557th Flying Training Squadron

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557th Flying Training Squadron
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Insignia
557th Flying Training Squadron emblem[a][1]
557th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][2]

The 557th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 306th Flying Training Group based at United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, where it has conducted flight training for Academy cadets since 1974.

The first predecessor of the

Distinguished Unit Citation in December 1944. It was inactivated after the end of World War II
.

The squadron's second predecessor is the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which was organized in 1962, and flew in combat in the

Combat "V" Device
. The two squadrons were consolidated into a single unit in September 1985.

Mission

The squadron conducts powered flight training for Air Force Academy cadets.

History

World War II

The first predecessor of the squadron, the 557th Bombardment Squadron, was activated at

European Theater of Operations. The squadron's ground echelon departed for the port of embarkation on 10 June and sailed on the RMS Queen Mary on 23 June, while the air echelon ferried its Marauders to England via the northern ferrying route.[2][3][4]

387th Bombardment Group B-26 Marauder[c]

The squadron established itself at its first base in Europe,

Operation Starkey, an attempt to make the Germans believe an invasion of France was imminent.[6] On 9 October 1943, the squadron flew what would prove to be the last B-26 mission flown by Eighth Air Force.[7]

In October,

Saint Lo. During August, it attacked German forces at Brest, France.[3]

The squadron moved to France in September, when it began operations from

Distinguished Unit Citation. It continued to support the Allied advance into Germany, flying its last combat mission in April 1945.[3]

After

V-E Day the squadron moved to Rosieres-en-Santerre Airfield, France, where it remained until returning to the United States for inactivation in November 1945.[2]

Vietnam War

F-4C Phantom of the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[d]

The second predecessor of the squadron was the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which was activated at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida in April 1962

McDonnell F-4 Phantom II fighter unit in the Air Force. The F-4Cs designed for the Air Force were not yet in production at that time. In order to get the squadron operational, second-line Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks were transferred from the Air National Guard.[8] The squadron received Navy F-4Bs for training and then F-4Cs in January 1964.[citation needed
]

The 12th Wing deployed to Vietnam in November 1965, and the squadron was briefly assigned to the

37th Tactical Fighter Wing, while the 557th and the wing's other fighter squadrons were inactivated.[1][9]

Flying training

A Diamond T-52A of the 557th at the USAF Academy taxis for a training flight

The squadron was reactivated at the

Slingsby T-3 Firefly, the four remaining T-41Ds support flying team operations and are used as an aerodynamics course laboratory.[10] In September 1985, the squadron was consolidated with the World War II bomber squadron.[1]

In addition to providing cadets with some initial flight instruction, the 557th is also home to the USAFA Flying Team, composed of 27 cadets selected for the team.[

Cirrus T-53 in 2011,[1] and in September of the following year, the first cadet soloed in the T-53.[11]

Lineage

557th Bombardment Squadron
  • Constituted as the 557th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 25 November 1942
Activated on 1 December 1942
Redesignated 557th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 9 October 1944
Inactivated on 12 Nov 1945
Consolidated with the 557th Flying Training Squadron as the 557th Flying Training Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
557th Flying Training Squadron
  • Constituted as the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated on 17 April 1962 (not organized)
Organized on 25 April 1962
Inactivated on 31 March 1970
  • Redesignated 557th Flying Training Squadron on 18 June 1974
Activated on 31 July 1974[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

  • Martin B-26 Marauder (1943–1945)
  • Republic F-84 Thunderjet (1962–1964)
  • McDonnell F-4 Phantom II
    (1964–1970)
  • Cessna T-41 Mescalero (1974–Present)
  • de Havilland Canada UV-18 Twin Otter
    (1979–1982)
  • Cessna T-51A
    (1982–present)
  • Slingsby_T67_Firefly (1994-1997)[10]
  • Diamond DA20 Katana (2002-2007)
  • Diamond T-52
    (2009–2012)
  • Cirrus T-53A (2011-present)[15]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Presidential Unit Citation Germany 23 December 1944 557th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Combat "V" Device
 1 December 1965–30 May 1966 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device 1 June 1966–31 May 1967 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device 1 June 1967–31 May 1968 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device 1 June 1968–31 May 1969 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device 1 June 1969–10 March 1970 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1979–30 April 1980 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 30 March 1981–31 October 1982 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1983–18 December 1984 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1987–31 December 1988 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1991-30 June 1993 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1993-30 June 1994 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 September 1994-31 October 1995 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 November 1995-30 June 1996 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1996-30 June 1998 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1998-30 June 2000 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 2005-30 June 2007 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 2007-30 June 2009 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 2009-30 June 2011 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 2011-30 June 2013 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 2012-30 June 2015 557th Flying Training Squadron[1]
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
 1 December 1965-10 March 1970 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Air Offensive, Europe 1 July 1943–5 June 1944 557th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Normandy 6 June 1944–24 July 1944 557th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Northern France 25 July 1944–14 September 1944 557th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Rhineland 15 September 1944–21 March 1945 557th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Ardennes-Alsace 16 December 1944–25 January 1945 557th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Central Europe 22 March 1944–21 May 1945 557th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Vietnam Defensive November 1965–30 January 1966 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air 31 January 1966–28 June 1966 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air Offensive 29 June 1966–8 March 1967 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II 9 March 1967–31 March 1968 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air/Ground 22 January 1968–7 July 1968 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III 1 April 1968–31 October 1968 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV 1 November 1968–22 February 1969 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Tet 1969/Counteroffensive 23 February 1969–8 June 1969 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 June 1969–31 October 1969 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 3 November 1969–10 March 1970 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Approved 8 September 1975.
  2. proper; in front of two yellow aerial bombs in saltire
    , enflamed at the center.
  3. ^ Aircraft is Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder, serial 42-96165, The Big Hairy Bird.
  4. Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center on 12 July 1988 and salvaged on 13 February 1997. Baugher, Joe (21 April 2023). "1963 USAF Serial Numbers"
    . Joe Baugher. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av Haulman, Daniel L. (28 March 2017). "Factsheet 557 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 658-659
  3. ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 274-275
  4. ^ a b Freeman, p. 254
  5. ^ Freeman, pp. 59-60
  6. ^ Freeman, p. 60
  7. ^ Freeman, p. 62
  8. ^ "12 TFW Association Website and Forum: History". 12th Tactical Fighter Wing Association. 2 December 1961. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  9. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 27, 65, 269
  10. ^ a b "557 FTS Aircraft" (PDF). USAF Academy Public Affairs. August 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  11. ^ Reteneller, Maj Christopher. "Cadet 'slips the surly bonds of Earth' in historic 1st solo powered flight". Joint Base San Antonio Public Affairs. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  12. ^ a b Station number in Anderson.
  13. ^ a b c d e Station number in Johnson.
  14. ^ Station information in Haulman, except as noted.
  15. ^ Aircraft information in Haulman, except as noted.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Further reading
  • Mattorano, Gino (24 June 2011). "Airmanship program receives new trainer". Academy Spirit. United States Air Force Academy: 1.
  • Reteneller, Maj Christopher (13 April 2012). "New trainers take flight". Academy Spirit. United States Air Force Academy: 1.
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