 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(December 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| 33d Flying Training Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Formation ofT-6A Texan IIs fromVance AFB | |
| Active | 1940–1963; 1990–1992; 1998–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Pilot Training |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Vance Air Force Base |
| Engagements | Southwest Pacific Theater Korean War[1] |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 33d Flying Training Squadron emblem(approved 21 July 1988)[1] |  |
| Emblem of the World War II 33d Bomb Squadron emblem(approved 10 Apr 1941)[1] |  |
The33rd Flying Training Squadron is aUnited States Air Force squadron based atVance Air Force Base nearEnid, Oklahoma. It is a part of the71st Flying Training Wing.
The squadron was established as a medium bomber unit on Bolos, Marauders, and later B-25 Mitchells. It became a heavy bomber squadron in February 1944, and was later equipped with B-29s and B-47s before being inactivated in 1963. Just under thirty years later, it was reactivated as a flying training squadron.
Established as a GHQ Air Force medium bomber squadron in 1940 as a result of the buildup of theArmy Air Corps after the breakout ofWorld War II in Europe. It trained with a mix ofDouglas B-18 Bolos andMartin B-26 Marauders.
After thePearl Harbor Attack, the squadron was transferred to the West Coast, flying anti-submarine patrols fromMuroc Army Air Field, California from December 1941 to the end of January 1942. It was then assigned to the newFifth Air Force, originally based on the Philippines, leaving the B-18s at Muroc. By the time the squadron arrived in the theater the situation on the Philippines was desperate, and the squadron was based in Australia. From there it attacked Japanese targets on New Guinea andNew Britain. In October 1943 the B-26 Marauders were joined byNorth American B-25 Mitchells, and for the rest of the year the group continued to operate in support of Allied troops on New Guinea.
In February 1944 the unit was redesignated as aheavy bomber squadron, and was assigned long rangeConsolidated B-24 Liberators, built byFord and optimized for long range bombing missions in the Pacific. With its new heavy bombers the group attacked targets on Borneo,Ceram andHalmahera, among them the crucial oil fields of the Netherlands East Indies. In September 1944 the squadron moved its attention to the Philippines, attacking targets onLeyte. It moved onto Leyte on 15 November 1944. From then until August 1945 it flew against targets onLuzon, as well as supporting the campaign on Borneo and even ranging out as far as China. Finally, on 15 August 1945 the unit moved toOkinawa, from where it flew a number of armed reconnaissance missions over southern Japan to make sure the surrender terms were being obeyed. Most of the squadron's personnel were demobilized after the war; the squadron being reassigned to the Philippines where its B-24s were sent to reclamation and it became a paper unit.
The squadron was redesignated as aBoeing B-29 Superfortress squadron on Okinawa in 1946, receiving formerEighth Air Force B-29s originally deployed from the United States for the planned Air Offensive as part of the Japanese Campaign. Became part ofTwentieth Air Force, and flew training missions in and around Okinawa until being made non-operational in 1948.
Assigned toStrategic Air Command in 1948, receiving B-29s and operating fromSmoky Hill Air Force Base, Kansas; later fromMarch Air Force Base, California. Took part in SAC deployments and exercises. In 1950 was part of theFifteenth Air Force SAC contingent of non-nuclear-capable B-29 units deployed to Okinawa due to the breakout of theKorean War. Flew combat missions over North Korea during 1950, returning to the United States in October.
Upon return to the United States, trained with second-line B-29s for training and organization. Replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with newBoeing B-47E Stratojet swept-wingmedium bombers in 1953, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. In the late 1950s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. Began sending aircraft to other B-47 wings as replacements in late 1962; Inactivated in early 1963 when the last aircraft was retired.
The squadron was reactivated underAir Training Command as a flying training unit in 1990. Inactivated in 1992; Reactivated in 1998 as part of Air Education and Training Command.
As Vance AFB is aJoint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (JSUPT) location,United States Navy andUnited States Marine Corps aviators as well as Air Force andAir National Guard pilots train there.
The 33 FTS currently flies theBeechcraft T-6A Texan II which has 1100 shaft horsepower and a maximum speed of 316 knots indicated airspeed. The 33 FTS mascot is the dragon and students use callsigns starting with "DRAGN" when on station and "Hook" when off station.
|
|
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airfields |
| .svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Units |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
