49th Fighter Training Squadron

49th Flying Training Squadron
49th Fighter Training Squadron Patch
Active	15 January 1941 - 9 September 1945 20 November 1946 - 2 October 1949 1 November 1952 - 7 July 1987 25 June 1990 - 18 September 1992 1 July 1993 - present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Pilot Training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command 19th Air Force 14th Flying Training Wing 14th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Columbus Air Force Base
Decorations	DUC AFOUA

49th FIS (Air Defense Command)

A 49th FIS F-106A in 1970.

T-33As of the 49th FIS on the ramp at Griffiss AFB, 1984.

The 49th Fighter Training Squadron (49 FTS) is part of the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. It operates T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.

History

World War II

Established in early 1941 as an Army Air Corps fighter squadron assigned to the Southwest Air District at March Field, California. Equipped with early model P-38 Lightnings. After the Pearl Harbor Attack and formation of Eighth Air Force in England, was deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in 1942 to fly escort missions of B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers as part of VIII Fighter Command.

Was sent to North Africa in late 1942 as part of the Operation Torch invasion forces, taking up station in Algeria. Was reassigned to Twelfth Air Force and flew both fighter escort missions for the B-17 Flying Fortresses operating from Algeria as well as tactical interdiction strikes on enemy targets of opportunity in Algeria and Tunisia during the North African Campaign.

Following the German defeat and withdrawal from North Africa the squadron participated in the Allied Invasion of Sicily and Invasion of Italy and subsequent drive of the United States Fifth Army up the Italian Peninsula. Engaged primarily in tactical operations after November 1943, supporting ground forces and attacking enemy targets of opportunity such as railroads, road convoys, bridges, strafing enemy airfields and other targets. Was deployed to Corsica in 1944 to attack enemy targets in support of Free French forces in the liberation of the island and to support Allied Forces in the invasion of Southern France. Continued offensive operations until the German Capitulation in May 1945. Demobilized during the summer and fall 1945 in Italy, was inactivated in the United States in early 1946.

Air Defense Command

Was reactivated in 1946 under the new Air Defense Command at Dow Field, Maine and equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts and later early-model F-84B Thunderjets. Was inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions. Reactivated in 1952 at Dow AFB as an F-80C Shooting Star squadron; Moved to Hanscom AFB near Boston where the squadron flew F-86D Sabres until 1959. In October 1959 the 49th FIS replaced the 465th FIS at Griffiss AFB, New York, and became a major tenant at Griffiss AFB. The 49th was re-equipped with F-101 Voodoos which it operated until late 1968, when it was re-equipped with F-106 Delta Darts. There were a total of 46 F-106's assigned to the 49th FIS at Griffiss AB NY between 30 Sept 1968 until its inactivation on 30 Sep 1987. The last two F-106s (59-0062 and 59-0136 were the last Delta Darts in active-duty USAF service, being sent to AMARC on 9 July 1987. The squadron was initially programmed to receive F-15 Eagles, however it was decided to inactivate the unit. The 49th was the last active USAF F-106 unit.

Reactivated in 1990 as an undergraduate pilot training squadron and has taught basic procedures and techniques of fighter employment since 1993.

Lineage

• Constituted 49 Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 20 Nov 1940

Activated on 15 Jan 1941

Redesignated: 49 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942

Redesignated: 49 Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 28 Feb 1944

Inactivated on 9 Sep 1945

• Redesignated 49 Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled, and activated, on 20 Nov 1946

Redesignated: 49 Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 26 Jul 1948

Inactivated on 2 Oct 1949

• Redesignated 49 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 Sep 1952

Activated on 1 Nov 1952

Inactivated on 7 Jul 1987

• Redesignated: 49 Flying Training Squadron on 11 May 1990

Activated on 25 Jun 1990

Inactivated on 18 Sep 1992

• Activated on 1 Jul 1993

Redesignated: 49 Fighter Training Squadron on 19 May 2003.

Assignments

• 14th Fighter Group (1941–1945, 1946–1949)
• 4711th Air Defense Wing (1952–1955)
• 4707th Air Defense Wing (1955–1956)
• 32d Air Division (1956–1958)
• Boston Air Defense Sector (1958–1959)
• 4727th Air Defense Group (1959)
• Syracuse Air Defense Sector (1959–1963)
• Boston Air Defense Sector (1963–1966)
• 35th Air Division (1966–1969)
• 21st Air Division (1969–1983)
• 24th Air Division (1983–1987)
• 14th Flying Training Wing (1990–1992, 1993–2000)
• 479th Flying Training Group (2000–2007)
• 14th Flying Training Wing (2007–present)

Stations

• Hamilton Field, California (1941, 1942)
• March Field, California (1941–1942)

Operated From: San Diego, California (7–12 December 1941)

• RAF Atcham, England (1942)
• Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria (1942)
• Youks-les-Bains Airfield, Algeria (1942–1943)
• Berteaux Airfield, Algeria (1943)
• Mediouna Airfield, French Morocco (1943)
• Telergma Airfield, Algeria (1943)
• El Bathan Airfield, Tunisia (1943)

• Sainte Marie du Zit Airfield, Tunisia (1943)
• Triolo Airfield, Italy (1943–1945)

Operated From: Corsica (10–21 August 1944)

• Lesina Airfield, Italy (1945)
• Dow Air Force Base, Maine (1946–1949)
• Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts (1955–1959)
• Griffiss Air Force Base, New York (1959–1987)
• Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi (1990–1992, 1993–2000)
• Moody Air Force Base, Georgia (2000–2007)
• Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi (2007–present)

Aircraft

• P-40 Warhawk (1941)
• P-43 Lancer (1941)
• P-66 Vanguard (1941)
• P-38 Lightning (1941–1945)
• P-47 Thunderbolt (1946–1949)
• F-84 Thunderjet (1947–1949)
• F-80C Shooting Star (1952–1953)
• F-86F Sabre, (1953-1954)

• F-86D Sabre Interceptor (1954–1956)
• F-86L Sabre Interceptor (SAGE) (1956–1959)
• T-33 Shooting Star (1952–1953, 1956–1986)
• F-89J Scorpion (1959)
• F-101B Voodoo (1959–1968)
• F-106 Delta Dart (1968–1987)
• T-38 Talon (1990–1992, 2000–present)
• AT-38 Talon (1993–2000)

References

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

• A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
• Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1982.
• USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1).
• 49th Flying Training Squadron History