Country United States | Type Pilot Training | |
 | ||
Active 15 January 1941 – 2 October 1949
23 March 1954 – 22 June 1962
1 September 1972 – 15 September 1992
1 December 1993 - Present Branch United States Air Force Part of Air Education and Training Command
19th Air Force
47th Flying Training Wing
47th Operations Group Garrison/HQ Laughlin Air Force Base | ||
The 86th Flying Training Squadron (86 FTS) is part of the 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It operates T-1 Jayhawk aircraft conducting flight training.
Contents
History
On 20 November 1940, a new squadron was designated the 86th Bombardment Squadron, Light. Activated on 15 January 1941 and stationed at McChord Field, Washington, its primary mission was anti-submarine patrols utilizing B-18 aircraft. In the six years that followed, the 86th traveled to all parts of the world earning a proud history. The mission was expanded to include training personnel for overseas duty and combat operations.
In 1942, the 86th started its journey through various parts of Europe and North Africa. It was stationed in approximately 20 different locations including French-Morocco (1942), Conrobert, Algeria, (1943) and Salon, France (1944). During that time, the 86th supported combat operations with the DB-7, A-20 and A-26 aircraft. The 86th Bombardment Squadron received numerous campaign streamers and the Distinguished Unit Citation in 1943 and again in 1945. It went on to fly combat missions in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations from, 14 December 1942 – 30 April 1945. During the course of the war the squadron earned two Distinguished Unit Citations.
In 1945, the 86th returned to the United States to begin training in support of a new mission of night tactical operations. Stationed at Briggs Fields, Texas, in 1946, and then Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, in 1948, the 86th was redesigned the 86th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Jet, flying the A-26 and then B-45 aircraft. With the slowdown of military operations, the 86th was inactivated in 1949.
On 23 March 1954, the 86th Bombardment Squadron, Light, jet was reactivated. It was stationed at Sculthorpe RAF Station and Alconbury RAF station, England, flying the B-45 and B-66 aircraft. On 1 Oct 1955, the 86th was redesigned as the 86th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical. The 86th remained in England, maintaining proficiency in a variety of tactical operations and was awarded the Air Force Unit Citation for operations from July 1958 to June 1960. On 22 June 1962, the 86th distinguished itself by acquiring eleven campaign streamers and three Distinguished Unit Citations.
Through the early years of the Cold War the 86th transitioned to the B-45 Tornado and later the B-66 Destroyer aircraft and served as a bomber unit, primarily stationed in England.
On 22 March 1972, the 86th was redesignated the 86th Flying Training Squadron (FTS). The former 3646th Pilot Training Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base was discontinued and its personnel and equipment transferred to the 86th FTS, and the squadron continued to train undergraduate student pilots in the Northrop T-38 Talon. From 1976 to 1979, the squadron also trained Strategic Air Command Co-pilots in the ACE program. The squadron was inactivated in September 1992. During its twenty years as a pilot training squadron, the 86th Flying Training Squadron earned five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.
On 17 February 1994, the 86th Flying Training Squadron was reactivated. The training mission continues utilizing the T-1A Jay Hawk for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training. Today the squadron flies the T-1 Jayhawk conducting the specialized undergraduate pilot training phase for airlift-tanker-bomber track pilots.
Operations
Antisubmarine patrols, 9 Dec 1941 – 15 Jan 1942. Combat in Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), 14 Dec 1942 – 30 Apr 1945. Undergraduate pilot training, Sep 1972-Sep 1992 and specialized undergraduate pilot training, 1993 to present.
Lineage
Assignments
47 Bombardment Group, 15 Jan 1941 – 2 Oct 1949. 47 Bombardment Group, 23 Mar 1954 (attached to 47 Bombardment Wing, 23 Mar 1954 – 7 Feb 1955); 47 Bombardment Wing, 8 Feb 1955 – 22 Jun 1962. 47 Flying Training Wing, 1 Sep 1972; 47 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991 – 15 Sep 1992. 47 Operations Group, 1 Dec 1993 – present.
Stations
Aircraft
B-18, 1941-1942; DB-7, 1942; A-20, 1942-1945; A-26 (later, B-26), 1945-1949; B-45, 1949. B-45, 1954-1958; B-66, 1958-1962. T-38, 1972-1992. T-1, 1993 – present.
Operations
Antisubmarine patrols, 9 Dec 1941 – 15 Jan 1942. Combat in Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), 14 Dec 1942 – 30 Apr 1945. Undergraduate pilot training, Sep 1972-Sep 1992 and specialized undergraduate pilot training, 1993 to present.
Service Streamers
None.
Campaign Streamers
World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers
None.
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa, 22 Feb 1943; Po Valley, 21-24 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1958 – 30 Jun 1960; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1973; 1 Jan 1976 – 28 Feb 1977; 1 Jan 1979-30 Apr 1980; 1 May 1982 – 29 Feb 1984; 1 Mar 1985-28 Feb 1987; [1 Mar] 1987-31 Mar 1988; 16 Mar 1989 – 15 Mar 1991; 1 Jul 1991-[15 Sep 1992]; [1 Dec 1993]-30 Jun 1995; 1 Jul 1997 – 30 Jun 1999; 1 Sep 2003-30 Jun 2005; 1 Jul 2005 – 30 Jun 2007.
Emblem
Approved on 8 Mar 1945; modified and reinstated on 22 Mar 1995; replaced emblem approved on 20 Feb 1973.