12th Flying Training Wing
Encyclopedia
The 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW) is a United States Air Force
unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command
Nineteenth Air Force
. It is stationed at Randolph Air Force Base
, Texas. The wing is also the parent organization for the 479th Flying Training Group (479 FTG), a geographically separated unit (GSU) located at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
The 12 FTW is the only unit in the Air Force conducting both pilot instructor training and combat systems officer training. The Wing's predecessor unit, the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing fought in combat during the Vietnam War
. It was the host unit at two major air bases in South Vietnam
. Its F-4 Phantom II
aircraft flew thousands of combat missions between 1965 and 1971, before being withdrawn from combat as part of the United States drawdown of forces in Southeast Asia. Its World War II
predecessor unit, the 12th Bombardment Group as part of Twelfth Air Force supported the Allied drive from Egypt
to Tunisia
during the North Africa Campaign, then reassigned to Tenth Air Force
in India and flew most of its missions in Burma between April 1944 and May 1945, supporting the British Fourteenth Army.
The commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing is Col Richard M. Murphy. The Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Max Grindstaff.
and the Beech T-1A Jayhawk jet trainers. In addition, the wing conducts introduction to fighter fundamentals in the Northrop AT-38 Talon.
Until late 2010, the wing also conducted joint undergraduate navigator training and electronic warfare officer (EWO) training in the T-1A Jayhawk and Boeing T-43
A medium-range turbofan jet at Randolph AFB. With the retirement of the T-43 in September 2010, this training merged with extant weapons systems officer (WSO) training conducted jointly with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps at Nas Pensacola, Florida. The navigator, EWO and WSO training tracks were then merged and all three specialties (which wear the same type of uniform insignia wings upon completion of flight training) became known as Combat Systems Officer (CSO). This updated CSO training is conducted by the 479th Flying Training Group as a GSU at NAS Pensacola, utilizing Navy T-6 Texan II
aircraft and the USAF T-1A Jayhawk.
The wing trains Air Force pilots to be flight instructors at Air Education and Training Command’s four USAF undergraduate pilot training bases and conducts Department of Defense undergraduate combat systems officer training in combination with USN and USMC Naval Flight Officer training at a single-sited base under USN control. The wing also trains other military personnel from more than 20 allied countries.
The 479th Flying Training Group is a geographically separated unit located at Naval Air Station Pensacola
, Florida and conducts flying operations similar to the 12th Operations Group.
The 12th Fighter Escort Wing was activated at Turner Air Force Base
, Georgia
, on 1 November 1950. It was assigned to the Strategic Air Command
Second Air Force
, with a mission to provide fighter escort for SAC's B-50 Superfortress
and B-36 Peacemaker strategic bombing force. SAC was founded by men who had flown bomb raids against Germany during World War II. They usually encountered swarms of enemy fighters and knew the importance of having fighter escorts, so they had fighter wings placed under their own operational control.
Upon activation, the wing controlled the 12th Fighter-Escort Group, which was activated a few days earlier at Turner. The 12th FEG consisted of the 559th
, 560th, 561st Fighter Escort Squadrons.
The 12th did not remain long at Turner as it was moved about a month later to Bergstrom AFB, Texas on 1 December to replace the 27th Fighter-Escort Group that had just departed for service in the Korean War
. As the 12th arrived at Bergstrom, the unit received personnel from the 27th that did not deploy to Korea and also personnel that were reassigned from the 31st Fighter-Escort Group at Turner. During December 1950 – February 1951, the Group's squadrons were assigned directly to the Wing and the group was turned into a "paper unit" as part of the Air Force tri-deputate reorganization. It was inactivated on 16 June 1952 without personnel or equipment.
In January 1951 the 559th FES and the 560th FES began sending their pilots to the Matagorda Island Gunnery Range, off the southeastern coast of Texas, for gunnery training. The new 561st did not have any aircraft assigned as yet.
On 27 April 12 FEW made its first very long cross-country (XC) mission in the F-84, to visit the 31st FEW at Turner. On the return leg the following day one F-84 was lost over Louisiana
, but its pilot bailed out okay.
On 7 June 12 FEW started a mission to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
that would result in one of the worst non-combat incidents in history. Eight F-84s were lost, three pilots were killed, two had major injuries, three were "relatively unharmed".
On 3 and 4 July 12 FEW transferred forty of F-84Es to Naval Air Station Alameda
, California for sea shipment to Korea
, and they returned to Bergstrom on aircraft on the night of the 4th.
On 10 July, a special training mission was flown by B-36D Peacemakers of the 11th Bombardment Wing, 19th Air Division, out of Carswell AFB, Texas, including a high altitude penetration of Eglin AFB, Florida, utilizing F-84 fighter escort from the 12th FEW. On that date, nine B-36s took part escorted by 18 F-84 fighters. The bombers flew out of Carswell south to Port Arthur
, Texas. At Port Arthur the bombers picked up their escort fighters and headed east to Florida reaching the Eglin Range. Several F-86 fighters from Eglin AFB intercepted the bombers enroute to targets in the area. Completing the scheduled mission the bombers returned to Carswell and the escort fighters recovered at Eglin AFB, returning to Bergstrom AFB the next day.
Then, on 12 July all remaining aircraft were transferred across the flightllne to the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing that was just returning from Korea. This left the wing without any operational aircraft.
However, the 12th was ordered reassigned to England and to SAC's 7th Air Division. The majority of the wing's personnel and equipment were deployed to RAF Manston
, England by 21 July. At Manston, they obtained the aircraft of the 31st Fighter-Escort Wing that was now headed back to Turner AFB. In England the mission of the wing was to provide escort duties to the deployed B-50 Superfortress
and B-36 Peacemaker rotational bombardment wings which were deployed to England as REFLEX wings. In addition to the escort duties, the 12th was tasked for the air defense of Norway
. The squadrons began rotating to Wheelus AB Libya
in September for gunnery practice.
