85th Flying Training Squadron

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85th Flying Training Squadron
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
85th Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 2 January 1973)[1]
85th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 9 September 1944)[2]

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.

Mission

The current mission of the 85th Flying Training Wing is to take recent undergraduate pilots, from Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps or the United States Air Force Academy and qualify them to fly the T-6 Texan II aircraft.

History

World War II

The 85th was first activated as a bombardment squadron shortly before the United States entered World War II. Stationed at McChord Field, Washington it flew antisubmarine patrols following the attack on Pearl Harbor.[3]

The squadron was sent to North Africa to participate in

Kasserine Pass in February 1943.[3]

Following the Axis defeat in North Africa the 85th participated in the reduction of

Italian Campaign, earning it a second Distinguished Unit Citation for actions in the Po Valley 21–24 April 1945. In August and September 1944 the 85th briefly broke off from the Italian Campaign to support the invasion of southern France.[3]

Cold War

Following the Second World War the squadron remained an active bomber unit. It was the first squadron to operate the North American B-45 Tornado, the US Air Force's first jet bomber. It later transitioned to the Douglas B-66 Destroyer before being inactivated in May 1962.

Pilot training

The squadron was reactivated a decade later as a flying training squadron, replacing the 3645th Pilot Training Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.[3]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 85th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 20 November 1940
Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 85th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 20 August 1943
Redesignated 85th Bombardment Squadron, Light (Night Attack) on 16 April 1946
Redesignated 85th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Jet on 23 June 1948
Redesignated 85th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 16 November 1950
Redesignated 85th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 1 October 1955
Discontinued and inactivated on 22 June 1962
  • Redesignated 85th Flying Training Squadron on 22 March 1972
Activated on 1 September 1972[1]

Assignments

  • 47th Bombardment Group
    , 15 January 1941
  • Twelfth Air Force, 2 October 1949
  • 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group
    ), 17 October 1949
  • 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
    )
  • 47th Bombardment Group, 12 Mar 1951 (attached to
    47th Bombardment Wing
    after 17 Nov 1952)
  • 47th Bombardment Wing, 8 February 1955 – 22 June 1962
  • 47th Flying Training Wing, 1 September 1972
  • 47th Operations Group, 15 December 1991 – present[1]

Stations

Aircraft

  • B-18 Bolo
    (1941–1942)
  • DB-7 Boston
    (1941–1942)
  • A-20 Havoc
    (1941–1945)
  • A-26 Invader
    (later, B-26) (1945–1949, 1950–1951)
  • North American B-45 Tornado (1949–1957)
  • Douglas B-66 Destroyer (1958–1962)
  • T-37 Tweet
    (1972–2004)
  • T-6 Texan II (2004 – present)[1]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bailey, Carl E. (10 September 2008). "Factsheet 85 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  2. ^ Maurer, pp. 294-295
  3. ^ a b c d "Laughlin AFB Library: Fact Sheets: 85th Flying Training Squadron". 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs. 9 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  4. ^ Watkins indicates the squadron was on the Maltese island of Gozo. Watkins, p. 71.
  5. ^ Probably at Torrente Comunelli until 20 August 1943, then at Gerbini Airfield. Watkins, p. 71.
  6. ^ Station number in Johnson.
  7. ^ Station information in Bailey, except as noted.

Bibliography

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