450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron

450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron
T-43 Bobcat, last plane flown by the squadron
Active	1942-1945; 1947-1949; 1954-1957; 1973-1992
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Pilot Training
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award [1]
Insignia
450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 30 May 1973) [1]
450th Fighter-Day Squadron emblem (approved 13 June 1955) [2]
450th Bombardment Squadron emblem [3]

The 450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron (450 EFTS) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the 322d Air Expeditionary Group. In 2008 it was converted to an expeditionary unit on provisional status for activation by Air Combat Command any time after 28 October 2008. Its current status is undetermined.

The squadron most recently was assigned to the 323d Flying Training Wing based at Mather Air Force Base, California. It operated T-37 Tweet and T-43 Bobcat aircraft conducting flight training for members of the United States military and foreign allies.

History

World War II

Established as a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber squadron in mid-1942; trained under Third Air Force in Florida. Deployed to European Theater of Operations, being assigned to VIII Bomber Command's 3d Bombardment Wing in England. Engaged in attacks on enemy targets in France and the Low Countries; being reassigned to IX Bomber Command in 1943 with the establishment of Ninth Air Force in England. Also supported VIII Bomber Command strategic bombardment raids in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, attacking enemy airfields to disrupt interceptor attacks on heavy bomber formations and destroy enemy interceptor aircraft on the ground before they could be launched.

After D-Day deployed to Advanced Landing Grounds in France and later Belgium. Provided tactical air support and bombardment of enemy strong points and military targets to disrupt resistance to Allied ground forces advancing from the French invasion beaches and the ensuing offensives on the continent; 1944-1945. Attacked enemy forces as part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany, 1945 and continued offensive tactical operations in support of ground forces until German capitulation in May 1945.

Became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe army of occupation in Germany during 1945. Demobilized and personnel returned to the United States in the fall of 1945; squadron inactivated as a paper unit in December 1945.

Air Force reserve

Reactivated as a reserve air training command squadron; assigned and performed advanced flight training for air cadets, 1947-1949. Inactivated due to funding restrictions.

Tactical fighter

Assigned to Tactical Air Command and reactivated in 1954 flying North American F-86 Sabres; later North American F-100 Super Sabres as a fighter-day squadron. Inactivated in 1957 due to funding restrictions.

Navigator training

Reactivated in 1972 as an Air Training Command navigator training squadron. It conducted undergraduate navigator training for USAF, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States allies from, 1973-1992. ^[1]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 450th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942

Activated on 17 July 1942

Redesignated 450th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 20 August 1943

Inactivated on 11 December 1945

• Redesignated 450th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 3 July 1947

Activated in the reserve on 9 August 1947

Inactivated on 27 June 1949

• Redesignated 450th Fighter-Day Squadron on 24 March 1954

Activated on 1 July 1954

Inactivated on 18 November 1957

• Redesignated 450th Flying Training Squadron on 28 July 1972

Activated on 1 April 1973

Inactivated on 31 May 1993

• Redesignated 450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron and converted to provisional status on 28 Oct 2008 ^[1]

Assignments

• 322d Bombardment Group, 17 July 1942 - 11 December 1945
• 322d Bombardment Group, 9 August 1947 - 27 June 1949
• 322d Fighter-Day Group, 1 July 1954 - 18 November 1957
• 323d Flying Training Wing, 1 April 1973
• 323d Operations Group, 15 December 1991 - 31 May 1993
• Air Combat Command, to activate or inactivate at any time after 28 Oct 2008 ^[1]

Stations

MacDill Field, Florida, 17 July 1942 Drane Field, Florida, 22 September-15 November 1942 RAF Rattlesden (AAF-126), [4] England, 1 December 1942 RAF Bury St Edmunds (Rougham) (AAF-468), [4] England, 22 March 1943 RAF Andrews Field (Great Saling) (AAF-485), [4] England, 12 June 1943 Beauvais/Tille Airfield (A-61), [5] France, c. 29 September 1944 Le Culot Airfield (A-89), [5] Belgium, c. 26 March 1945 Frankenberg, Germany, 6 July 1945 Arolsen, Germany, 10 September 1945

Clastres Airfield, France, c. 1 October-3 December 1945 Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 9–11 December 1945 Reading Army Air Field (later Reading Municipal Airport), Pennsylvania, 9 August 1947 - 27 June 1949 Foster Air Force Base, Texas, 1 July 1954 - 18 November 1957 Deployed at Landstuhl Air Base, West Germany, 20 September-4 October 1956 Mather Air Force Base, California, 1 April 1973 - 31 May 1993 [1]

Aircraft

• Martin B-26 Marauder (1942–1945)
• North American AT-6 Texan (1947–1949)
• Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (1947–1949)
• North American F-86 Sabre (1954–1955)
• North American F-100 Super Sabre (1955–1957)
• Convair T-29 Flying Classroom (1973–1974)
• Cessna T-37 Tweet (1974–1992)
• Boeing T-43 Bobcat (1973–1992) ^[1]

References

Notes

1. Robertson, Patsy (21 November 2008). "Factsheet 450 Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 556
3. Watkins, p. 98.
4. Station number in Anderson.
5. Station number in Johnson.

Bibliography

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-02-1. LCCN   61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-405-12194-6. LCCN   70605402. OCLC   72556.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 . Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-12-9.
• Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN   978-0-7643-2938-8.