The 71st Flying Training Wing is a

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

unit assigned to

Air Education and Training Command Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was established 1 July 1993, with the realignment of Air Training ...

. It is stationed at

Vance Air Force Base Vance Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in southern Enid, Oklahoma, about north northwest of Oklahoma City. The base is named after local World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient, Lieutenant Colonel Leon Robert Va ...

, Oklahoma where has conducted pilot training for the Air Force and allied nations since 1972. It also is the host unit for Vance. The wing was briefly activated as the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in 1948 but was operational for only a few weeks before being discontinued. During the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

, as the 71st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, it was a part of

Strategic Air Command Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...

. The wing performed strategic reconnaissance and also tested a technique for launching small F-84K

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 ...

aircraft from GRB-36 bombers to extend the range of photographic reconnaissance and fighter escort. The testing ended in 1956, but the wing continued strategic reconnaissance until inactivated on 1 July 1957. The wing was activated again in 1962 as the 71 Surveillance Wing. It operated and maintained systems to detect

intercontinental ballistic missile An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more thermonuclear warheads). Conventional, chemical, and biological weapons c ...

s and

sea-launched ballistic missile A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from Ballistic missile submarine, submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of whic ...

launches until it was inactivated in 1971. The wing was activated with its current mission a year later.

Mission

The 71st Flying Training Wing conducts Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training. Its mission is to develop professional United States and allied nation pilots who are combat ready. It is responsible for training Air Force and allied student pilots for worldwide deployment and Aerospace Expeditionary Force support. Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training is conducted in three phases. Phase I is preflight, Phase II is Primary and is conducted with the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. Phase III may be either fighter-bomber track, conducted with the Northrop T-38 Talon or tanker-airlift track, conducted with the

Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk The Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk is a twin-engined jet aircraft used by the United States Air Force for advanced pilot training. T-1A students go on to fly airlift and tanker aircraft. The T-400 is a similar version for the Japan Air Self-Defense For ...

Units

71st Operations Group The 71st Operations Group (71 OG) is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 71st Flying Training Wing. It is stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The group's World War II predecessor unit, the 71st Reconnaiss ...

3d Flying Training Squadron The 3rd Flying Training Squadron is part of the 71st Operations Group under the 71st Flying Training Wing. It operates the T-1A Jayhawk aircraft conducting advanced phase tanker/transport flight training. The 3rd FTS is the third-oldest squadr ...

"Jayhawks" T-1 Jayhawk ::

5th Flying Training Squadron The 5th Flying Training Squadron is part of the United States Air Force's Air Force Reserve Command serving as a reserve associate squadron operating with the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the Rayth ...

"Spittin' Kittens" Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, T-1 Jayhawk, Northrop T-38 Talon ::: The mission of the 5th is to train and provide a reserve of experienced instructor pilots to augment the Air Education and Training Command’s instructor cadre in the event of wartime mobilization. ::

8th Flying Training Squadron The 8th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the T-6A Texan II aircraft conducting flight training. Mission Performs Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Train ...

"8 Ballers" Beechcraft T-6 Texan II ::

25th Flying Training Squadron The 25th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training. Overview The squadron has provided Undergraduate Pilot Train ...

"Shooters" Northrop T-38 Talon ::

33d Flying Training Squadron The 33rd Flying Training Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron based at Vance Air Force Base near Enid, Oklahoma. It is a part of the 71st Flying Training Wing. The squadron was established as a medium bomber unit on Bolos, Marauders, ...

"Dragons" Beechcraft T-6 Texan II :: 71st Operations Support Squadron "Ghostriders" :: 71st Student Squadron "Stucans" * 71st Mission Support Group * 71st Medical Group * 71st Comptroller Squadron

History

Initial activation

The

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expres ...

was first activated at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa in August 1948 in the wing base reorganization of the

, but was a viable entity for only a few days. Its tactical group was detached to the

32d Composite Wing 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...

and the wing had only one single reconnaissance squadron to perform photographic reconnaissance attached for its first week of existence. When the squadron was reassigned, the wing became non-operational and its manning was withdrawn. The wing was inactivated in late October.

Strategic Reconnaissance

The wing was reactivated at Larson Air Force Base, Washington as the 71st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. At Larson, it performed strategic reconnaissance and tested the FICON project to extend the range of photographic reconnaissance and fighter escort aircraft beginning in January 1955. FICON involved using an RF-84K, a version of the

Republic RF-84F Thunderflash The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version. ...

with a retractable "duck-bill" to enable it to be carried by a modified

Convair B-36 Peacemaker The Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" is a strategic bomber that was built by Convair and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1949 to 1959. The B-36 is the largest mass-produced piston-engined aircraft ever built. It had the longest win ...

to increase its range. The RF-84K was equipped with anhedral (downward-pointing) horizontal stabilizers to clear the bomb bay when in the stowed position. The tests revealed that the "parasite" concept was achievable but not practical. Hook-ups with the GRB-36 were nearly impossible to achieve in turbulence and would likely be unworkable under combat conditions. In addition, ground clearance with the fighter mounted was around 6 inches when the RF-84K was equipped with external fuel tanks. The problem of drag was even worse. The stowed fighter reduced the range of the GRB-36 by five to ten percent. In 1956 the entire FICON project was canceled, but the wing continued strategic reconnaissance until it was inactivated in 1957.

