47th Flying Training Wing

Last updated

47th Flying Training Wing
Air Education and Training Command.png
T6as-47ftw.jpg
T-6 Texan IIs of the 47th Flying Training Wing
Active1947–1949; 1951–1962; 1972–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RolePilot Training
SizeWing
Part of Air Education & Training Command
Garrison/HQ Laughlin Air Force Base
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Donald G. Cook
John W. Doucette
Insignia
47th Flying Training Wing emblem (approved 2 January 1973) [1] 47th Flying Training Wing.png
Patch with 47th Bombardment Wing emblem (approved 26 October 1951) [2] 47th bombardment wg-patch.jpg

The 47th Flying Training Wing is a United States Air Force pilot training wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, near Del Rio, Texas. It is one of five pilot training units in the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command which conducts joint specialized undergraduate pilot training for the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and allied nation air forces utilizing the T-38C, T-6A and T-1A aircraft.

Contents

Units

47th Medical Operations Squadron
47th Medical Support Squadron
47th Security Forces Squadron "Amistad Defenders" Camp Bucca, 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron
47th Operations Support Squadron
85th Flying Training Squadron (T-6A) "Tigers"
434th Flying Training Squadron (T-6A) "Red Devils"
86th Flying Training Squadron (T-1A) "Rio Lobos"
87th Flying Training Squadron (T-38C) "Red Bulls"
96th Flying Training Squadron (T-38C, T-1A)

Aircraft flown

History

See 47th Operations Group for additional history and lineage information prior to 1947

Cold War

Light bombardment operations in the United States

On 28 July 1947, the 47th Bombardment Wing was established as part of the Army Air Forces' implementation of the wing base reorganization, which combined tactical and support elements on its bases into a single wing. The wing became active on 15 August 1947 at Biggs Field, Texas, with the 47th Bombardment Group as its operational unit. [1] On 1 February 1948 Biggs was turned over to Strategic Air Command, forcing a relocation of the wing to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana in November. In the fall of 1948 North American B-45 Tornado bombers began to be delivered to the wing, which became the first in the Air Force to fly the aircraft. [3] However, the B-45As were not truly operational, because they lacked both fire control and bombing equipment. [4]

The Air Force planned to equip five groups with the B-45, but in programming the units that would comprise its forty-eight group structure authorized in 1948, the number of light bombardment groups flying the B-45 was reduced to one. With this reduction, the Air Force decided to inactivate the 47th wing and transfer its B-45s to the 3d Bombardment Wing in Japan. However, the first B-45As delivered to the wing lacked sufficient range to ferry across the Pacific and they were too large to send on board available ships. [4] The additional high cost of maintaining its B-45 aircraft led the Air Force to inactivate the 47th on 2 October 1949. [1] [4] However, the 84th and 85th squadrons of the 47th Bombardment Group kept their B-45s and moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia where they were attached to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. [5] [6] [7]

Flightline photo of B-45A-5-NA Tornadoes of the 47th Light Bomb Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Va., before trans-atlantic flight to Sculthorpe, England, in July 1952. 47th Bombardment Wing - B-45 tornadoes.jpg
Flightline photo of B-45A-5-NA Tornadoes of the 47th Light Bomb Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Va., before trans-atlantic flight to Sculthorpe, England, in July 1952.

On 12 March 1951, the 47th wing and group were reactivated at Langley, along with a number of support organizations to join the 84th and 85th Bombardment Squadrons. [9] [10] The wing was assigned to Tactical Air Command (TAC).

European operations

KB-50J of the 420th Air Refueling Squadron refueling 2 Republic F-105D's from the 36th TFW, Bitburg AB West Germany. KB-50J-sculth.jpg
KB-50J of the 420th Air Refueling Squadron refueling 2 Republic F-105D's from the 36th TFW, Bitburg AB West Germany.
RB-45C 48-022, 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RB-45C-48-022-19thTRS-47bw.jpg
RB-45C 48-022, 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

After becoming proficient in the handling and use of nuclear weapons, the wing moved to RAF Sculthorpe, United Kingdom where it began operations there on 1 June 1952. Operational squadrons of the wing included the 84th, 85th, and 86th Bombardment Squadrons.

In 1962 Project Clearwater halted large scale bomber deployments to Britain with Sculthorpe, along with RAF Fairford, RAF Chelveston, and RAF Greenham Common, being turned over to the British Air Ministry. This resulted in the 47th Bomb Wing being inactivated on 22 June 1962.

Pilot training

3646th Pilot Training Wing emblem 3646 Pilot Training Wg emblem.png
3646th Pilot Training Wing emblem

The 47th Flying Training Wing was reactivated and redesignated at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas on 1 September 1972, replacing and absorbing the resources of the 3646th Pilot Training Wing. Since its reactivation, the wing has conducted undergraduate pilot training for USAF, Air Force Reserve, and friendly foreign nation air forces. It supported Accelerated Co-Pilot Enrichment Program at numerous locations, 1976–1986. Began airlifter-tanker track pilot training in 1994.

