2d Fighter Training Squadron

Last updated

2d Fighter Training Squadron
2d Fighter Squadron - F-15s - Tyndall AFB.jpg
Four-ship formation of 2d Fighter Squadron F-15 Eagles over Tyndall Air Force Base
Active 1941–1945; 1946–1969; 1971–1973; 1974–2010; 2014- present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Type Squadron
Nickname(s) American Beagles
Motto(s)Second to None
Engagements
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Streamer.jpg
    World War II EAME Theatre
Decorations
  • Streamer PUC Army.PNG
    Distinguished Unit Citation (2x)
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Streamer.jpg
    Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (4x)
Insignia
2d Fighter Squadron emblem (Approved 7 October 1999) [1] [note 1] 2d Fighter Squadron - Emblem.png
2d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (Approved 5 March 1959) [2] 2d-fighter-interceptor-squadron-ADC.png
Squadron Fuselage Code (1942-1945)QP

The 2d Fighter Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force Unit. It is assigned to the 325th Operations Group at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It was reactivated on 22 August 2014.

325th Operations Group

The 325th Operations Group is the flying component of the 325th Fighter Wing, assigned to Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force. The group is stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducts training on the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and commands one operational Raptor squadron. It directs the flying and support operations of two F-22 squadrons, a fighter training squadron, an operations support squadron and a training support squadron.

Tyndall Air Force Base United States Air Force base near Panama City, Florida, USA

Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located 12 miles (19 km) east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt. Frank Benjamin Tyndall. The base operating unit and host wing is the 325th Fighter Wing of the Air Combat Command (ACC). The base is delineated as a census-designated place and had a resident population of 2,994 at the 2010 census.

Contents

Mission

The squadron operates the Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft conducting adversary training for F-22 Raptor pilots in air superiority missions. [3]

Squadron (aviation) unit comprising a number of military aircraft and their aircrews

A squadron in air force, army aviation, or naval aviation is a unit comprising a number of military aircraft and their aircrews, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force. Land based squadrons equipped with heavier type aircraft such as long-range bombers, or cargo aircraft, or air refueling tankers have around 12 aircraft as a typical authorization, while most land-based fighter equipped units have an authorized number of 18 to 24 aircraft.

Northrop T-38 Talon Military advanced trainer aircraft by Northrop

The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2018 in several air forces.

History

World War II

Originally constituted as the 2d Pursuit Squadron on 20 November 1940, the squadron was activated on 15 January 1941. It served in World War II with the 52d Pursuit Group, and during that period flew the Curtis P-40 Warhawk and Bell P-39 Airacobra. The 2d also flew combat missions in the Supermarine Spitfire and North American P-51 Mustang in the European and Mediterranean Theaters, serving specifically in air campaigns in Europe, Algeria, French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Normandy, Northern France, Southern France, north Apennines, Rhineland, Central Europe, Po Valley, and performed air combat. The unit received two Distinguished Unit Citations for operations in Germany and Romania in 1944. Following World War II, the squadron was inactivated on 7 November 1945 at Drew Field, Florida. [4]

World War II 1939–1945 global war

World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. A state of total war emerged, directly involving more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war.

Bell P-39 Airacobra aircraft

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the principal American fighter aircraft in service when the United States entered World War II. The P-39 was used by the Soviet Air Force, and enabled individual Soviet pilots to collect the highest number of kills attributed to any U.S. fighter type flown by any pilot in any conflict. Other major users of the type included the Free French, the Royal Air Force, the United States Army Air Forces, and the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force.

Supermarine Spitfire British single-seat fighter aircraft

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, using several wing configurations, and it was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft. It was also the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. The Spitfire continues to be popular among enthusiasts; nearly 60 remain airworthy, and many more are static exhibits in aviation museums throughout the world.

