497th Combat Training Flight | |
|---|---|
 A 497thF-4E Phantom II over Korea in 1986 | |
| Active | 1942–1944; 1953–1974; 1978–1989; 1991–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Combat Training |
| Part of | Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore |
| Nickname | Night Owls |
| Mottos | Train Hard, Fight Easy |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit Award withCombat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit AwardVietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 497th Combat Training Flight emblem[a][1] |  |
| 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem[b][1] |  |
| Patch with 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem[c][2] |  |
| 497th Fighter-Bomber Squadron emblem |  |
The497th Combat Training Flight is aUnited States Air Force unit stationed atPaya Lebar Air Base, where its mission is to provide operational and logistical support toUnited States Air Force aircraft deployed to Singapore for trainingexercises with theRepublic of Singapore Air Force.
The squadron was first activated in 1942 as the302nd Bombardment Squadron and served as a training unit forsingle engine bomber crews, and later as the497th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, forfighter pilots until being disbanded in 1944 in a general reorganization ofArmy Air Forces training units.
It was reconstituted in 1953 as the497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and served as anair defense unit in the western United States until 1958, when it moved to Spain, where it performed the same mission until 1964. After returning to the United States as a paper unit, it began to train and reorganize withMcDonnell F-4 Phantom IIs as the497th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In December 1965, it moved to Thailand and began combat operations. In 1968, the squadron became a specialized nightFast Forward Air Control unit. It continued in combat until the summer of 1973, earning threePresidential Unit Citations. As the United States withdrew forces from Thailand, it was inactivated in September 1974.
From 1978 to 1988, the squadron was again active with F-4 Phantoms in South Korea. It was activated in its current role in 1991 as the497th Fighter Training Squadron.
The squadron supports/participates in regionalexercises and global contingencies, and provides housing; morale, recreation and welfare facilities and programs: medical services; force protection to resources and personnel; and legal, financial, communications, and contracting support to assigned and deployed personnel. The 497th commander is also the designated commanding officer for theUniform Code of Military Justice for U.S. military personnel in nine Southeast Asian countries.[3]
Thesquadron was activated in 1942 as the302nd Bombardment Squadron (Light) atSavannah Air Base, Georgia, and equipped withDouglas A-24 Banshee dive bombers as one of the original squadrons of the84th Bombardment Group.[1][4] It received its initialcadre and equipment from the3d Bombardment Group.[5] It operated briefly withVultee V-72 (A-31 Vengeance) aircraft, but its operations showed this aircraft was unsuitable for dive bombing.[5] The squadron served as anOperational Training Unit (OTU), equipping withDouglas A-24 Banshees andBell P-39 Airacobras.[1]
The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres to “satellite groups "[6] The OTU program was patterned after the unit training system of theRoyal Air Force. After forming the satellite groups, the parent unit assumed responsibility for satellite training and oversaw its expansion with graduates ofArmy Air Forces Training Command schools to become effective combat units.[7][8] Phase I training concentrated on individual training increwmember specialties. Phase II training emphasized the coordination for the crew to act as a team. The final phase concentrated on operation as a unit.[9] The squadron contributed to the 84th Group's role as the parent for elements of several light bombardment groups.[d]
In August 1943, the squadron was redesignated the497th Fighter-Bomber Squadron[1] as were otherArmy Air Forces (AAF) single engine bombardment units, and was re-equipped withRepublic P-47 Thunderbolts.[4] It continued to serve as an OTU until October 1943.[1] During the fall of 1943, operations dwindled and by the end of September 1943 only five aircraft were assigned to the entire 84th Group.[10]
In October 1943, the squadron moved toHarding Field, Louisiana, where it became aReplacement Training Unit (RTU) and also participated occasionally in demonstrations and maneuvers.[4] RTUs were also oversized units, but with the mission of training individualpilots or aircrews.[6] However, the AAF found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were not proving well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[11] The squadron was, therefore, disbanded in April 1944[1] and replaced by the 263rd AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training School, Fighter), which took over the personnel, equipment and mission of the 84th Group and supporting units at Harding Field.[12]
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The squadron was reconstituted as the497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and activated in February 1953 atPortland Air Force Base, Oregon, where it was assigned to the503d Air Defense Group.[1] The squadron was originally equipped withLockheed F-94B Starfires, armed with 20mm cannon, but by the end of the year, replaced them with F-94As. The squadron converted toNorthrop F-89D Scorpions, armed withFolding-Fin Aerial Rockets by July 1954.[13]
In August 1955,Air Defense Command (ADC) implemented Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[14] In this reorganization, the337th Fighter Group replaced the 503rd Air Defense Group at Portland[15] and the squadron transferred its mission, personnel and F-89s to the 337th's460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which moved to Portland on paper fromMcGhee-Tyson Airport, Tennessee.[16] Simultaneously, the 497th moved toGeiger Field, Washington, where it assumed the personnel andNorth American F-86D Sabres of the445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and was again assigned to the 84th Fighter Group.[17][1]
In June 1958, the squadron moved toTorrejon Air Base, Spain, where it was assigned to the65th Air Division ofStrategic Air Command the following month. It continued to fly Sabres until 1960, when it converted to thedata link equipped andAIM-4 Falcon armedConvair F-102 Delta Dagger, On 1 July 1960,United States Air Forces Europe assumed responsibility for United Statesair defense in Spain, and the squadron was reassigned to it, although it remained attached to 65th Air Division. While flyingDeuces at Torrejon, the squadron was twice a runner-up for theHughes Trophy (1961 and 1962), and won the trophy for most outstanding performance as an air defense squadron in 1963.[1] Headquarters,United States Air Force implemented Project Clearwater in 1964. Clearwater called for the return of overseas based F-102s. The original plan called for the inactivation of the 497th and dispersing its aircraft to ADCinterceptor squadrons in the US.[18] Instead, it was decided to use the overseas interceptor squadrons as the elements of the32d Tactical Fighter Wing, which was forming atGeorge Air Force Base, California.[1]
The squadron moved on paper to George on 18 June 1964, but its assignment to the 32nd Wing lasted little over a month, transferring to the8th Tactical Fighter Wing, which replaced the 32nd, which was still organizing, on 25 July.[1][19] For the next year and a half, the squadron trained withMcDonnell F-4 Phantom IIs and participated in numerous exercises.[20] In December 1965, the 8th Wing moved toUbon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, followed two days later by the 497th.[1][20] Initial combat operations included armed reconnaissance,air support, bombing,air interdiction and air defense.[20]
North Vietnamese logistics movement along theHo Chi Minh Trail had become almost exclusively night operations.[21] Accordingly, in support ofOperation Commando Hunt, the 497th was tasked to act as nighttimeFast Forward Air Control (FAC)s controlling night strikes in Laos, particularly near theMu Gia Pass andBan Karai Pass, which were choke points, in what were called "Night Owl" missions. The squadron flew its first Night Owl mission on 18 October 1969.[22][g] Night Owl missions involve flying individual sorties over areas of enemy activity to either strike them or call in additional aircraft to destroy the targets they identified.[23] Squadron F-4s would drop flares, mark targets, and control strikes illuminated by the flares.[24] The squadron typically launched 8 to 12 sorties nightly to provide coverage of potential targets from dusk until dawn.[25]
The 8th Wing continued combat operations in Southeast Asia until August 1973, but afterwards remained in Thailand, flying training missions and maintaining the capability to resume combat operations. In mid-1974 it began to draw down, flying its last F-4 mission in July 1974. On 16 September, the squadron was inactivated as other wing elements moved on paper to Korea.[1][20]
The squadron was once more activated atTaegu Air Base, South Korea in October 1978. For the next ten years it was an element providing for the defense of South Korea. It trained to remain proficient in close air support, interdiction, and air-to-air combat skills. The squadron was inactivated in January 1989.[1]
The squadron was redesignated the497th Fighter Training Squadron and activated atPaya Lebar Airbase,Singapore underThirteenth Air Force to conduct combat training. In 1994, it was renamed the497th Combat Training Squadron and in 2006 it was reduced in size to aflight. Since then, it has been assigned to the36th Operations Group, which is located atAndersen Air Force Base, Guam[1]
The 497th organization includes the functional elements of a small-scale wing – operations, flightline logistics, community and mission support, and medical services. With a small staff,[26] it is the entire permanent USAF presence in Singapore. Several times a year, for up to four weeks the unit grows to between 120 and 190 in strength, with the deployment of aircraft and support personnel. When so configured, the flight conducts an intense schedule of air-to-air combat training with theRepublic of Singapore Air Force in exercises titled Exercise Commando Sling. While Commando Sling is normally a bilateralair-to-air combat exercise,[27] but it has been expanded on occasion to include theRoyal Australian Air Force.[citation needed]
The flight's base support functions are located atSembawang Air Base,[26] where it is a tenant under Naval Region Singapore.[3][28][h]
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| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Presidential Unit Citation | 16 December 1966-2 January 1967 | Southeast Asia, 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Presidential Unit Citation | 1 March 1967-31 March 1968 | Southeast Asia, 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Presidential Unit Citation | 1 January-1 April 1971 | Southeast Asia, 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award withCombat "V" Device | 16 December 1965-15 December 1966 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device | 16 December 1965-15 December 1966 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device | 1 April-30 September 1968 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device | 1 January-31 December 1970 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device | 1 October 1971-31 March 1972 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device | 1 April-22 October 1972 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device | 18 December 1972-15 August 1973 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 20 March 1961-9 February 1962 | 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 April 1983-30 April 1984 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 May 1984-30 April 1985 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1985-30 June 1987 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | [31 October 1991]-1 August 1992 | 497th Fighter Training Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1996-31 December 1997 | 497th Combat Training Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 2000-30 September 2002 | 497th Combat Training Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 November 2002-31 October 2004 | 497th Combat Training Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 30 June-30 September 2005 | 497th Combat Training Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 2005-30 September 2007 | 497th Combat Training Squadron (later 497th Combat Training Flight)[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 2009-30 September 2011 | 497th Combat Training Flight[30] |
 | Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm | 1 Apr 1966-28 Jan 1973 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
.png) | American Theater without inscription | 10 February 1942–1 April 1944 | 302nd Bombardment Squadron (later 497th Fighter-Bomber Squadron)[1] |
 | Vietnam Defensive | 8 December 1965–30 January 1966 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Air | 31 January 1966–28 June 1966 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Air Offensive | 29 June 1966–8 March 1967 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II | 9 March 1967–31 March 1968 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Air/Ground | 22 January 1968–7 July 1968 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III | 1 April 1968–31 October 1968 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV | 1 November 1968–22 February 1969 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Tet 1969/Counteroffensive | 23 February 1969–8 June 1969 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 | 9 June 1969–31 October 1969 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 | 3 November 1969–30 April 1970 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Sanctuary Counteroffensive | 1 May 1970–30 June 1970 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Southwest Monsoon | 1 July 1970–30 November 1970 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Commando Hunt V | 1 December 1970–14 May 1971 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Commando Hunt VI | 15 May 1971–31 July 1971 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Commando Hunt VII | 1 November 1971–29 March 1972 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
| Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign | 29 March 1972–28 January 1973 | 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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