The 12th, however, only remained at Manston until 30 November 1951 when it was replaced by the 123d Fighter-Bomber Wing, a composite Air National Guard
organization, with the 12th being transferred back to the United States. Leaving their aircraft in England, the personnel returned to Bergstom AFB, where the 12th was equipped with the obsolescent F-84Ds, until new F-84Gs could be delivered from Republic.
In April 1953 a new program, Task Force 132.4, was started. By the end of the month the Task Force had thirty-nine officers and 123 airmen assigned. In June this Detachment and the 561st FES was detached from the 12th FEW and sent to Brookley AFB, Alabama
for modifications to their F-84Gs to prepare them for nuclear armament delivery. The Task Force also sent a detachment to Indian Springs AFB, Nevada
for atomic tests where they remained for six weeks and then returned to the unit, to be monitored for radiation contamination.
On 20 January 1953 the wing was redesignated as the 12th Strategic Fighter Wing and was deployed between May and August to Misawa Air Base
, Japan to perform air defense duties in Japan, relieving the 508th SFW, and being relieved in turn by the 506th. Although designated an escort wing, it was learned by aerial combat in Korea that the F-84 was ineffective against the swept-wing MiG-15 in the bomber-escort role over North Korea
. They would return to Misawa for another tour in the air defense role between May and August 1954. The 12th FEW would continue with F-84Gs through 1957, with a partial conversion to F-84Fs, while also gaining the 27th Air Refueling Squadron with KB-29Ps in 1955, which continued until 1957.
A major lesson learned by SAC during the Korean War was that its propeller-driven bomber force, the B-50s and B-36s were essentially rendered obsolete by the MiG-15 jet interceptors used by the North Koreans. Under attack by the MiGs, Far East Air Force was forced to switch from daylight bombing to night attacks, which although safer, did not eliminate the MiG threat which the bombers had little effective defense. The .50-caliber machine gun defense by the bombers were ineffective against the jet interceptors.
As a result of lessons learned in Korea, by the mid-1950s, the development of SAC's swept-wing jet B-47 Stratojet
medium bomber and B-52 Stratofortress
strategic bomber changed SAC's bombing doctrine as well. World War II style bomber formations escorted by fighters was obsolete due to the fact that SAC's jet bombers flew so fast and so high that they were virtually immune from interceptor fighters. In addition, the World War II concept of groups of strategic bombers attacking an individual target with high explosive or incendiary bombs for pinpoint bombing had been replaced by the use of an individual bomber carrying one nuclear weapon to a target for mass destruction, not a formation of them.
In addition, the fact was that the F-84s simply couldn't keep up with high flying fast jet bombers, and the SAC F-84 strategic fighter wings were deemed obsolete. As a result of this change of doctrine, the 12th SFW and Bergstrom Air Force Base
were transferred to Tactical Air Command
on 1 July 1957. The wing was redesignated as the 12th Fighter-Day Wing with its change of major command.
However TAC had no use for Bergstrom, nor the F-84s of the 27th as the equipment was considered obsolete for front-line tactical fighter-bomber missions, which TAC's new F-100 Super Sabre
was performing. Also there were no funds available to re-equip the wing or fund operations by TAC as Bergstrom. However, congressional pressure in Washington led to the Air Force transferring Bergstrom back to SAC in January 1958 as a strategic dispersal base for B-52 Stratofortress
bombers and KC-135 Tankers. The 27th Fighter-Day Wing was inactivated on 1 January 1958, its aircraft being sent to various Air National Guard
units.
to Tactical Air Command
as a result of Air Force and DoD planners establishing the United States Strike Command
(STRICOM). It integrated the CONUS-based forces of the Army's Continental Army Command and the Air Force's Tactical Air Command
(essentially elements from the Army's Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) and the Air force's Composite Air Strike Force (CASF). Initially, STRICOM's assigned missions were to: (a) provide a reserve of general purpose forces for reinforcing the other unified commands, (b) train the general reserve, (c) develop joint doctrine and, (d) plan for and execute contingency operations.
Upon MacDill's transfer to TAC, the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing was reactivated at MacDill. The 12th's designation had been obtained by TAC with its transfer at Bergstom in 1957, and its activation was in keeping with Air Force policy of having low-numbered units active as much as possible. The mission of the 12th TFW was to be prepared for tactical worldwide deployments and operations as part of STRICOM.
The impressive performance of the Navy F4H Phantom II immediately caught the attention of the USAF, which ordinarily would have been quite reluctant even to consider any aircraft that had originally designed for the Navy. However, under pressure from Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
, who wanted to reduce defense expenditures by achieving greater commonality between the aircraft flown by the various services, the Air Force agreed in 1961 to undertake an evaluation of the F4H-1 Phantom II. The results of the trials were impressive. The Phantom met or exceeded all the Air Force's expectations. In January 1962, President John F. Kennedy
requested Congressional approval for the procurement of F4H-1 derivatives for the Air Force under the designation F-110. The F-110A was to be the tactical fighter version, with RF-110A being the tactical reconnaissance version. The name Spectre was assigned to the aircraft.
Also, Secretary McNamara was interested in achieving greater commonality between the services. On 18 September 1962, the Defense Department ordered that all Air Force, Army, and Navy aircraft be designated under a common, universal system. In particular, this meant that the F4H naval designation for the Phantom was abolished and replaced by F-4. At the same time, the F-110 Air Force designation for the Phantom was also abolished and replaced by F-4. Henceforth, both Navy and Air Force Phantoms were to be designated the F-4 Phantom II
, with Air Force and Navy Phantoms being distinguished from each other only by series letters.
However, upon the activation of the 12th TFW in July 1962, the F-4C Phantom II, the USAF version of the aircraft, was not yet in production. In order to get the wing operational, second-line F-84F Thunderjets were transferred from Air National Guard squadrons to the 12th TFW. Until 1964 the wing flew obsolete Republic F-84F Thunderjets reclaimed from the Air National Guard
, and assigned them only to the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Two other squadrons were activated, the 558th and 559th, but remained un-equipped.
At the same time, the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing was activated at MacDill, both wings coming under the newly-activated 836th Air Division
also stationed at MacDill. The 15th TFW was also programmed to receive the F-4C, but received three squadrons of F-84F's to accomplish its mission until the F-4s were available.