United States Air Force

Air Defense Command

2d Fighter Squadron P-61B Black Widow at Mitchel AFB 2d Fighter Squadron Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39556.jpg
2d Fighter Squadron P-61B Black Widow at Mitchel AFB

It was reactivated on 9 November 1946 and was assigned to the 52d Fighter Group under which it served tours in Schweinfurt Air Base and Bad Kissingen, Germany. Returning to Mitchell Field, New York, the squadron was designated the 2d Fighter Squadron and flew the Northrop P-61 Black Widow. In 1949, the 2d was moved to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, where it began flying the North American F-82 Twin Mustang. [4]

Bad Kissingen Place in Bavaria, Germany

Bad Kissingen is a spa town in the Bavarian region of Lower Franconia and seat of the district Bad Kissingen. Situated to the south of the Rhön Mountains on the Franconian Saale river, it is one of the health resorts, which became famous as a "Weltbad" in the 19th century.

Northrop Corporation 1939–1984 aerospace manufacturer in the United States

Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its 1994 merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, most successfully the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

McGuire Air Force Base Census-designated place in New Jersey, United States

McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base located in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, approximately 16.1 miles (25.9 km) south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is under the jurisdiction of the Air Mobility Command. It was consolidated with two adjoining US Army and Navy facilities to become part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on 1 October 2009. The McGuire Air Force Base census-designated place (CDP) is located in portions of both New Hanover Township and North Hanover Township.

In 1950, the 2 FS became the 2d Fighter All Weather Squadron and was outfitted with the Lockheed F-94 Starfire. One year later the unit was redesignated the 2d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and began flying the Republic F-84 Thunderjet. [4]

Lockheed F-94 Starfire series of all-weather interceptor aircraft

The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was a first-generation jet aircraft of the United States Air Force. It was developed from the twin-seat Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star in the late 1940s as an all-weather, day/night interceptor. The aircraft reached operational service in May 1950 with Air Defense Command, replacing the piston-engined North American F-82 Twin Mustang in the all-weather interceptor role.

Republic F-84 Thunderjet family of fighter-bomber aircraft

The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 first flew in 1946. Although it entered service in 1947, the Thunderjet was plagued by so many structural and engine problems that a 1948 U.S. Air Force review declared it unable to execute any aspect of its intended mission and considered canceling the program. The aircraft was not considered fully operational until the 1949 F-84D model and the design matured only with the definitive F-84G introduced in 1951. In 1954, the straight-wing Thunderjet was joined by the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak fighter and RF-84F Thunderflash photo reconnaissance aircraft.

Realignment in 1952 saw the 2nd assigned first to the 4709th Defense Wing, one year later to the 568th Air Defense Group. In 1953, the squadron was equipped with North American F-86A Sabre day fighters. Re-equipped in 1954 with North American F-86D Sabres. Reassignment back to the 52d Fighter Group took place in August 1955, and the squadron moved its operations to Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York in 1957, the first delta wing fighter, the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, was assigned to the unit to be replaced in 1959 with the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo. The squadron flew the F-101 for 10 years before being inactivated in 1969. [4]

568th Air Defense Group

The 568th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command (ADC)'s 4709th Air Defense Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, where it was inactivated in 1954. The group was originally activated as a support unit for a combat group at the end of World War II on Guam, but was soon inactivated.

North American F-86D Sabre interceptor aircraft

The North American F-86D Sabre was a transonic jet all-weather interceptor of the United States Air Force and others. Based on the North American F-86 Sabre day fighter, the F-86D had only 25 percent commonality with other Sabre variants, with a larger fuselage, larger afterburner engine, and a distinctive nose radome.

Convair F-102 Delta Dagger interceptor

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was an American interceptor aircraft that was built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet strategic bomber fleets during the Cold War. Designed and manufactured by Convair, 1,000 F-102s were built.

2 F-106s taking off, Wurtsmith AFB 2d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron 2 F-106 takeoff.jpg
2 F-106s taking off, Wurtsmith AFB

In 1971, the squadron was reactivated under the 23d Air Division at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, flying the supersonic all weather Convair F-106 Delta Darts formerly assigned to the 94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. The unit received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its activities during 1971-1972 at Wurtsmith, but was inactivated 31 March 1973. [1]

Air Defense Training

In August 1974, the squadron was reactivated and designated the 2d Fighter-Interceptor Training Squadron and was activated at the Air Defense Weapons Center located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where it continued to fly the F-106. [1]

On 1 February 1982, the unit was redesignated the 2d Fighter Weapons Squadron, and it had the privilege of training the last active duty F-106 pilots. The unit received another Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its activities during 1981-1982 at Tyndall. In May 1984 the squadron was redesignated as the 2d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, and transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle where it continued to train pilots for integration into Combat Air Forces worldwide, and maintained the capability to provide augmentation to air defense forces until its inactivation in September 2010. [1] [4]

The name was changed to the 2d Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991. It received another Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its activities between 1999 and 2000. [1] [4]

The squadron was reactivated as the 2d Fighter Training Squadron on 22 August 2014 to operate Northrop T-38 Talons conducting adversary training for F-22 Raptor pilots flying air superiority missions. [3] The growth of the T-38 adversary program at Tyndall led to the activation of a separate squadron to operate it. [5]

Lineage

Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 2d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 2d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1944
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
Redesignated 2d Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 18 October 1946
Redesignated 2d Fighter Squadron, All Weather on 10 May 1948
Redesignated 2d Fighter-All Weather Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated 2d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 May 1951
Inactivated on 31 December 1969
Inactivated on 31 March 1973
Redesignated 2d Fighter-Interceptor Training Squadron on 15 August 1974
Redesignated 2d Fighter Weapons Squadron on 1 February 1982
Redesignated 2d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 1 May 1984
Redesignated 2d Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991.
Inactivated on 30 September 2010
Redesignated 2d Fighter Training Squadron on 9 July 2014
Activated on 22 August 2014 [1]

Assignments

  • 52d Pursuit Group (later 52d Fighter Group: 15 January 1941 – 7 November 1945
  • 52d Fighter Group (later 52d Fighter-All Weather Group, 52d Fighter-Interceptor Group): 9 November 1946
  • 4709th Defense Wing: 6 February 1952
  • 568th Air Defense Group: 16 February 1953
  • 4709th Defense Wing (later 4709th Air Defense Wing): 8 July 1854
  • 52d Fighter Group: 18 August 1955
  • 52d Fighter Wing: 1 July 1963
  • 52d Fighter Group: 30 September 1968 - 31 December 1969
  • 23d Air Division: 1 July 1971 – 31 March 1973
  • Air Defense Weapons Center (later USAF Air Defense Weapons Center): 1 September 1974
  • 325th Fighter Weapons Wing (later 325th Tactical Training Wing): 1 July 1981
  • 325th Operations Group: 1 September 1991 – 30 September 2010
  • 325th Operations Group: 22 August 2014 – present [1]

Stations

Aircraft

  • Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1941–1942)
  • Bell P-39 Airacobra (1942)
  • Supermarine Spitfire (1942–1944)
  • North American P-51 Mustang (1944–1945)
  • Douglas A-26 Invader (1946–1947)
  • Northrop P-61 Black Widow (1947–1948)
  • North American F-82 Twin Mustang (1948–1949)
  • North American F-86A Sabre (1949–1950)
  • Lockheed F-94A Starfire (1950–1953)
  • Republic F-84G Thunderjet (1953)
  • North American F-86D Sabre (1953–1957)
  • Convair F-102A Delta Dagger (1957–1959)
  • McDonnell F-101B Voodoo (1959–1969, 1974–1981)
  • Convair F-106 Delta Dart (1971–1973, 1974–1984)
  • McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (1984–2010)
  • Northrop T-38 Talon (2014–present) [1]

See also

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Modified 29 July 2005. Bailey, AFHRA Factsheet, 2d Fighter Squadron.
  2. ↑ Aircraft is Northrop P-61B-10-NO serial 42-39556 taken upon delivery from depot refurbishing at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bailey, Carl E. (March 17, 2015). "Factsheet 2 Fighter Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ Maurer, p. 14
  3. 1 2 "USAF reactivates 2nd Fighter Training Squadron". Alert 5. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Factsheet 2nd Fighter Squadron - Inactivated May 7 [sic]". Tyndall AFB Public Affairs. July 9, 2013. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ Olwell, Chris. "'Beagles' to be reactivated". Panama City News Herald. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Station number in Anderson

Bibliography

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

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