50th Flying Training Squadron

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50th Flying Training Squadron
T-38C Formation.jpg
Four T-38Cs from Columbus AFB
Active1941-1944; 1947-1949; 1972-2025
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Undergraduate Pilot Training
Nickname(s)Strikin' Snakes [1]
Engagements European Theater of Operations [2]
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
50th Flying Training Squadron emblem [2] 50th Flying Training Squadron.jpg
50th Pursuit Squadron emblem [a] [3] 50 Pursuit Sq emblem.png
Tail Code at Columbus AFBCB [1]

The 50th Flying Training Squadron is an inactive squadron of the United States Air Force. It was last active as part of the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, where it was inactivated in July 2025. It operated Northrop T-38C Talon aircraft conducting flight training there from 1972.

Contents

The squadron was first activated in January 1941 as the 50th Pursuit Squadron. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, it participated in the air defense of the Pacific Coast. In August 1942, it moved to Iceland, where it participated in the defense of the North Atlantic as the 50th Fighter Squadron until the summer of 1944, when it moved to England and was disbanded. The squadron was again activated in the reserve in June 1947, but apparently was not fully manned or equipped before inactivating in June 1949.

History

World War II

Initial organization

The squadron was first activated at Hamilton Field, California in January 1941 as the 50th Pursuit Squadron, one of the original three sqadrons of the 14th Pursuit Group. [4] [5] It was originally equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, but by early 1942 converted to Lockheed P-38 Lightnings. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, it flew patrols with its Lightnings over the West Coast of the United States starting in February 1942, operating from bases in the San Franciso Bay area. It ended air defense patrols in June 1942, and shipped to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in July. [2] [5] The air echelon ferried its planes via the North Atlantic Ferry Route, while the ground echelon sailed on the USS West Point. [6]

Air defense of Iceland

Squadron P-38 Lightning in Iceland in 1942 14fg-p38-iceland-1942.jpg
Squadron P-38 Lightning in Iceland in 1942

The squadron's ground echelon arrived at its ETO station, RAF Atcham on 18 August 1942, but was transferred to the 4th Fighter Group, when the 4th was activated in September. [6] Meanwhile, its air echelon halted its movement to England and began operating from Meeks Field, Iceland after arrival there while ferrying its Lightnings across the Atlantic. This arrangement was formalized in November, when Meeks Field became its official station and it was reassigned to the 342d Composite Group. [2] From Iceland, it intercepted Luftwaffe bomber and reconnaissance aircraft as its primary mission while also performing antisubmarine patrols and escorting ship convoys through the North Atlantic. Squadron pilots downed five enemy aircraft in combat. [1]

After the summer of 1943, little German activity was noted over the North Atlantic skies. The enemy was on the defensive, and American defensive outposts in the Atlantic were shifting to secondary roles. [7] In February 1944 the squadron became non operational and its pilots returned to England. [2] In England the squadron was attached to the 8th Reconnaissance Group (Provisional). Its pilots retrained with de Havilland Mosquitos, which were used to provide weather information over occupied Europe. [8] In August 1944, the provisional group was replaced by the 25th Bombardment Group and its Mosquito pilots formed the 653rd and 654th Bombardment Squadrons, while the 50th was disbanded. [2] [9]

Air Force reserves

The squadron activated in the reserve at Offutt Field, Nebraska in June 1947. In September, it was assigned to the 381st Bombardment Group [2] At Offutt, its training was supervised by the 4131st AAF Base Unit (later the 2473rd Air Force Reserve Training Center) [10] [11] of Air Defense Command (ADC). The squadron was not equipped with operational aircraft, but flew North American AT-6 Texans. [2] In July 1948, Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC. [12] The 50th was inactivated in June 1949 when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system. and the 438th Troop Carrier Wing replaced the 381st Group and its reserve elements at Offutt. [2] [10] [13]

Flying training

In June 1972, the 14th Flying Training Wing absorbed the resources of the 3650th Pilot Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi as Air Training Command replaced its Major Command controlled flying training units with Air Force controlled units. [c] [14] In this reorganization, the squadron absorbed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 3651st Pilot Training Squadron, which was simutaneously inactivated. [15]

