39th Flying Training Squadron - History

History

Activated by Northeast Air District (later First Air Force) as a P-40 Warhawk pursuit squadron, assigned to Selfridge Field, Michigan. Moved to Baer Field, Indiana during the summer of 1941. Deployed to the Pacific Northwest after the Pearl Harbor Attack and flew Antisubmarine patrols off the coast of Washington from, c. 15 December 1941-c. 15 January 1942.

Re-equipped with long-range P-38 Lightnings and deployed to Fifth Air Force in Australia, June 1942. Engaged in combat operations against the Japanese in the Lightning, Participated in offensives in the Netherlands East Indies, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa.

Re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs and moved to Japan as part of the Army of Occupation, September 1945, remaining as part of the Far East Air Forces air defense mission throughout the postwar era. Engaged in combat, June 1950, during the initial actions of the Korean War. Re-equipped with F-80 Shooting Star jets, fighting air-to-air combat against communist aircraft and engaging in ground support missions supporting United Nations Forces, 1950-1953. Returned to Japan after the 1953 armistice and upgraded to the purpose-built F-94 Starfire interceptor flying air defense missions. Inactivated 1957 due to budget restraints.

Reactivated by Tactical Air Command in 1969 at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Equipped with reconnaissance and electronic warfare versions of the B-66 Destroyer and trained tactical reconnaissance and electronic warfare crews from, 1969–1974 when the B-66 was retired. Moved to George AFB, California and equipped with F-4E Phantom IIs. Trained Wild Weasel aircrews in SAM suppression tactics from, 1977-1984. Inactivated when the F-4 was retired.

Re-activated by Air Training Command as an UPT squadron with T-38s, 1990-1991. Returned to Air Combat Command, 1993 as a flight test squadron on various weapons systems from, 1993-1999 then went back to AETC providing flying training from 2001 onwards.