In order to give the Air Force an early start in getting the Phantom into service, the Navy temporarily loaned 27 F4Hs (redesigned F-4B) to the USAF. In February 1963, the first of these aircraft were delivered to the provisional 4453rd Combat Crew Training Squadron at MacDill. Some of these borrowed aircraft may have later went to the 12th TFW. In January 1964 the 12th TFW began receiving USAF F-4Cs, becoming the first operational Wing to use the model, (the 4453rd having been a Squadron when first receiving the F-4B and C models. The 4453rd did not gain Wing status until 1 April 1964). The 12th TFW achieved initial operational capability in October 1964. As the F-4Cs were delivered, the borrowed F-4Bs were returned to the Navy.
A fourth F-4C squadron, the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated on 8 January 1964 as part of a wing transition from three squadrons of 25 aircraft to 4 squadrons of 19 aircraft each. The wing was soon involved in F-4C firepower demonstrations, exercises and, ultimately, the Paris Air Show.
The conflict in Southeast Asia was escalating and throughout 1965 the 12th TFW supported PACAF Contingency operations by rotating its F-4C combat squadrons quarterly to Naha AB in the Ryukyu Islands.
12th TFW Combat squadrons initially scheduled for deployment to Vietnam were the 555th, 557th and 558th TFS. Ultimately, the 559th TFS took the place of the 555th when the squadron was diverted to a second TDY with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Naha Air Base
, Okinawa, followed by a re-assignment to the 8th TFW at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base
, Thailand. Still later the 555th was assigned to the 432d TRW at Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base
.
As the conflict escalated, it was decided to reassign the 12th TFW to PACAF, leaving the now F-4C equipped 15th TFW at MacDill and STRICOM. The 12th began its permanent deployment to the first Air Force expeditionary airfield at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam
on 6 November 1965.
Operational squadrons of the wing at Cam Ranh were:
At Cam Ranh Bay the wing carried out close air support, interdiction, and combat air patrol activities over both Vietnam
s and Laos
. Following the capture of the USS Pueblo
, the aircraft of the 391 TFS were assigned to the 558 TFS and sent TDY as a detachment to augment the 475 TFW in South Korea
.
On 30 March 1970, as part of the Vietnamization process and phase out of the F-4C, fighter operations at Cam Ranh Bay AB were halted and the 12th TFW was deactivated. The 557, 558 and 559 TFS were deactivated in place and the F-4Cs transferred to the Air National Guard
.
On 31 March 1970 the 37 TFW at Phu Cat Air Base
was re-designated the 12 TFW in a name-only transfer.
Its attached squadrons were:
On 8 October 1971, the 389th TFS flew its last scheduled combat sortie in Southeast Asia. On 15 October, the 389th TFS was deactivated in place and a name only transfer without equipment and personnel was made of the squadron to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
.
On 20 October 1971, the 480th TFS flew its last combat mission, which was also the last combat sortie for 12th TFW. The final mission was against portions of the Ho Chi Minh trail network in the tri-border area of South Vietnam, Laos
, and Cambodia
and consisted of four F-4Ds with 12 MK-82 LD bombs each.
With the departure of the aircraft, the 12th TFW was deactivated in place on 30 November 1971.
The 12th replaced, and absorbed resources of, the 3510th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in May 1972. The wing became responsible for operation and maintenance of Randolph Air Force Base and operation of the USAF Instrument Flight Center. The Center was responsible also for development, testing, and evaluation of flight instruments and flight instrument systems. From 2 May 1973 – 12 November 1976 the wing provided T-37, T-38, and T-39 pilot requalification training for more than 150 USAF ex-prisoners of war. The wing trained instructor pilots for Air Training Command's undergraduate pilot training program wings and for foreign countries under the Joint Security Assistance Program.
Beginning in 1985, the 12th supported the Accelerated Copilot Enrichment program at various operating locations. The unit designed and fabricated F-16 Falcon aircraft simulation training systems for USAF bases and several NATO nations during 1983–1988; after 1986, it undertook similar efforts for the B-1 Lancer
bomber program.
Personnel from the 12th deployed from 1991–1992 to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
From 1991, the wing assumed responsibility for initial flight screening for USAF officers enroute to undergraduate pilot
training. Historically, this program had been established at Hondo Municipal Airport for USAF officers commissioned through Officer Training School (OTS), since their Air Force Academy
and AFROTC counterparts had received similar training through their respective Pilot Indoctrination Program (PIP) and Flight Instruction Program (FIP). With the demise of FIP, then PIP, the Hondo program later incorporated officers from these commissioning sources. This program initially utilzed the T-41 Mescalero
until 1994 and the T-3 Firefly from 1994 to 1998. When the T-3 was removed from service due to safety concerns following several high-profile mishaps at Hondo and USAFA, the Hondo program was transferred from the 12 FTW to a location in Colorado.
In 1992, due to the impending closure of Mather Air Force Base
, California, the 12 FTW also assumed responsibility for undergraduate navigator
training from the 323d Flying Training Wing (323 FTW) at Mather when that organization inactivated, with most T-43A aircraft and some of the 323 FTW squadrons reforming at Randolph AFB under the 12 FTW.
Squadrons
School
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
Nineteenth Air Force
Nineteenth Air Force
The Nineteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base and belonging to the Air Education and Training Command...
. It is stationed at Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, Texas. The wing is also the parent organization for the 479th Flying Training Group (479 FTG), a geographically separated unit (GSU) located at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
The 12 FTW is the only unit in the Air Force conducting both pilot instructor training and combat systems officer training. The Wing's predecessor unit, the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing fought in combat during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. It was the host unit at two major air bases in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
. Its F-4 Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
aircraft flew thousands of combat missions between 1965 and 1971, before being withdrawn from combat as part of the United States drawdown of forces in Southeast Asia. Its World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
predecessor unit, the 12th Bombardment Group as part of Twelfth Air Force supported the Allied drive from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
during the North Africa Campaign, then reassigned to Tenth Air Force
Tenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
in India and flew most of its missions in Burma between April 1944 and May 1945, supporting the British Fourteenth Army.
The commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing is Col Richard M. Murphy. The Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Max Grindstaff.
Overview
The mission of the 12th FTW is to provide instructor pilot training in the Raytheon-Beech T-6A Texan II, Cessna T-37 Tweet, the Northrop T-38 TalonT-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
and the Beech T-1A Jayhawk jet trainers. In addition, the wing conducts introduction to fighter fundamentals in the Northrop AT-38 Talon.
Until late 2010, the wing also conducted joint undergraduate navigator training and electronic warfare officer (EWO) training in the T-1A Jayhawk and Boeing T-43
Boeing T-43
|-See also:-External links:* http://www.militaryaircraft.de/pictures/military/aircraft/T-43/T-43A_Gator.html* http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/t43a.shtml* http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/12ftw.htm...
A medium-range turbofan jet at Randolph AFB. With the retirement of the T-43 in September 2010, this training merged with extant weapons systems officer (WSO) training conducted jointly with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps at Nas Pensacola, Florida. The navigator, EWO and WSO training tracks were then merged and all three specialties (which wear the same type of uniform insignia wings upon completion of flight training) became known as Combat Systems Officer (CSO). This updated CSO training is conducted by the 479th Flying Training Group as a GSU at NAS Pensacola, utilizing Navy T-6 Texan II
T-6 Texan II
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company . Based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer and...
aircraft and the USAF T-1A Jayhawk.
The wing trains Air Force pilots to be flight instructors at Air Education and Training Command’s four USAF undergraduate pilot training bases and conducts Department of Defense undergraduate combat systems officer training in combination with USN and USMC Naval Flight Officer training at a single-sited base under USN control. The wing also trains other military personnel from more than 20 allied countries.
Units
The 12th Flying Training Wing is composed of two groups, each with specific functions. The 12th Operations Group controls all flying and airfield operations.The 479th Flying Training Group is a geographically separated unit located at Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, Florida and conducts flying operations similar to the 12th Operations Group.
- 12th Operations Group12th Operations GroupThe 12th Operations Group is the flying component of the 12th Flying Training Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command...
- 99th Flying Training Squadron99th Flying Training SquadronThe 99th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates T-1 Jayhawk aircraft conducting flight training. The squadron was formed during World War II as the first flying unit for African Americans. Known as the Tuskegee Airmen...
(99 FTS) - 435th Fighter Training Squadron435th Fighter Training SquadronThe 435th Fighter Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates AT-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.-Mission:...
(435 FTS) - 558th Flying Training Squadron558th Flying Training SquadronThe 558th Flying Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas...
(558 FTS) - 559th Flying Training Squadron559th Flying Training SquadronThe 559th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates the T-6 Texan II conducting flying training.-History:...
(559 FTS) - 560th Flying Training Squadron560th Flying Training SquadronThe 560th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing of the United States Air Force based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates the T-38 Talon conducting flying training.-History:...
(560 FTS) - 562d Flying Training Squadron562d Flying Training SquadronThe 562d Flying Training Squadron was part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operated the T-43 conducting navigator training.-History:...
(562 FTS) - 563d Flying Training Squadron563d Flying Training SquadronThe 563d Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates the T-43 Bobcat conducting navigator training.-History:...
(563 FTS) – deactivated 19 Nov 2010
- 99th Flying Training Squadron
- 479th Flying Training Group479th Flying Training GroupThe 479th Flying Training Group is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola . A component of Air Education and Training Command , the 479 FTG was activated on 2 October 2009.-Overview:...
(479 FTG)- 451st Flying Training Squadron451st Flying Training SquadronThe 451st Flying Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. Its assigned to the 479th Flying Training Group, stationed at NAS Pensacola, Florida.-History:...
(451 FTS) - 455th Flying Training Squadron455th Flying Training SquadronThe 455th Flying Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit of the Air Education and Training Command . It was previously assigned to the former 323d Flying Training Wing at the former Mather Air Force Base, California until it was inactivated on 1 October 1993...
(455 FTS) - 479th Operations Support Squadron (479 OSS)
- 451st Flying Training Squadron
Strategic Air Command
Turner Air Force Base
Turner Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base whose site is located within the current city limits of Albany, Georgia. Following its closure as a USAF installation in the late 1960s, it was transferred to the U.S. Navy and renamed Naval Air Station Albany...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, on 1 November 1950. It was assigned to the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, with a mission to provide fighter escort for SAC's B-50 Superfortress
B-50 Superfortress
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress strategic bomber was a post-World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller fin, and other improvements. It was the last piston-engined bomber designed by Boeing for...
and B-36 Peacemaker strategic bombing force. SAC was founded by men who had flown bomb raids against Germany during World War II. They usually encountered swarms of enemy fighters and knew the importance of having fighter escorts, so they had fighter wings placed under their own operational control.
Upon activation, the wing controlled the 12th Fighter-Escort Group, which was activated a few days earlier at Turner. The 12th FEG consisted of the 559th
559th Flying Training Squadron
The 559th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates the T-6 Texan II conducting flying training.-History:...
, 560th, 561st Fighter Escort Squadrons.
The 12th did not remain long at Turner as it was moved about a month later to Bergstrom AFB, Texas on 1 December to replace the 27th Fighter-Escort Group that had just departed for service in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. As the 12th arrived at Bergstrom, the unit received personnel from the 27th that did not deploy to Korea and also personnel that were reassigned from the 31st Fighter-Escort Group at Turner. During December 1950 – February 1951, the Group's squadrons were assigned directly to the Wing and the group was turned into a "paper unit" as part of the Air Force tri-deputate reorganization. It was inactivated on 16 June 1952 without personnel or equipment.
In January 1951 the 559th FES and the 560th FES began sending their pilots to the Matagorda Island Gunnery Range, off the southeastern coast of Texas, for gunnery training. The new 561st did not have any aircraft assigned as yet.
