450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron

450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron
450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron patch
Active	17 July 1942 - 17 December 1945 10 August 1947 - 27 June 1949 1 July 1954 - 18 November 1957 1 April 1973 - 10 November 1992
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Pilot Training
Decorations	DUC AFOUA

Emblem of the 450th Fighter-Day Squadron

World War II 450th Bombardment Squadron emblem

The 450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron (450 EFTS) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the 322d Air Expeditionary Group. In 2008 it was converted to an expeditionary unit on provisional status for activation by Air Combat Command any time after 28 October 2008. Its current status is undetermined.

The squadron most recently was assigned to the 323d Flying Training Wing based at Mather Air Force Base, California. It operated T-37 Tweet and T-43 Bobcat aircraft conducting flight training for members of the United States military and foreign allies.

History

Established as a B-26 Marauder medium bomber squadron in mid-1942; trained under Third Air Force in Florida. Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command 3d Bombardment Wing in England. Engaged in attacks on enemy targets in France and the Low Countries; being reassigned to IX Bomber Command in 1943 with the establishment of Ninth Air Force in England. Also supported VIII Bomber Command strategic bombardment raids in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, attacking enemy airfields to disrupt interceptor attacks on heavy bomber formations and destroy enemy interceptor aircraft on the ground before they could be launched.

After D-Day deployed to Advanced Landing Grounds in France and later Belgium. Provided tactical air support and bombardment of enemy strong points and military targets to disrupt resistance to Allied ground forces advancing from the French invasion beaches and the ensuing offensives on the continent; 1944-1945. Attacked enemy forces as part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany, 1945 and continued offensive tactical operations in support of ground forces until German capitulation in May 1945.

Became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe army of occupation in Germany during 1945. Demobilized in place and personnel returned to the United States in the fall of 1945; squadron inactivated as a paper unit in December 1945.

Reactivated as a reserve air training command squadron; assigned and performed advanced flight training for air cadets, 1947-1949. Inactivated due to funding restrictions. Assigned to Tactical Air Command and reactivated in 1954 flying F-86 Sabres; later F-100 Super Sabres as a fighter-day squadron. Inactivated in 1957 due to funding restrictions. Reactivated in 1972 as an Air Training Command navigator training squadron. It conducted undergraduate navigator training for USAF, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States allies from, 1973-1992.

Lineage

• Constituted 450th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942

Activated on 17 Jul 1942

Inactivated on 11 Dec 1945

• Redesignated 450th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 3 Jul 1947

Activated in the reserve on 9 Aug 1947

Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949

• Redesignated 450th Fighter-Day Squadron on 24 Mar 1954

Activated on 1 Jul 1954

Inactivated on 18 Nov 1957.

• Redesignated 450th Flying Training Squadron on 28 Jul 1972

Activated on 1 Apr 1973

Inactivated on 31 May 1993

• Redesignated as 450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron and converted to provisional status on 28 Oct 2008

Assignments

• 322d Bombardment Group 17 Jul 1942-11 Dec 1945; 9 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949
• 322d Fighter-Day Group, 1 Jul 1954-18 Nov 1957
• 323d Flying Training Wing, 1 Apr 1973
• 323d Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-31 May 1993
• Air Combat Command, to activate or inactivate at any time after 28 Oct 2008

Bases stationed

• MacDill Field, Florida, 17 Jul 1942
• Drane Field, Florida, 22 Sep-15 Nov 1942
• RAF Rattlesden (AAF-126), England, 1 Dec 1942
• RAF Bury St Edmunds (Rougham) (AAF-468), England, 22 Mar 1943
• RAF Andrews Field (Great Saling) (AAF-485), England, 12 Jun 1943
• Beauvais/Tille Airfield (A-61), France, c. 29 Sep 1944
• Le Culot Airfield (A-89), Belgium, c. 26 Mar 1945
• AAF Station Arolsen, Germany, Jul 1945

• Clastres Airfield, France, c. 1 Oct-3 Dec 1945
• Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 9-11 Dec 1945
• Reading AAFld (later, Muni Aprt), Pennsylvania, 9 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949
• Foster AFB, Texas, 1 Jul 1954-18 Nov 1957

Deployed at Landstuhl AB, West Germany, 20 Sep-4 Oct 1956

• Mather AFB, California, 1 Apr 1973-31 May 1993
• Undetermined Location, 28 Oct 2008-TBD

Aircraft Operated

• B-26 Marauder (1942–1945)
• AT-6 Texan (1947–1949)
• AT-11 Kansan (1947–1949)
• F-86 Sabre (1954–1955)
• F-100 Super Sabre (1955–1957)
• T-29 Flying Classroom (1973–1974)
• T-37 Tweet (1974–1992)
• T-43 Bobcat (1973–1992)

See also

Operations

• World War II

References

Bibliography

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• 450th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron History