Destroyer (1970–1974)
* McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (1977–1980, 1982–1984)
* Republic F-105 Thunderchief
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is an American supersonic fighter-bomber that served with the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1984. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Viet ...
(1977)
* Cessna T-37 Tweet
The Cessna T-37 Tweet (designated Model 318 by Cessna) is a small, economical twin-engined jet trainer type which flew for decades as a primary trainer for the United States Air Force (USAF) and in the air forces of several other nations. The T ...
(1990–1991)
* Northrop T-38 Talon (1990–1991, 2001–present)
* General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (1993–1999)
* Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (1995–1999)
* Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (1999)
* Beechcraft T-6 Texan II (2001–present)
* Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk (2007–present)[
]
Notable members
*Charles Peter O'Sullivan
Charles Peter O'Sullivan (July 31, 1915 – September 20, 2013) was a World War II veteran fighter pilot and squadron commander of the 39th Fighter Squadron, Army Air Forces while in New Guinea. He flew the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and was shot dow ...
, Squadron commander in World War II
See also
References
Notes
; Explanatory notes
; Footnotes
Bibliography
External links
39th Fighter Squadron
{{US Air Force navbox, state=collapsed
0039
Military units and formations in Texas