On 27 April 12 FEW made its first very long cross-country (XC) mission in the F-84, to visit the 31st FEW at Turner. On the return leg the following day one F-84 was lost over Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, but its pilot bailed out okay.
On 7 June 12 FEW started a mission to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
that would result in one of the worst non-combat incidents in history. Eight F-84s were lost, three pilots were killed, two had major injuries, three were "relatively unharmed".
On 3 and 4 July 12 FEW transferred forty of F-84Es to Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay.NAS Alameda had two runways: 07-25 and 13-31...
, California for sea shipment to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and they returned to Bergstrom on aircraft on the night of the 4th.
On 10 July, a special training mission was flown by B-36D Peacemakers of the 11th Bombardment Wing, 19th Air Division, out of Carswell AFB, Texas, including a high altitude penetration of Eglin AFB, Florida, utilizing F-84 fighter escort from the 12th FEW. On that date, nine B-36s took part escorted by 18 F-84 fighters. The bombers flew out of Carswell south to Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
, Texas. At Port Arthur the bombers picked up their escort fighters and headed east to Florida reaching the Eglin Range. Several F-86 fighters from Eglin AFB intercepted the bombers enroute to targets in the area. Completing the scheduled mission the bombers returned to Carswell and the escort fighters recovered at Eglin AFB, returning to Bergstrom AFB the next day.
Then, on 12 July all remaining aircraft were transferred across the flightllne to the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing that was just returning from Korea. This left the wing without any operational aircraft.
However, the 12th was ordered reassigned to England and to SAC's 7th Air Division. The majority of the wing's personnel and equipment were deployed to RAF Manston
RAF Manston
RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long...
, England by 21 July. At Manston, they obtained the aircraft of the 31st Fighter-Escort Wing that was now headed back to Turner AFB. In England the mission of the wing was to provide escort duties to the deployed B-50 Superfortress
B-50 Superfortress
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress strategic bomber was a post-World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller fin, and other improvements. It was the last piston-engined bomber designed by Boeing for...
and B-36 Peacemaker rotational bombardment wings which were deployed to England as REFLEX wings. In addition to the escort duties, the 12th was tasked for the air defense of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The squadrons began rotating to Wheelus AB Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in September for gunnery practice.
The 12th, however, only remained at Manston until 30 November 1951 when it was replaced by the 123d Fighter-Bomber Wing, a composite Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
organization, with the 12th being transferred back to the United States. Leaving their aircraft in England, the personnel returned to Bergstom AFB, where the 12th was equipped with the obsolescent F-84Ds, until new F-84Gs could be delivered from Republic.
In April 1953 a new program, Task Force 132.4, was started. By the end of the month the Task Force had thirty-nine officers and 123 airmen assigned. In June this Detachment and the 561st FES was detached from the 12th FEW and sent to Brookley AFB, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
for modifications to their F-84Gs to prepare them for nuclear armament delivery. The Task Force also sent a detachment to Indian Springs AFB, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
for atomic tests where they remained for six weeks and then returned to the unit, to be monitored for radiation contamination.
On 20 January 1953 the wing was redesignated as the 12th Strategic Fighter Wing and was deployed between May and August to Misawa Air Base
Misawa Air Base
right|thumb|A US Navy C-2 at Misawa is a United States military facility located northeast of the railway station in Misawa, west of the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Towada, northwest of Hachinohe, and north of Tokyo, in Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region in the northern part of the...
, Japan to perform air defense duties in Japan, relieving the 508th SFW, and being relieved in turn by the 506th. Although designated an escort wing, it was learned by aerial combat in Korea that the F-84 was ineffective against the swept-wing MiG-15 in the bomber-escort role over North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. They would return to Misawa for another tour in the air defense role between May and August 1954. The 12th FEW would continue with F-84Gs through 1957, with a partial conversion to F-84Fs, while also gaining the 27th Air Refueling Squadron with KB-29Ps in 1955, which continued until 1957.
A major lesson learned by SAC during the Korean War was that its propeller-driven bomber force, the B-50s and B-36s were essentially rendered obsolete by the MiG-15 jet interceptors used by the North Koreans. Under attack by the MiGs, Far East Air Force was forced to switch from daylight bombing to night attacks, which although safer, did not eliminate the MiG threat which the bombers had little effective defense. The .50-caliber machine gun defense by the bombers were ineffective against the jet interceptors.
As a result of lessons learned in Korea, by the mid-1950s, the development of SAC's swept-wing jet B-47 Stratojet
B-47 Stratojet
The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
medium bomber and B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
strategic bomber changed SAC's bombing doctrine as well. World War II style bomber formations escorted by fighters was obsolete due to the fact that SAC's jet bombers flew so fast and so high that they were virtually immune from interceptor fighters. In addition, the World War II concept of groups of strategic bombers attacking an individual target with high explosive or incendiary bombs for pinpoint bombing had been replaced by the use of an individual bomber carrying one nuclear weapon to a target for mass destruction, not a formation of them.
In addition, the fact was that the F-84s simply couldn't keep up with high flying fast jet bombers, and the SAC F-84 strategic fighter wings were deemed obsolete. As a result of this change of doctrine, the 12th SFW and Bergstrom Air Force Base
Bergstrom Air Force Base
Bergstrom Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located seven miles southeast of downtown Austin, Texas. It was activated during World War II as a troop carrier training airfield, and was a front-line Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War...
were transferred to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
on 1 July 1957. The wing was redesignated as the 12th Fighter-Day Wing with its change of major command.
However TAC had no use for Bergstrom, nor the F-84s of the 27th as the equipment was considered obsolete for front-line tactical fighter-bomber missions, which TAC's new F-100 Super Sabre
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
was performing. Also there were no funds available to re-equip the wing or fund operations by TAC as Bergstrom. However, congressional pressure in Washington led to the Air Force transferring Bergstrom back to SAC in January 1958 as a strategic dispersal base for B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
bombers and KC-135 Tankers. The 27th Fighter-Day Wing was inactivated on 1 January 1958, its aircraft being sent to various Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
units.
