451st Flying Training Squadron

The 451st Flying Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. Its assigned to the 479th Flying Training Group, stationed at NAS Pensacola, Florida.

451st Flying Training Squadron
USAF T-1A Jayhawk at NAS Pensacola
Active1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1973–1993, 2009–
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFlying training
Part ofAir Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQNaval Air Station Pensacola
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
451 Flying Training Sq emblem[2]
451 Flying Training Sq emblem (approved 30 May 1973)[1]
Patch with 451st Fighter-Day Squadron emblem (approved 2 May 1955)[3]
451st Bombardment Squadron emblem[4]

History

World War II

"Clark's Little Pill", 451st Bomb Squadron B-26 Marauder, RAF Andrews Field, England, October 1943

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 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 in place 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.

Day fighter operations

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.

Flying training

Reactivated in 1972 as an Air Training Command navigator training squadron; flew Convair T-29; later Boeing T-43 Bobcat navigation classroom aircraft.

As of 2 October 2009, the 451st FTS trains Combat Systems Officers utilizing 21 modified T-1A Jayhawk aircraft.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 451st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
Activated on 17 July 1942
Redesignated 451st Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 20 August 1943[5]
Inactivated on 11 December 1945
  • Redesignated 451st Bombardment Squadron, Light on 3 July 1947
Activated in the reserve on 9 August 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
  • Redesignated 451st Fighter-Day Squadron on 24 March 1954
Activated on 1 July 1954
Inactivated on 18 November 1957.
  • Redesignated 451st Flying Training Squadron on 28 July 1972
Activated on 1 April 1973
Inactivated on 31 May 1993
Activated on 2 October 2009[1]

Assignments

Stations

Deployed to Landstuhl Air Base, West Germany, 20 September-4 October 1956

Aircraft

  • Martin B-26 Marauder (1942–1945)
  • North American AT-6 Texan (1947–1949)
  • Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator (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 (1973–1975)
  • Boeing T-43 Bobcat (1973–1993)
  • Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk (2009–present)[1]

References

Notes
  1. Robertson, Patsy (3 February 2010). "Factsheet 451 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. "The Institute of Heraldry, USAF units 400–499". Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  3. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 557
  4. Watkins, p. 99
  5. See Kane, Robert B. (20 May 2011). "Factsheet 322 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 21 July 2017. (showing redesignation of parent group)
  6. Station number in Anderson.
  7. Station number in Johnson.

Bibliography

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

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