3d Flying Training Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 3d Fighter Training Squadron (3 FTS) is part of the 71st Operations Group under the 71st Flying Training Wing. It operates the T-38 Talon
aircraft conducting flight training.
from, 8 December 1941-c. 1 May 1942. It was wiped out in the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42). The survivors fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan
and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March
, although some did escape to Australia. The unit was never remanned or equipped. It was carried as an active unit until 2 April 1946.
Reactivated late in the Vietnam War
, the 3d also flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from, 15 March-15 August 1973. It supported the evacuation of U.S. personnel from Phnom Penh
, Cambodia, and from Saigon, South Vietnam
in April 1975, and the recovery of the SS Mayagüez
crew in May 1975. It provided primary flying training from, 1994–2000 and 2001–2007.
T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine 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 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
aircraft conducting flight training.
Mission
Graduate warriors with the skills and attitude necessary to become the world's best fighter wingmen.History
The 3d was most likely an observer training unit during the First World War from, 1918–1919. The 3d participated in combat operations in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
from, 8 December 1941-c. 1 May 1942. It was wiped out in the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42). The survivors fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan
Battle of Bataan
The Battle of Bataan represented the most intense phase of Imperial Japan's invasion of the Philippines during World War II. The capture of the Philippine Islands was crucial to Japan's effort to control the Southwest Pacific, seize the resource-rich Dutch East Indies, and protect its Southeast...
and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...
, although some did escape to Australia. The unit was never remanned or equipped. It was carried as an active unit until 2 April 1946.
Reactivated late in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the 3d also flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from, 15 March-15 August 1973. It supported the evacuation of U.S. personnel from Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
, Cambodia, and from Saigon, South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
in April 1975, and the recovery of the SS Mayagüez
SS Mayagüez
SS Mayaguez was a U.S.-flagged container ship that attained notoriety for its 12 May 1975 seizure by Khmer Rouge forces of Cambodia, which resulted in a confrontation with the United States at the close of the Vietnam War....
crew in May 1975. It provided primary flying training from, 1994–2000 and 2001–2007.
Lineage
- Organized as: the 3d Aero Squadron on 1 November 1916
- Redesignated as: Squadron A, Post Field, Oklahoma, on 22 July 1918
- Demobilized on 2 January 1919.
- Reconstituted, and consolidated (1924) with unit organized as 3d Aero Squadron on 13 May 1919
- Redesignated as: 3d Squadron on 14 March 1921
- Redesignated as: 3d Pursuit Squadron on 25 January 1923
- Redesignated as: 3d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 6 December 1939
- Inactivated on 2 April 1946
- Redesignated as: 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron on 12 March 1973
- Activated on 15 March 1973
- Redesignated as: 3d Fighter Training Squadron on 19 December 1991
- Inactivated on 20 August 1993
- Redesignated as: 3d Flying Training Squadron on 14 February 1994
- Activated on 1 April 1994
- Inactivated on 7 April 2000
- Activated on 2 April 2001.
Assignments
- Unknown, 1916–1919
- Unknown, 13 May-18 August 1919
- Philippine Department, 18 August 1919
- 1st Observation (later, 4th Observation; 4th Composite) Group, 10 March 1920
- 24th Pursuit Group24th Pursuit GroupThe 24th Pursuit Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was wiped out in the Battle of the Philippines . The survivors fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March, although some did escape to Australia. The unit was...
, 1 October 1941 – 2 April 1946 - 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 March 1973
- 3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 December 1975
- Attached to Thirteenth Air ForceThirteenth Air ForceThe Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
, 15–16 December 1975- 343d Wing, 19 December 1991
- 343d Operations Group, 1 February 1992 – 20 August 1993
- 12th Operations Group12th Operations GroupThe 12th Operations Group is the flying component of the 12th Flying Training Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command...
, 1 April 1994 – 7 April 2000 - 479th Flying Training Group479th Flying Training GroupThe 479th Flying Training Group is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola . A component of Air Education and Training Command , the 479 FTG was activated on 2 October 2009.-Overview:...