Tactical Air Command
On 1 July 1962, MacDill AFB, Florida was transferred from Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
as a result of Air Force and DoD planners establishing the United States Strike Command
United States Strike Command
In 1961 the United States Strike Command was established at MacDill Air Force Base as a unified combatant command capable of responding to global crises. The name of the command was originally derived from the acronym for Swift Tactical Reaction In Every Known Environment...
(STRICOM). It integrated the CONUS-based forces of the Army's Continental Army Command and the Air Force's Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(essentially elements from the Army's Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) and the Air force's Composite Air Strike Force (CASF). Initially, STRICOM's assigned missions were to: (a) provide a reserve of general purpose forces for reinforcing the other unified commands, (b) train the general reserve, (c) develop joint doctrine and, (d) plan for and execute contingency operations.
Upon MacDill's transfer to TAC, the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing was reactivated at MacDill. The 12th's designation had been obtained by TAC with its transfer at Bergstom in 1957, and its activation was in keeping with Air Force policy of having low-numbered units active as much as possible. The mission of the 12th TFW was to be prepared for tactical worldwide deployments and operations as part of STRICOM.
F-110A Spectre/F-4C Phantom II
From its activation, the 12th TFW was programmed to be the first USAF wing to receive the new McDonnell F-110A Spectre.The impressive performance of the Navy F4H Phantom II immediately caught the attention of the USAF, which ordinarily would have been quite reluctant even to consider any aircraft that had originally designed for the Navy. However, under pressure from Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
Robert McNamara
Robert Strange McNamara was an American business executive and the eighth Secretary of Defense, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961 to 1968, during which time he played a large role in escalating the United States involvement in the Vietnam War...
, who wanted to reduce defense expenditures by achieving greater commonality between the aircraft flown by the various services, the Air Force agreed in 1961 to undertake an evaluation of the F4H-1 Phantom II. The results of the trials were impressive. The Phantom met or exceeded all the Air Force's expectations. In January 1962, President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
requested Congressional approval for the procurement of F4H-1 derivatives for the Air Force under the designation F-110. The F-110A was to be the tactical fighter version, with RF-110A being the tactical reconnaissance version. The name Spectre was assigned to the aircraft.
Also, Secretary McNamara was interested in achieving greater commonality between the services. On 18 September 1962, the Defense Department ordered that all Air Force, Army, and Navy aircraft be designated under a common, universal system. In particular, this meant that the F4H naval designation for the Phantom was abolished and replaced by F-4. At the same time, the F-110 Air Force designation for the Phantom was also abolished and replaced by F-4. Henceforth, both Navy and Air Force Phantoms were to be designated the F-4 Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, with Air Force and Navy Phantoms being distinguished from each other only by series letters.
However, upon the activation of the 12th TFW in July 1962, the F-4C Phantom II, the USAF version of the aircraft, was not yet in production. In order to get the wing operational, second-line F-84F Thunderjets were transferred from Air National Guard squadrons to the 12th TFW. Until 1964 the wing flew obsolete Republic F-84F Thunderjets reclaimed from the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
, and assigned them only to the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Two other squadrons were activated, the 558th and 559th, but remained un-equipped.
At the same time, the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing was activated at MacDill, both wings coming under the newly-activated 836th Air Division
836th Air Division
The 836th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona...
also stationed at MacDill. The 15th TFW was also programmed to receive the F-4C, but received three squadrons of F-84F's to accomplish its mission until the F-4s were available.
In order to give the Air Force an early start in getting the Phantom into service, the Navy temporarily loaned 27 F4Hs (redesigned F-4B) to the USAF. In February 1963, the first of these aircraft were delivered to the provisional 4453rd Combat Crew Training Squadron at MacDill. Some of these borrowed aircraft may have later went to the 12th TFW. In January 1964 the 12th TFW began receiving USAF F-4Cs, becoming the first operational Wing to use the model, (the 4453rd having been a Squadron when first receiving the F-4B and C models. The 4453rd did not gain Wing status until 1 April 1964). The 12th TFW achieved initial operational capability in October 1964. As the F-4Cs were delivered, the borrowed F-4Bs were returned to the Navy.
A fourth F-4C squadron, the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated on 8 January 1964 as part of a wing transition from three squadrons of 25 aircraft to 4 squadrons of 19 aircraft each. The wing was soon involved in F-4C firepower demonstrations, exercises and, ultimately, the Paris Air Show.
Vietnam Deployments
12th TFW Combat squadrons initially scheduled for deployment to Vietnam were the 555th, 557th and 558th TFS. Ultimately, the 559th TFS took the place of the 555th when the squadron was diverted to a second TDY with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Naha Air Base
Naha Air Base
Naha Air Base is an airbase of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. It was formerly under control of the United States Air Force. It is located at Naha Airport, Okinawa, Japan....
, Okinawa, followed by a re-assignment to the 8th TFW at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility and is the home of Wing 21 of the RTAF 2nd Air Division. It is located in East-Central Thailand, near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in the Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is approximately 305 miles North-East of Bangkok...
, Thailand. Still later the 555th was assigned to the 432d TRW at Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base
Udon Thani International Airport
Udonthani International Airport is an airport located near the city of Udon Thani in Udon Thani Province in the northeast region of Thailand. It is approximately 280 miles northeast of Bangkok...
.
As the conflict escalated, it was decided to reassign the 12th TFW to PACAF, leaving the now F-4C equipped 15th TFW at MacDill and STRICOM. The 12th began its permanent deployment to the first Air Force expeditionary airfield at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
on 6 November 1965.
Cam Ranh Air Base
After the outbreak of the Vietnam War the wing engaged in aerial combat in Southeast Asia beginning on 19 November 1965 – 21 October 1971. The 12th Tactical Fighter Wing was assigned as the host unit at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base on 8 November 1965. The 12 TFW would be the host unit at Cam Ranh Bay AB until the airfield's closure on 30 March 1971.Operational squadrons of the wing at Cam Ranh were:
- 43d Tactical Fighter43d Fighter SquadronThe 43d Fighter Squadron is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducts advanced fighter training for F-22 Raptor pilots.-Mission:...
