465th Tactical Training Squadron
T-33 used for training of air controllers
Active1942–1944; 1972–1991
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Part ofAir Combat Command
Motto(s)Respice Tuo Sex Latin Check Six
EngagementsAmerican Theater of Operations without inscription
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
465th Tactical Training Squadron emblem
465th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 22 June 1943)[2]

The 465th Tactical Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. During World War II as the 465th Bombardment Squadron, it was an operational and replacement unit from 1942 to 1944, when it was disbanded in a general reorganization of Army Air Forces training and support units in the United States. The squadron was reconstituted as the 465th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron in 1973 and briefly operated the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It moved to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico and operated as a fighter and academic training unit until inactivating in 1991.

History

World War II

A-20 Havoc

The 27th Bombardment Group had engaged in combat in the Southwest Pacific Theater, both in the air with Douglas A-24 Banshees and on ground as infantry in the Philippines. In May 1942, the group and its three squadrons were withdrawn from the theater and moved on paper to Key Field, Mississippi, where it began reforming as a Douglas A-20 Havoc unit.[3] To bring the group to its full strength, the squadron was activated in July 1942 as the 465th Bombardment Squadron. In addition to A-20s, the squadron also was assigned a few DB-7 export versions of the Havoc[2]

In the fall of 1942, the 27th Group prepared for movement to North Africa, but would be converted to a fighter-bomber unit flying North American A-36 Apaches.[3] Because Army Air Forces (AAF) fighter-bomber groups were assigned only three squadrons, when the group moved overseas in late November 1942, the 465th was reassigned to III Air Support Command, and became an Operational Training Unit (OTU).[2] The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres to "satellite groups".[4]

In January 1943, the squadron moved to Alachua Army Air Field, Florida, where it became part of the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics. In addition to training cadres for newly-formed groups it also demonstrated tactics for light bomber units as part of the 415th Bombardment Group.[5] In March 1944 the group moved to Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, where it became a Replacement Training Unit.[2] Replacement Training Units were similar to OTUs in that they were oversized units, but their mission was to train individual pilots or aircrews.[4] However, even as the squadron arrived at Dalhart, the AAF was finding that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were not proving well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[6] The 415th Group, including the squadron, and support units at Dalhart were disbanded,[2][5] and their personnel and equipment were reorganized as the 232d AAF Base Unit.

Tactical Air Command

27th Tactical Fighter Wing F-111

In the fall of 1972, the squadron was reconstituted as the 465th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and reactivated on 1 December at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, where it trained crews on the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark as part of the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing.[7][8] This mission lasted only eight months, and in August 1973, the squadron moved to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, where it conducted lead in fighter training with the Northrop AT-38 under the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing.[9][10] In January 1977, flying training activities at Holloman were put under the newly-activated 479th Tactical Training Wing. The squadron was transferred to the 479th Wing, where it performed the academic training portion of the wing's mission. It continued this mission until it was inactivated in 1991, when its mission, personnel and equipment was transferred to the 435th Tactical Training Squadron.

Lineage

  • Constituted 465th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 7 July 1942
Activated on 13 July 1942
Disbanded on 5 April 1944[11]
  • Reconstituted on 27 October 1972 and redesignated 465th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron
Activated 1 December 1972[note 1]
Redesignated 465th Tactical Training Squadron on 1 January 1977
Inactivated on 19 February 1991[12]

Assignments

  • 27th Bombardment Group, 13 July 1942
  • III Air Support Command, 21 November 1942
  • Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics, c. 22 January 1943
  • 415th Bombardment Group, 23 March 1943 – 5 April 1944[11]
  • 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 December 1972[7]
  • 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 August 1973[10]
  • 479th Tactical Training Wing, 1 January 1977 – 19 February 1991[12]

Stations

Aircraft

  • Douglas DB-7 Boston, 1942.
  • Douglas A-20 Havoc, 1942-1944[11]
  • General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark, 1972-1973[7]
  • Northrop AT-38 Talon, 1973-1977[10]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 1976-31 December 1976465th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 May 1981-30 April 1983465th Tactical Training Squadron[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription13 July 1942 – 5 April 1944465 Bombardment Squadron[2]

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ During the entire time the squadron was active as the 465th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, an unrelated 465th Tactical Fighter Squadron was active in the reserve.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 17 September 2018. (search)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 571
  3. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 78-81
  4. 1 2 Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
  5. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, p. 299
  6. ↑ Goss, p.75
  7. 1 2 3 Ravenstein, pp. 49-52
  8. 1 2 Mueller, p. 62
  9. 1 2 Mueller, pp. 250-251
  10. 1 2 3 Ravenstein, pp. 78-81
  11. 1 2 3 4 Lineage, including aircraft, assignments and stations, through 1944 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 571
  12. 1 2 3 Tactical Air Command Special Order GB-28, 14 February 1991

Bibliography

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