459th Flying Training Squadron

459th Flying Training Squadron

Active 1943–1945; 2009–present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role flying training
Part of Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ Sheppard Air Force Base
Nickname(s) Twin Dragons
Engagements China-Burma-India Theater
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
459th Flying Training Sq emblem (approved 13 April 2009)[1]
459th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 28 November 1944)[2]

The 459th Flying Training Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron tasked with providing undergraduate flying training for Euro-NATO joint jet pilot candidates. Based at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, the unit draws its lineage from a fighter squadron that served in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II, where it saw service against the Japanese. The squadron currently consists of instructors from seven different NATO countries.

History

World War II

Repairs to P-38 by 459th Fighter Squadron at Chittagong, India – January 1945

The squadron was activated in August 1943 with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and joined the 80th Fighter Group, whose three squadrons of Curtiss P-40 Warhawks had arrived in India in June. The group completed the China-Burma-India Theater training and entered combat in September.[3]

It supported Allied forces during the battles for northern Burma and the advance toward Rangoon bombing and strafing troop concentrations, supply dumps and lines of communications. The squadron helped protect bases in India from which cargo aircraft of Air Transport Command flew missions over the Hump to supply forces in China. It patrolled allied airfields and attacked Japanese airfields from which enemy interceptors operated.[3] The 459th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for destroying 119 enemy aircraft between 11 March and 19 May 1944.[1]

The 459th Received a second DUC for intercepting a large formation of enemy aircraft while defending an allied oil refinery in Assam, India on 27 March 1944. The squadron was credited with 66 aerial victory credits between 1 December 1943 and 13 January 1945. The first victory was earned by Capt. Hampton Boggs, who went on to become one of the squadron's aces. The unit continued in combat until about 6 May 1945.[4] Shortly thereafter, it was transferred to the 33d Fighter Group, returning with the 33d to the United States, where it was inactivated at the New York Port of Embarkation on 5 November 1945.[1]

Flying training

The squadron was activated again at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in April 2009 as the 459th Flying Training Squadron.[1] The 89th Flying Training Squadron, which was conducting training with the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II at Sheppard and had grown to over twice the size of a normal training squadron, was split to form the 459th.[5]

The 459th conducts undergraduate flying training for Euro-NATO joint jet pilot candidates.[1] Its instructor pilots come from seven countries.[note 1] In 2010, it was named top operations squadron in Air Education and Training Command.[6]

Lineage

Activated on 1 September 1943
Inactivated on 5 November 1945
Activated on 17 April 2009[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation11 March–19 May 1944 India-Burma459th Fighter Squadron[1]
Distinguished Unit Citation27 March 1944 Assam459th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2010–30 June 2012459th Flying Training Squadron[7]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
India-Burma1 September 1943–28 January 1945459th Fighter Squadron[1]
Central Burma29 January 1945–15 July 1945459th Fighter Squadron[1]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ The countries are the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Canada, Turkey and Spain. Johnson.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Kane, Robert (March 16, 2010). "Factsheet 459 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  2. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 566
  3. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 145–146
  4. ↑ Newton & Senning, p. 650
  5. ↑ Miller, A1C Candy (April 21, 2009). "80th FTW welcomes 459th FTS". 80th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Stacy. "Soaring aptitude". Times Record News. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved November 10, 2016. (search)

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Further reading

External links

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