, 2 April 2001 - 71st Operations Group71st Operations GroupThe 71st Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 71st Flying Training Wing. It is stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma....
, 21 July 2007–present
- 12th Operations Group
Stations
- Fort Sam HoustonFort Sam HoustonFort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
, Texas, 1 November 1916 - South San Antonio, Texas, May 1916
- Fort SillFort SillFort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 30 August 1917 - Post Field, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, November 1917-2 January 1919 - Mitchel Field, New York, 13 May 1919
- Hazelhurst Field, New York, 29 May – 28 June 1919
- Manila, Luzon, Philippines, 18 August 1919
- Camp Stotsenburg, Luzon, Philippines, 2 December 1919
- Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 15 October 1920
- Nichols FieldNichols FieldNichols Field was a U.S. military airfield located south of Manila in Pasay City and Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Luzon, the Philippines. During the World War II era, it was the location of the Far East Air Force's U.S. 20th Air Base Group. Also, based here was Troop F of the U.S. 26th Cavalry...
, Luzon, Philippines, 16 June 1938 - Iba AirfieldIba AirfieldIba Airfield is a former United States Army Air Forces airfield on Luzon in the Philippines. It was overrun by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Battle of the Philippines .-History:...
, Luzon, Philippines, c. 1 September 1941 - Nichols FieldNichols FieldNichols Field was a U.S. military airfield located south of Manila in Pasay City and Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Luzon, the Philippines. During the World War II era, it was the location of the Far East Air Force's U.S. 20th Air Base Group. Also, based here was Troop F of the U.S. 26th Cavalry...
, Luzon, Philippines, 9 December 1941
- Ternate NAS, Luzon, Philippines, c. 12 December 1941
- Operated from Del Carmen AirfieldDel Carmen AirfieldDel Carmen Airfield is a former United States Army Air Forces airfield on Luzon in the Philippines. It was overrun by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Battle of the Philippines .-History:...
, Luzon, Philippines, 12-c. 25 December 1941- Bataan AirfieldBataan AirfieldBataan Airfield was a former wartime United States Army Air Forces airfield on Luzon in the Philippines. It was overrun by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Battle of the Philippines...
, Luzon, Philippines, c. 25 December 1941 – April 1942
- Bataan Airfield
- Operated from Del Monte Airfield, MindanaoMindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Philippines, c. 8 April–May 1942- Korat RTAFB, Thailand, 15 March 1973
- Clark AB, Philippines, 15 December 1975 – 19 December 1991
- Eielson AFB, AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, 19 December 1991 – 20 August 1993 - Lackland AFB, Texas, 1 April 1994 – 7 April 2000
- Moody AFB, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 2 April 2001 – 21 July 2007 - Vance AFB, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 21 July 2007–present
Aircraft
- R-4 (1917–1919)
- JN-4 Jenny (1917–1919)
- JN-6 Jenny (1917–1919)
- DH-4 (1919–1931)
- MB-3 (1923–1926)
- PW-9 (1926–1931)
- P-12Boeing P-12The Boeing P-12 or F4B was an American pursuit aircraft that was operated by the United States Army Air Corps and United States Navy.-Design and development:...
(1930–1937) - O-2Douglas O-2The Douglas O-2 is a 1920s American observation aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company.-Development:The important family of Douglas observation aircraft sprang from two XO-2 prototypes, the first of which was powered by the 420 hp Liberty V-1650-1 V-engine and test-flown in the autumn...
(1931–1937) - O-19 (1931–1937)
- P-26 PeashooterP-26 PeashooterThe American Boeing P-26 Peashooter, was the first all-metal production fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane used by the United States Army Air Corps...
(1937–1941) - P-35 Guardsman (1941)
- P-40 Warhawk (1941–1942)
- A-7 Corsair IIA-7 Corsair IIThe Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
(1973–1975) - F-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
(1975–1991) - UH-1 IroquoisUH-1 IroquoisThe Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
(1991–1993) - T-3 Firefly (1994–2000)
- T-6 Texan IIT-6 Texan IIThe Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company . Based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer and...
(2001–2007) - T-38 TalonT-38 TalonThe Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine 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 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
(2007–present)