History
The 562d was first activated on 24 December 1942 at Gowen Field, Idaho, on 24 December 1942, and moved to Wendover Field, Utah, on 5 February 1943, where it began training in B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft. The squadron participated in approximately 300 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from 17 July 1943 until its last World War II mission, flown to the Landsberg Aerodrome near Munich, on 21 April 1945. During the summer of 1945, the 562d airlifted food to starving people of the Netherlands.
From August 1945 until 1980, the squadron saw several periods of activation and deactivation. During this period, the 562d flew AT-6 Texan, AT-11 Kansan, C-46 Commando, C-47 Skytrain, B-26 Marauder, F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, and F-105 Thunderchiefaircraft at various bases. During 1965, while stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, the 562d deployed to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where it participated in five months of sustained combat operations in the Vietnam War.
From 31 October 1974 to 30 June 1992, the 562d was stationed at George Air Force Base, California to fly the F-105 and then the F-4G Phantom II aircraft conducting "Wild Weasel" missions. During this time the squadron also participated in Operation Desert Storm.
The 562d Flying Training Squadron conducted part of the Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas as part of the 12th Flying Training Wing until navigator training and Electronic Warfare Training was combined into the Combat Systems Officer (CSO) Training and moved to Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Read more about this topic: 562d Flying Training Squadron
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