87th Flying Training Squadron
87th Flying Training Squadron T-38s flying over Laughlin AFB
Active	1917-1918; 1935-1936; 1942-1947; 1952-1955; 1956-1985; 1990 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Pilot Training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command 19th Air Force 47th Flying Training Wing 47th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Laughlin Air Force Base
Nickname	Skeeters (World War II)[1]
Motto	Vigilantia est PaxLatin Vigilance is Peace
Engagements	World War II *North African Campaign *Operation Husky *Operation Avalanche *Italian Campaign *Operation Dragoon[2]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2]
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Johnathan Radtke
Insignia
87th Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 12 February 1969)[2]
87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem(approved 16 July 1956[3]
87th Fighter Squadron emblem[1]

The87th Flying Training Squadron is part of theUnited States Air Force47th Flying Training Wing based atLaughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It operatesT-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.

The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 18 August 1917 when it was organized atSelfridge Field, Mount Clemens, Michigan as a pilot training Squadron duringWorld War I. The squadron saw combat duringWorld War II, and became part ofAir Defense Command, laterAerospace Defense Command and finallyTactical Air Command during theCold War.

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It was activated as the87th Aero Squadron. the 87th saw brief service in the 1910s and again in the 1930s.

It was reactivated in 1942 when it was transferred toNorth Africa to fight againstGermany'sAfrika Korps. Following the German defeat and withdrawal from North Africa the 87th participated in theAlliedInvasion of Sicily andInvasion of Italy and subsequent drive up theItalian Peninsula. During the Allied offensive in Italy the squadron was briefly dispatched to support theinvasion of Southern France in 1944. Following the war the 87th was stationed in Austria for a short time before its return to the United States and inactivation.^[4]

The 87th was again activated atSioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa in 1952 to provide air defense of the central United States. Equipped with theNorth American F-51D Mustang, it was later equipped with theNorth American F-86D Sabre in 1953 prior to being reassigned toUSAFE, stationed atRAF Bentwaters, England in 1954 assisting in the air defense of the United Kingdom.^[4]

It was returned to CONUS in 1956 atLockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio with an air defense mission over the Ohio Valley. It was uas upgraded to the North AmericanF-86L Sabre in 1957, an improved version of the F-86D which incorporated theSemi Automatic Ground Environment, or SAGE computer-controlled direction system for intercepts; upgraded again in 1960 to the supersonicConvair F-102 Delta Dagger interceptor.^[4]

The 87th was re-equipped with newMcDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor, and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer in 1960. The two-seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully combat-capable. On 22 October 1962, before PresidentJohn F. Kennedy told Americans that missiles were in place in Cuba, the squadron dispersed one-third of its force, equipped with nuclear tipped missiles toClinton County Air Force Base at the start of theCuban Missile Crisis.^[5][6] These planes returned to Lockbourne after the crisis.

The F-101Bs were transferred to theAir National Guard in 1968 and the squadron moved toDuluth International Airport, Minnesota. At Duluth, was upgraded to theConvair F-106 Delta Darts. During this period the squadron became known for its ability to perform cold weather operations.

The squadron was again moved toK. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan in 1971. Inactivated in 1985 after budget cuts forced the cancellation of its scheduled conversion to theMcDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.^[4]

The squadron was reactivated in 1990 and its mission changed to providing flight training. Today the squadron operatesNorthrop T-38 Talon aircraft providing training to pilot students on track to operate fighters or bombers.^[4]

87th Aero Squadron

• Designated as the87th Aero Squadron and organized, on 18 August 1917

RedesignatedSquadron B, Park Field on 25 July 1918

• Demobilized on 1 December 1918
• Reconstituted and consolidated on 1 December 1936 with87th Pursuit Squadron as the87th Pursuit Squadron^[7]

87th Pursuit Squadron

• Constituted as the87th Pursuit Squadron on 19 February 1935
• Organized on 1 March 1935
• Inactivated 1 September 1936
• Disbanded on 1 January 1938
• Reconstituted and consolidated on 21 March 1979 with87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron as the87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron^[7]

87th Flying Training Squadron

• Constituted as the87th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 January 1942

Redesignated87th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 January 1942

• Activated on 9 February 1942

Redesignated87th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942

Redesignated87th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 21 August 1944

• Inactivated on 15 July 1947

Redesignated87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 September 1952

• Activated on 1 November 1952
• Inactivated on 8 September 1955
• Activated on 8 April 1956
• Inactivated on 1 October 1985

Redesignated87th Flying Training Squadron on 9 Feb 1990

• Activated on 2 Apr 1990^[7]

• III Corps Observation Group, 18 August 1917 – 1 December 1918^[8]
• 20th Pursuit Group (attached toAir Corps Tactical School, 1 March 1935 – 1 September 1936
• 79th Pursuit Group (later79th Fighter Group), 9 February 1942 – 15 July 1947
• 31st Air Division, 1 Nov 1952
• 521st Air Defense Group, 16 Feb 1953
• Third Air Force. 21 December 1954 – 8 September 1955
• 58th Air Division, 8 April 1956
• 30th Air Division, 1 September 1958
• Detroit Air Defense Sector, 8 April 1959
• 34th Air Division, 1 April 1966
• 343d Fighter Group, 30 September 1968
• 23d Air Division, 28 August 1970
• 21st Air Division, 1 August 1981
• 24th Air Division, 23 September 1983 – 1 October 1985
• 47th Flying Training Wing, 2 April 1990
• 47th Operations Group, 15 December 1991 – present^[7]

• List of American Aero Squadrons

Explanatory notes

Citations

 This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Cornett, Lloyd H.; Johnson, Mildred W. (1980).A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980(PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 23 November 2006. Retrieved18 March 2014.
• 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. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 20 December 2016.
• McMullen, Richard F. (1964) "The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962-1964" ADC Historical Study No. 27, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, CO (Confidential, declassified 22 Mar 2000)
• Watkins, Robert A. (2009).Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd.ISBN 978-0-7643-3401-6.
• NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Historical Reference Paper No. 8, Directorate of Command History Continental Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, 1 Feb 63 (Top Secret NOFORN declassified 9 March 1996)
• "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons".The Interceptor (January 1979) Aerospace Defense Command, (Volume 21, Number 1)

• 87th Flying Training Squadron Fact Sheet

• Military units and formations in Texas
• Flying training squadrons of the United States Air Force

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