The squadron conducted advanced undergraduate pilot training from June 1972 to July 2025. [2] [16] When Specializedd Undergraduate Pilot Training was introduced in the early 1990s, the squadron provided advanced training to students in the pipeline to become bomber or fighter pilots. [1] It conducted the advanced phase of undergraduate pilot training. This phase consisted of flight instruction in the Northrop T-38C Talon. Training included advanced aircraft handling, tactical navigation, fluid maneuvering and an increased emphasis in two- and four-ship formation. At the completion of training, graduates were awarded the aeronautical rating of pilot. [17] With the inactivation of the 50th, its aircraft and personnel were transferred to the 49th Flying Training Squadron, which became Air Education and Training Command's first T-38 "super squadron'. [1] This action will merge the former T-38 advanced Undergraduate Pilot Training program and the Introcuction to Fighter Funamentals course into a course titled Fighter bomber Fundamentals. [16]

Lineage

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
Activated in the reserve on 12 June 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Activated on 1 June 1972 [2]
Inactivated c. 2 July 2025 [16] [d]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

  • Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1941–1942)
  • Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1942–1944)
  • North American AT-6 (later T-6) Texan (1947–1949)
  • Northrop T-38A Talon (1972–2003)
  • Northrop T-38C Talon (2002–2025) [2] [16]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January-31 December 197450th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 April 1985-31 March 198750th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1992-30 June 199450th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1997-30 June 199950th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1999-30 June 200150th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2001-30 June 200250th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2002-30 June 200450th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2004-30 June 200650th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2006-30 June 200750th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2007-30 June 200950th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2009-30 June 201050th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2010-30 June 201150th Flying Training Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2012-30 June 201450th Flying Training Squadron [23]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2014-30 June 201550th Flying Training Squadron [23]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2016-30 June 201750th Flying Training Squadron [23]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2017-30 June 201850th Flying Training Squadron [23]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2020-30 June 202150th Flying Training Squadron [23]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Air Offensive, Europe18 August 1942–9 August 194450th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Air Combat, EAME Theater18 August 1942–9 August 194450th Fighter Squadron [2]


See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Approved 1 April 1942. Description: From a bank of clouds argent a winged rattlesnake coiled to strike or, marked sable, head erect, open mouth gules, toothed of the first [color] emitting from the mouth four projectiles of the fourth [color]; winged of the first [color] bordered of the last [color], tail erect showing rattle of the third [color].
  2. ↑ Aircraft is Lockheed P-38F-5-LO Lightning, serial 42-12596.
  3. ↑ MAJCON units could not carry a permanent history or lineage. Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). A Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors (2d, Revised ed.). Maxwell AFB, AL: USAF Historical Research Center. p. 12.
  4. ↑ 2 July was the date of the ceremony marking the squadron's inactivation. Prince; Davis.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Davis, Greg L. (10 July 2025). "Snakes' Final Strike: 50th Flying Training Squadron Inactivated". The Aviationist. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Robertson, Patsy (3 April 2014). "Factsheet 50 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  3. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 215-216
  4. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 209-10, 213-16
  5. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 57-58
  6. 1 2 Freeman, p. 239
  7. ↑ Conn, Engleman & Fairchild, p. 552
  8. ↑ Freeman, p. 200
  9. ↑ Freeman, p. 240
  10. 1 2 Mueller, p. 457
  11. ↑ No byline. "Abstract, History 2473 Air Reserve Training Center Jul-Nov 1948". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  12. ↑ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Ravenstein, pp. 234-37
  14. ↑ Ravenstein, p.30
  15. ↑ See Mueller, p. 95 (inactivation of 3651st and activation of 50th at Columbus).
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Prince, Adam (24 June 2025). "Striking Speed: Honoring the Legacy of the 50th Flying Training Squadron". 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  17. ↑ No byline. "Factsheets: 50th Flying Training Squadron". 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 23 November 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  18. ↑ Station number in Anderson, p. 24.
  19. ↑ Station number in Anderson, p. 21.
  20. ↑ Station number in Anderson, p. 20.
  21. ↑ Station number in Anderson, p. 26.
  22. ↑ Stations in Robertson, except as noted.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 16 July 2025. (search)

Bibliography

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