Lineage

Organized on 15 August 1947
Inactivated on 2 October 1949
Redesignated 47th Bombardment Wing, Tactical on 1 October 1955
Discontinued and inactivated on 22 June 1962
Activated on 1 September 1972

Assignments

Components

Wing

Groups

Squadrons

Stations

Related Research Articles

452nd Air Mobility Wing Military unit

The 452nd Air Mobility Wing is an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at March Air Reserve Base, California. If mobilized, the Wing is gained by the Air Mobility Command.

561st Weapons Squadron Military unit

The 561st Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The squadron was the last United States Air Force unit to fly the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II on operational missions. The last Republic F-105 Thunderchief shot down in the Vietnam War was from the 561st.

456th Bombardment Wing Military unit

The 456th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 14th Air Division of Strategic Air Command at Beale Air Force Base, California, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1975. The wing's predecessor was the 456th Bombardment Group, a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization that flew from Italy while assigned to Fifteenth Air Force. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for valor in combat and participated in the strategic bombing campaign against oil production targets including those near Ploiești, Romania, attacks that resulted in high bomber losses. The group also served as a troop carrier unit in the Air Force Reserve from 1947 to 1949 and as the flying element of the wing from 1952 to 1955.

94th Airlift Wing Military unit

The 94th Airlift Wing is a reserve unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Twenty-Second Air Force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and is stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. When mobilized, most of the wing would be assigned to Air Mobility Command, while a smaller proportion would be retained by AFRC.

Nevada Test and Training Range (military unit) Military unit

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Force Warfare Center of Air Combat Command. The unit is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada as a tenant unit.

340th Flying Training Group Military unit

The 340th Flying Training Group is a reserve component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Twenty-Second Air Force of Air Force Reserve Command, at Randolph Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. The group is the headquarters for reserve flying training squadrons that are associate squadrons of Air Education and Training Command flying training squadrons.

731st Airlift Squadron Military unit

The 731st Airlift Squadron is a flying unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command and part of the 302d Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. It operates Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft providing global airlift. The squadron also has the specialized mission of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System.

47th Fighter Squadron Military unit

The 47th Fighter Squadron is an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where it flies Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and is assigned to the 442d Operations Group.

85th Flying Training Squadron Military unit

The 85th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It operates Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft conducting flight training.

86th Flying Training Squadron Military unit

The 86th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It operates Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk aircraft conducting flight training.

434th Flying Training Squadron US Army unit

The 434th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It operates Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft conducting flight training.

562nd Flying Training Squadron Military unit

The 562nd Flying Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was part of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where it operated the Boeing T-43 Bobcat conducting navigator training from 1993 until inactivating on 19 November 2010.

563rd Flying Training Squadron Military unit

The 563rd Flying Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was part of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where it operated the Boeing T-43 Bobcat conducting navigator training until inactivating on 19 November 2010.

71st Tactical Missile Squadron Military unit

The 71st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 485th Tactical Missile Wing at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1989 with the implementation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

67th Tactical Airlift Squadron Military unit

The 67th Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 433d Troop Carrier Group, based at Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany. It was inactivated on July 14, 1952.

469th Flying Training Squadron Military unit

The 469th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 80th Flying Training Wing and is based at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

401st Air Expeditionary Group Military unit

The 401st Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to be activated or inactivated at any time as needed. It is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

47th Operations Group Military unit

The 47th Operations Group is the flying component of the 47th Flying Training Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command. The group is stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.

365th Bombardment Squadron Military unit

The 365th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated in March 1942. After training with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in the United States, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The squadron was twice awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, it moved to the continent of Europe and engaged in photographic mapping until inactivating in December 1946.

12th Flying Training Wing Military unit

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 Flying Training Group, located at NAS Pensacola, Florida and the 306th Flying Training Group, at The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. The 12th Wing is the only unit in the Air Force conducting both pilot instructor training and combat systems officer training.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Bailey, Carl E. (10 September 2008). "Factsheet 47 Flying Training Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  2. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 104–106
  3. ↑ Knaack, p. 72
  4. 1 2 3 Knaack, pp. 74–75
  5. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons. pp. 291–292
  6. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 294–295
  7. ↑ Ravenstein, pp. 191–194
  8. ↑ Identifiable aircraft are (nearest to farthest) 47-082, 47-089, 47-050, 47-061, 47-058, 47-081, 47-059, 47-064.
  9. ↑ Maurer, pp. 104–106
  10. ↑ Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 315. ISBN   0-912799-53-6.

Bibliography

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

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.