Missile warning

The wing was activated again at

Ent Air Force Base Ent Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located in the Knob Hill neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado. A tent city, established in 1943 during construction of the base, was initially commanded by Major General Uzal Girard ...

, Colorado as the 71st Surveillance Wing. It operated and maintained the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, including sites in Alaska, Greenland, and England. It also operated the

detection and warning system and supported the USAF Spacetrack system, and monitored the over-the-horizon radar system, 1969–1971.

Flying training

55-2267 CESSNA T-37B TWEETY BIRD (13492385173)

The wing was redesignated the 71st Flying Training Wing and replaced the 3575 Pilot Training Wing at

, Oklahoma in November 1972, assuming control of the undergraduate pilot training for USAF, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and allied countries there. In addition, it supported the Accelerated Co-Pilot Enrichment (ACE) program at numerous operating locations between 1978 and 1991. The wing provided initial flight training, and follow-on training for fighter, bomber and airlift/tanker aircraft crews for USAF, US Navy, Marine Corps and allied forces.

Lineage

* Established as the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 10 August 1948 : Activated on 18 August 1948 : Inactivated on 25 October 1948 * Redesignated 71st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Fighter on 4 November 1954 : Activated on 24 January 1955 : Inactivated on 1 July 1957 * Redesignated 71st Surveillance Wing (Ballistic Missile Early Warning System) and activated on 6 December 1961 (not organized) : Organized on 1 January 1962 : Redesignated 71st Missile Warning Wing on 1 January 1967 : Inactivated on 30 April 1971 * Redesignated 71st Flying Training Wing on 14 April 1972 : Activated on 1 November 1972

Assignments

1st Air Division 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 ...

, 18 August – 25 October 1948 (attached to 32d Composite Wing after 24 August 1948) *

Fifteenth Air Force The Fifteenth Air Force (15 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base. It was reactivated on 20 August 2020, merging the previous units of the Ninth Air Force ...

, 24 January 1955 – 1 July 1957 *

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was est ...

, 6 December 1961 (not organized) *

9th Aerospace Defense Division 9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding . Evolution of the Arabic digit In the beginning, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bottom dot. The Kshatrapa, Andhra and ...

, 1 January 1962 * Fourteenth Aerospace Force, 1 July 1968 – 30 April 1971 *

Air Training Command Air Training Command (ATC) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command designation. It was headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, but was initially formed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It was re-designated as Ai ...

(later Air Education and Training Command), 1 November 1972 * Nineteenth Air Force, 1 July 1993 * Air Education and Training Command, 12 July 2012 * Nineteenth Air Force, 1 October 2014 – present

Components

; Groups * 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (later 71 Operations Group): 18 August – 25 October 1948 (attached to 32d Composite Wing); 15 December 1991 – present ; Squadrons *

: 16 February 1990 – 15 December 1991 * 7th Flying Training Squadron: 19 January 1990 – 15 December 1991 *

: 1 November 1972 – 15 December 1991 *

12th Missile Warning Squadron The 12th Space Warning Squadron is a United States Space Force ground-based radar used for missile warning, missile defense, and space situation awareness, stationed at Thule Air Base, Greenland. Overview The primary mission of the 12th SWS is ...

, 1 January 1967 – 30 April 1971 :: Thule Air Base, GreenlandCornett & Johnson, P. 48 *

13th Missile Warning Squadron The 213th Space Warning Squadron of the Alaska Air National Guard provides early warning of Intercontinental ballistic missiles and Submarine-launched ballistic missiles to the Missile Correlation Center of North American Aerospace Defense Com ...

, 1 January 1967 – 30 April 1971Cornett & Johnson, p. 149 ::

Clear Air Force Station Clear Space Force Station is a United States Space Force radar station for detecting incoming ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles to NORAD's command center and to provide Space Surveillance data to the United States Space Force. Cle ...

, Alaska * 23d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 18–24 August 1948 * 25th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (later 25 Flying Training Squadron): 24 January 1955 – 1 July 1957; 1 November 1972 – 15 December 1991 * 26th Flying Training Squadron: 19 January 1990 – 15 December 1991 *

82d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron The 82d Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, USA. It is geographically separated from the 55th, operating from Kadena Air Base in Japan. The squadron operates Boeing RC-135 aircraft flying reconn ...

: 24 January 1955 – 1 July 1957 * 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron: 24 January 1955 – 1 July 1957

Stations

* Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 18 August – 25 October 1948 * Larson Air Force Base, Washington, 24 January 1955 – 1 July 1957 * Ent Air Force Base, Colorado, 1 January 1962 *

McGuire Air Force Base McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, approximately south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is under the j ...

, New Jersey, 21 July 1969 – 30 April 1971 * Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 1 November 1972 – present

Aircraft

* Boeing RB-17 Flying Fortress, 1948 * Boeing RB-29 Superfortress, 1948 * Republic RF-84F Thunderflash, 1955–1957 * Republic RF-84K (GRF-84) Thunderflash, 1955–1956 *

Cessna T-41 Mescalero The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated by the United States Air Force and Army, as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot-training aircraft. Design and development In 1964, ...

, 1972–1973 * Cessna T-37 Tweet, 1972–2006 * Northrop T-38 Talon, 1972–present * Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk, 1994–present * Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, 2004–present