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17th Training Squadron | |
|---|---|
 An airman during the water survival course atNAS Pensacola | |
| Active | 1944–1946; 1955–1958; 1971–1997 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Water survival training |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Engagements | Pacific Theater of World War II[1] |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation[1] Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2] |
| Insignia | |
| 17th Training Squadron emblem |  |
| 17th Tactical Missile Squadron emblem |  |
| 17th Bombardment Squadron emblem(approved 30 June 1945)[1] |  |
The17th Training Squadron is an inactiveUnited States Air Force unit. Thesquadron performed water survival training in Florida from 1971 until it was inactivated in 1997.
The first predecessor of the squadron was the17th Bombardment Squadron, aBoeing B-29 Superfortress unit that participated in the strategic bombing of Japan duringWorld War II, earning aDistinguished Unit Citation for raids in late July and early August 1945. The squadron was inactivated after the end of the war.
The second predecessor of the squadron was the17th Tactical Missile Squadron, aMartin B-61 Matador squadron that stood alert with its weapons onTaiwan from 1957 until July 1958, when it transferred its resources to another squadron. These two units were consolidated in 1985 and in 1993, they were consolidated with the3613th Combat Crew Training Squadron, which had been conducting water survival training atHomestead Air Force Base as the17th Crew Training Squadron.
Activated 1 April 1944 atDalhart Army Airfield, Texas. Initially equipped withB-17 Flying Fortresses for training, due to shortage ofB-29 Superfortresses. Moved toFairmont Army Airfield, Kansas, in August 1944 and equipped with B-29B limited production aircraft.
After completion of training deployed to Central Pacific Area (CPA), assigned toXXI Bomber Command,Northwest Field (Guam) for operational missions. B-29Bs were standard production aircraft stripped of most defensive guns to increase speed and bomb load, The tail gun was aimed and fired automatically by the new AN/APG-15B radar fire control system that detected the approaching enemy plane and made all the necessary calculations.
Mission of the squadron was the strategic bombardment of theJapanese Home Islands. Entered combat on 16 June 1945 with a bombing raid against an airfield onMoen. Flew first mission against the Japanese home islands on 26 June 1945 and afterwards operated principally against the enemy's petroleum industry. Flew primarily low-level, fast attacks at night using a mixture of high-explosive and incendiary bombs to attack targets.
Flew last combat mission on 15 August 1945, later flew in "Show of Force" mission on 2 September 1945 overTokyo Bay during formal Japanese Surrender. Inactivated on Guam 15 April 1946, personnel returned to the United States and aircraft sent to storage in Southwest United States.
During theCold War, became aMGM-1 Matador Tactical Missile squadron. Formed atOrlando AFB, Florida, as part ofNinth Air Force,Tactical Air Command in 1955. Trained in Florida until deployed toPacific Air ForcesThirteenth Air Force. Lead elements of the squadron began deploying toTainan Air Base, Taiwan, in May 1957 with conventional warheads on missiles, main squadron in November when W-5 warheads were available, and the official reassignment to PACAF on 1 February 1958.
The 17th was inactivated and transferred its mission, personnel and equipment to the868th Tactical Missile Squadron in July 1958.
Prior to 1971, water survival training for combat aircrews was performed by various units in different commands. In that year it was centralized underAir Training Command, which formed the3613th Combat Crew Training Squadron using the resources of theTactical Air Command school located atHomestead Air Force Base, Florida. The squadron was assigned to the3636th Combat Crew Training Group, located across the country atFairchild Air Force Base, Washington. By 1993, the Air Force was doing away with Major Command controlled units (sometimes referred to as "4-digit" units and the squadron was combined with the17th Tactical Missile Squadron as the17th Crew Training Squadron.
In 1997 theNavy assumed responsibility for training aircrews of all services in advanced water survival and the squadron was inactivated.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency