71st Flying Training Wing | |
|---|---|
 71st Flying Training Wing aircraft | |
| Active | 1948; 1955–1957; 1962–1971; 1972–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Pilot Training |
| Size | About 1400 military and more than 1400 civilian employees[1] |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Vance Air Force Base |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| current commander | Colonel Charles D. Throckmorton IV |
| Vice Commander | Colonel Carl F. Miller III |
| Command Chief Master Sergeant | Chief Master Sgt. Harvey M. McReynolds Jr. |
| Notable commanders | Lloyd W. Newton |
| Insignia | |
| 71st Flying Training Wing emblem[a][2] |  |
| 71st Flying Training Wing emblem[b][3] | .png) |
| Patch with 71st Surveillance Wing emblem[c][4] |  |
| Tail code | VN |
The71st Flying Training Wing is aUnited States Air Force unit assigned toAir Education and Training Command. Stationed as the host unit ofVance Air Force Base, it has conducted pilot training for the U.S. Air Force and allied nations since 1972.
The wing was briefly activated as the71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in 1948 but was operational for only a few weeks before being discontinued. During theCold War, as the71st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, it was a part ofStrategic Air Command. The wing performed strategic reconnaissance and also tested a technique for launching small F-84Kreconnaissance aircraft from GRB-36 bombers to extend the range of photographic reconnaissance and fighter escort. The testing ended in 1956, but the wing continued strategic reconnaissance until inactivated on 1 July 1957.
The wing was activated again in 1962 as the71st Surveillance Wing. It operated and maintained systems to detectintercontinental ballistic missiles andsea-launched ballistic missile launches until it was inactivated in 1971. The wing was activated with its current mission a year later.
The71st Flying Training Wing conducts Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training. Its mission is to develop professional United States and allied nation pilots who are combat ready. It is responsible for training Air Force and allied student pilots for worldwide deployment and Aerospace Expeditionary Force support.[1]
Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training is conducted in three phases. Phase I is preflight, Phase II is Primary and is conducted with theBeechcraft T-6 Texan II. Phase III may be either fighter-bomber track, conducted with theNorthrop T-38 Talon or tanker-airlift track, conducted with theRaytheon T-1 Jayhawk.[1]
The 71st Observation Group trained withB-25,P-38, andP-40 aircraft beginning in October 1941. It moved to California in December 1941 and flew antisubmarine patrols off the west coast, then moved to the Southwest Pacific in the fall of 1943 and flew reconnaissance missions.
Thewing was first activated atKadena Air Base, Okinawa in August 1948 in thewing base reorganization of theUnited States Air Force, but was a viable entity for only a few days. Its tactical group was detached to the32d Composite Wing and the wing had only one single reconnaissance squadron to perform photographic reconnaissance attached for its first week of existence. When the squadron was reassigned, the wing became non-operational and its manning was withdrawn. The wing was inactivated in late October.[2]
The wing was reactivated atLarson Air Force Base, Washington as the71st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. At Larson, it performed strategic reconnaissance and tested theFICON project to extend the range of photographic reconnaissance and fighter escort aircraft beginning in January 1955. FICON involved using an RF-84K, a version of theRepublic RF-84F Thunderflash with a retractable "duck-bill" to enable it to be carried by a modifiedConvair B-36 Peacemaker to increase its range. The RF-84K was equipped with anhedral (downward-pointing) horizontal stabilizers to clear the bomb bay when in the stowed position.[8]
The tests revealed that the "parasite" concept was achievable but not practical. Hook-ups with the GRB-36 were nearly impossible to achieve in turbulence and would likely be unworkable under combat conditions. In addition, ground clearance with the fighter mounted was around 6 inches when the RF-84K was equipped with external fuel tanks. The problem of drag was even worse. The stowed fighter reduced the range of the GRB-36 by five to ten percent.[8]
In 1956 the entire FICON project was canceled, but the wing continued strategic reconnaissance until it was inactivated in 1957.[2]
In 1962 the wing was activated again atEnt Air Force Base, Colorado as the71st Surveillance Wing. It operated and maintained theBallistic Missile Early Warning System, including sites in Alaska, Greenland, and England. It also operated thesea-launched ballistic missile detection and warning system and supported the USAF Spacetrack system, and monitored theover-the-horizon radar system, 1969–1971.[2]
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The wing was redesignated the71st Flying Training Wing and replaced the 3575th Pilot Training Wing atVance Air Force Base, Oklahoma in November 1972, assuming control of the undergraduate pilot training for USAF, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and allied countries there. In addition, it supported the Accelerated Co-Pilot Enrichment (ACE) program at numerous operating locations between 1978 and 1991. The wing provided initial flight training, and follow-on training for fighter, bomber and airlift/tanker aircraft crews for USAF, US Navy, Marine Corps and allied forces.[2]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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