: 28 October 1965 – 4 January 1966 (F-4C)
(TDY From 15 TFW, MacDill AFB FL)
- 391st Tactical Fighter391st Fighter SquadronThe 391st Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It operates F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft conducting close air support missions.-Mission:...
: 26 January 1966 – 22 July 1968 (F-4C Tail Code: XD/XT)
(TDY from 366 TFW, Phan Rang Air BasePhan Rang Air BasePhan Rang Air Base is a Vietnam People's Air Force military airfield in Vietnam. It is located north-northwest of Phan Rang-Thap Cham in Ninh Thuan Province....
, aircraft transferred to 558 TFS July 1968 (F-4C Tail Code: XD/XT)
(Former 391 TFS aircraft reassigned to 475 TFW, Taegu AB, South Korea, July 1968 as Det 1., 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron)
- 557th Tactical Fighter557th Flying Training SquadronThe 557th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 306th Flying Training Group based at United States Air Force Academy, Colorado.-History:...
: 1 December 1965 – 31 March 1970 (F-4C Tail Code: XC)
- 558th Tactical Fighter558th Flying Training SquadronThe 558th Flying Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas...
: 8 November 1965 – 31 March 1970 (F-4C Tail Code: XT)
- 559th Tactical Fighter559th Flying Training SquadronThe 559th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates the T-6 Texan II conducting flying training.-History:...
: 1 January 1966 – 31 March 1970 (F-4C Tail Code: XN)
(Absorbed aircraft left behind by departing 43 TFS)
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
s and Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. Following the capture of the USS Pueblo
USS Pueblo (AGER-2)
USS Pueblo is an American ELINT and SIGINT Banner-class technical research ship which was boarded and captured by North Korean forces on January 23, 1968, in what is known as the Pueblo incident or alternatively as the Pueblo crisis or the Pueblo affair. Occurring less than a week after President...
, the aircraft of the 391 TFS were assigned to the 558 TFS and sent TDY as a detachment to augment the 475 TFW in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
On 30 March 1970, as part of the Vietnamization process and phase out of the F-4C, fighter operations at Cam Ranh Bay AB were halted and the 12th TFW was deactivated. The 557, 558 and 559 TFS were deactivated in place and the F-4Cs transferred to the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
.
On 31 March 1970 the 37 TFW at Phu Cat Air Base
Phu Cat Air Base
Phu Cat Air Base is a Vietnam People's Air Force military airfield in Vietnam. It is located northwest of Qui Nhon in Binh Dinh Province....
was re-designated the 12 TFW in a name-only transfer.
Phu Cat Air Base
As a result of the US withdrawals from Vietnam the 37th TFW at Phu Cat AB was inactivated on 31 March 1970. The wing assets remained and were re-designated as the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing when the 12th TFW was moved without personnel or equipment to replace the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing and its units.Its attached squadrons were:
- 389th Tactical Fighter389th Fighter SquadronThe 389th Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It operates F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft conducting close air support missions.-Mission:...
: 31 March 1970 – 15 October 1971 (F-4D Tail Code: HB) - 480th Tactical Fighter: 31 March 1970 – 17 November 1971 (F-4D Tail Code: HK)
On 8 October 1971, the 389th TFS flew its last scheduled combat sortie in Southeast Asia. On 15 October, the 389th TFS was deactivated in place and a name only transfer without equipment and personnel was made of the squadron to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
.
On 20 October 1971, the 480th TFS flew its last combat mission, which was also the last combat sortie for 12th TFW. The final mission was against portions of the Ho Chi Minh trail network in the tri-border area of South Vietnam, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, and Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and consisted of four F-4Ds with 12 MK-82 LD bombs each.
With the departure of the aircraft, the 12th TFW was deactivated in place on 30 November 1971.
Flying Training Wing
Beginning in 1985, the 12th supported the Accelerated Copilot Enrichment program at various operating locations. The unit designed and fabricated F-16 Falcon aircraft simulation training systems for USAF bases and several NATO nations during 1983–1988; after 1986, it undertook similar efforts for the B-1 Lancer
B-1 Lancer
The Rockwell B-1 LancerThe name "Lancer" is only applied to the B-1B version, after the program was revived. is a four-engine variable-sweep wing strategic bomber used by the United States Air Force...
bomber program.
Personnel from the 12th deployed from 1991–1992 to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
From 1991, the wing assumed responsibility for initial flight screening for USAF officers enroute to undergraduate pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
training. Historically, this program had been established at Hondo Municipal Airport for USAF officers commissioned through Officer Training School (OTS), since their Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
and AFROTC counterparts had received similar training through their respective Pilot Indoctrination Program (PIP) and Flight Instruction Program (FIP). With the demise of FIP, then PIP, the Hondo program later incorporated officers from these commissioning sources. This program initially utilzed the T-41 Mescalero
T-41 Mescalero
The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172 used by the United States Air Force and Army as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot training aircraft.-Design and development:...
until 1994 and the T-3 Firefly from 1994 to 1998. When the T-3 was removed from service due to safety concerns following several high-profile mishaps at Hondo and USAFA, the Hondo program was transferred from the 12 FTW to a location in Colorado.
In 1992, due to the impending closure of Mather Air Force Base
Mather Air Force Base
Mather Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force Base located east of Sacramento at Rancho Cordova, California on the south side of U.S. Route 50....
, California, the 12 FTW also assumed responsibility for undergraduate navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
training from the 323d Flying Training Wing (323 FTW) at Mather when that organization inactivated, with most T-43A aircraft and some of the 323 FTW squadrons reforming at Randolph AFB under the 12 FTW.
