Country United States Role Red Flag Coordination | Type Combat Training Unit | |
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Active 1943-1947; 1969-Present Branch United States Air Force Garrison/HQ Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada | ||
The 414th Combat Training Squadron (CTS) is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The 414 CTS is a non-flying organization charged with hosting Red Flag - NELLIS (RF-N) exercises, Air Combat Command's premier and largest Large Force Exercise (LFE).
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The unit was originally formed as the 414th Night Fighter Squadron in 1943. After training, it was deployed to Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign to provide air defense interceptor protection against Luftwaffe night air raids. It later operated in Sardinia, Corsica, Italy, plus a detachment in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. It returned to the United States and was inactivated in 1947.
It was reactivated as a combat training squadron at Nellis AFB in 1969. In 2005, it was designated as a non-flying squadron managing Red Flag exercises.
Overview
Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. It is conducted on the vast bombing and gunnery ranges at Nellis AFB, Nev. It is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the Air Warfare Center and Nellis.
The 414 CTS coordinates the F-16 Fighting Falcons flown by the 64th Aggressor Squadron and F-15 Eagles flown by the 65th Aggressor Squadron and the ground based air defenses operated by the 507th Air Defense Aggressor Squadron.
World War II
Established as a Night Fighter Squadron in January 1943, trained in Florida with a specialized version of the A-20 Havoc modified for night combat.
Deployed to Twelfth Air Force in Algeria, May 1943. Equipped with British Bristol Beaufighter, carried out defensive night patrols over Allied held territory during the North African campaign, also conducted night interdiction raids on German positions in Algeria and Tunisia. After German collapse in North Africa, continued defensive patrols and offensive night attacks on Axis positions on Sardinia, Corsica, and in Italy. Detachment operated with Ninth Air Force in Belgium in late 1944-1945 during the Battle of the Bulge. Re-equipped with modified Lockheed P-38L Lightning (designated P-38M) for night operations fitted with an AN/APS-6 radar in an external radome underneath the nose, relocated radio equipment and anti-flash gun muzzles in early 1945.
Squadron stood down after the end of the European War, May 1945. Designated as not operational, June 1945 – August 1946. Reassigned administratively to Shaw AAF, South Carolina, 15 Aug 1946 and equipped with returned P-61 Black Widow Night Fighters. Never activated, squadron was inactivated 16 Mar 1947, with aircraft being reassigned to the 319th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) and flown to Howard Field, Canal Zone, 1947 for defense of Panama Canal under Air Defense Command.
Cold War
Re-designated as the 414th Fighter Weapons Squadron on 22 August 1969, the squadron reactivated on 15 October 1969 at Nellis AFB, NV, replacing the 4538th Combat Crew Training Squadron. Assigned to the 57th Fighter Weapons (later, 57th Tactical Training; 57th Fighter Weapons) Wing, the 414th was tasked with combat crew training, using the F-4C Phantom II aircraft. Aircraft initially tail coded "WD", wing tail code "WA" was adopted in October 1971. upgrading to the F-4D and lastly F-4E, tail coded "WA" with black/yellow check tail stripe.
The 414 CTS assumed the duties of the 4440th Tactical Fighter Training Group (Red Flag) on 1 March 1976, performing combat fighter weapons training with the F-4 until the end of 1981, when inactivated and squadron was reassigned to the USAF Fighter Weapons School, being re-designated as "F-4 Division".
Modern era
The squadron was redesignated as the 414th Composite Training Squadron, and activated, on November 1, 1991 at Nellis AFB. Assigned to the 57th Wing's Operations Group, and flying the F-16, the squadron was tasked with conducting Red Flag exercises. In 1993, the unit was renamed the 414th Training Squadron, and in 1994, the 414th Combat Training Squadron. Performed aggressor training with F-16C Fighting Falcons until 2005 when assets were reassigned to the 65th Aggressor Squadron, 57th Adversary Tactics Group.
Now a non-flying organization, the 414th, unlike most USAF squadrons, which are typically commanded by lieutenant colonels, the present scope of responsibility of the 414 CTS within the United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC) is such that it is now commanded by a full colonel.
While the 414 CTS remains technically subordinate to the 57th Operations Group, it is now more analogous to group level-equivalent organization, for administration of the 57 TAG.