Lineage
- Established as 12th Fighter-Escort Wing on 27 October 1950
- Activated on 1 November 1950
- Redesignated: 12th Strategic Fighter Wing on 20 January 1953
- Redesignated: 12 Fighter-Day Wing on 1 July 1957
- Inactivated on 8 January 1958
- Redesignated 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 17 April 1962
- Organized on 25 April 1962
- Inactivated on 17 November 1971
- Redesignated 12th Flying Training Wing on 22 March 1972
- Activated on 1 May 1972 by redesignation of the 3510th Flying Training Wing
Assignments
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 1 November 1950 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 5 December 1950 - 42d Air Division42d Air DivisionThe 42d Air Division was a unit of the United States Air Force. It was established as the 42 Bombardment Wing on 8 February 1943. The wing first saw combat in September 1943. It was inactivated in 1991.-History:...
, 9 April 1951-8 January
- Attached to 7th Air Division, 20 July-30 November 1951
- Attached to 39th Air Division, 18 May-10 August 1953; 10 May-7 August 1954
- Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 17 April 1962
- Tactical Air Command
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 25 April 1962 - 836th Air Division836th Air DivisionThe 836th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona...
, 1 July 1962 - 2d Air Division, 8 November 1965
- Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
, 1 April 1966 – 17 November 1971 - Air Training CommandAir Training CommandAir Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
, 1 May 1972 - Nineteenth Air ForceNineteenth Air ForceThe Nineteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base and belonging to the Air Education and Training Command...
, 1 July 1993–present
Components
Groups- 12th Fighter-Escort (later, 12th Operations) Group12th Operations GroupThe 12th Operations Group is the flying component of the 12th Flying Training Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command...
: 1 November 1950 – 16 June 1952; 15 December 1991–present - 479th Flying Training Group479th Flying Training GroupThe 479th Flying Training Group is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola . A component of Air Education and Training Command , the 479 FTG was activated on 2 October 2009.-Overview:...
: 2 October 2009–present
Squadrons
- 1st Flight Screening Squadron1st Flying Training SquadronThe 1st Flying Training Squadron is part of the 306th Flying Training Group based out of the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. It conducts flight training for all USAF Pilot and Combat Systems Officer trainees, regardless of commissioning source...
: 15 July-15 December 1991 - 27th Air Refueling Squadron27th Air Refueling SquadronThe United States Air Force's 27th Air Refueling Squadron was an aerial refueling unit that operated the Boeing KB-29P Superfortress at Bergstrom AFB, Texas....
: attached 1 April-1 September 1955 - 43d Tactical Fighter43d Fighter SquadronThe 43d Fighter Squadron is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducts advanced fighter training for F-22 Raptor pilots.-Mission:...
: attached 8 November 1965-c. 4 January 1966 - 45th Tactical Fighter: attached 8 May-1 July 1962
- 389th Tactical Fighter389th Fighter SquadronThe 389th Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It operates F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft conducting close air support missions.-Mission:...
: 31 March 1970 – 15 October 1971 - 391st Tactical Fighter391st Fighter SquadronThe 391st Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It operates F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft conducting close air support missions.-Mission:...
: attached 26 January-22 June 1966, assigned 23 June 1966 – 22 July 1968 - 480th Tactical Fighter480th Fighter SquadronThe 480th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 52d Operations Group, stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany...
: 31 March 1970 – 17 November 1971 - 506th Air Refueling Squadron506th Air Refueling SquadronThe 506th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing, stationed at Dow AFB, Maine. It was inactivated on 1 March 1955...
: attached 8 August 1955 – 1 July 1957 - 555th Tactical Fighter555th Fighter SquadronThe 555th Fighter Squadron is part of the 31st Operations Group at Aviano Air Base, Italy. It operates F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting an air superiority mission.-Mission:...
: 8 January 1964 – 25 March 1966 (detached 8 December 1964 – 18 March 1965, 6 November 1965-25 March 1966) - 557th Tactical Fighter557th Flying Training SquadronThe 557th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 306th Flying Training Group based at United States Air Force Academy, Colorado.-History:...
: 25 April 1962 – 8 November 1965; 1 December 1965-31 March 1970 - 558th Tactical Fighter558th Flying Training SquadronThe 558th Flying Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas...
: 25 April 1962 – 31 March 1970 (detached 9 March-16 June 1965, 3 February-22 July 1968) - 559th Fighter-Escort (later, Strategic Fighter; Fighter-Day; Tactical Fighter)559th Flying Training SquadronThe 559th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates the T-6 Texan II conducting flying training.-History:...
: attached 10 February 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 8 January 1958; assigned 25 April 1962 – 8 November 1965 (detached 9 June-7 September 1965); assigned 27 December 1965 – 31 March 1970; assigned 1 May 1972 – 15 December 1991 - 560th Fighter-Escort (later, Strategic Fighter; Fighter-Day)560th Fighter-Day SquadronThe 560th Fighter-Day Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 12th Fighter-Day Wing, stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 8 January 1958-History:...
: attached 10 February 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 8 January 1958; 1 May 1972-15 December 1991 - 561st Fighter-Escort (later, Strategic Fighter; Fighter-Day; Tactical Fighter)561st Fighter SquadronThe 561st Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron, being last assigned to the 57th Operations Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It was inactivated on 1 October 1996....
: attached 10 February 1951 – 1 April 1952; assigned 16 June 1952 – 8 January 1958 (detached 16 June-16 December 1952)
School
- USAF Navigator: 14 May 1993–present
Stations
- Turner AFB, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 1 November 1950 - Bergstrom AFB, Texas, 5 December 1950 – 8 January 1958
- MacDill AFB, Florida, 25 April 1962 – 31 October 1965
- Cam Ranh AB, South VietnamSouth VietnamSouth Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, 8 November 1965 - Phu Cat AB, South VietnamSouth VietnamSouth Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, 31 March 1970 – 17 November 1971 - Randolph AFB, Texas, 1 May 1972–present
Aircraft
- F-84, 1950–1957
- KB-29, 1955–1957
- F-84, 1962–1964
- F-4, 1964–1970, 1970–1971
- T-29, 1972–1974
- T-37, 1972–2007
- T-38, 1972–present
- T-39, 1972–1978, 1990–1991
- T-41, 1972–1973, 1992–1994
- T-43, 1992–2010* C-21, 1993–1997
- AT-38, 1993–2002
- T-1, 1993–present
- T-3, 1994–1998
- T-6, 2000–present