85th Flying Training Squadron

85th Flying Training Squadron [1]
85th Flying Training Squadron Patch
Active	15 January 1941 – 22 June 1962 1 September 1972 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	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
Engagements	Battle of the Kasserine Pass Operation Husky Operation Avalanche Operation Dragoon
Decorations	DUC AFOUA

The 85th Flying Training Squadron (85 FTS) is part of the 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It operates T-6 Texan II aircraft conducting flight training.

History

The 85th was first activated as a bombardment squadron shortly before the United States entered World War II. Stationed at McChord Field, Washington it flew antisubmarine patrols following the attack on Pearl Harbor.^[2]

The squadron was sent to North Africa to participate in Allied operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in late 1942 where it specialized in conducting low-level bombing missions against enemy forces. The unit earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for actions against German forces at Kasserine Pass in February 1943.^[2]

Following the Axis defeat in North Africa the 85th participated in the reduction of Pantellaria and Lampedusa and the invasion of Sicily in the summer of 1943. The squadron next supported the British Eighth Army during the invasion of Italy and continued to lead support combat support throughout the Italian Campaign, earning it a second Distinguished Unit Citation for actions in the Po Valley 21–24 April 1945. In August and September 1944 the 85th briefly broke off from the Italian Campaign to support the invasion of southern France.^[2]

Following the Second World War the squadron remained an active bomber unit. It was the first squadron to operate the B-45 Tornado, the US Air Force's first jet bomber. It later transitioned to the B-66 Destroyer before being inactivated in May 1962. The squadron was reactivated a decade later as a Flying Training Squadron, replacing the 3645th Pilot Training Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.^[2]

Operations^[1]

• World War II

Lineage^[1]

• 85th Bombardment Squadron (Light) (1940–1943)
• 85th Bombardment Squadron, Light (1943–1946)
• 85th Bombardment Squadron, Light (Night Attack) (1946–1948)
• 85th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Jet (1948–1950)
• 85th Bombardment Squadron, Light (1950–1955)
• 85th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical (1955–1972)
• 85th Flying Training Squadron (1972 – present)

Assignments^[1]

• 47th Bombardment Group (1941–1949)
• 12th Air Force (1949–1950)
• Tactical Air Command (1950–1951)
  • Attached: 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (1949–1951)
• 47th Bombardment Wing (1951–1962)
• 47th Flying Training Wing (1972 – present)

Stations^[1]

Aircraft Operated^[1]

• B-18 Bolo (1941–1942)
• DB-7 Boston (1941–1942)
• A-20 Havoc (1941–1945)
• A-26 Invader (later, B-26) (1945–1949, 1950–1951)
• B-45 Tornado (1949–1957)
• B-66 Destroyer (1958–1962)
• T-37 Tweet (1972–2004)
• T-6 Texan II (2004 – present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• USAF 85th Flying Training Squadron History
• 85th Flying Training Squadron Fact Sheet

See also

Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
Air Forces	Second Nineteenth Air University
Bases	Altus Columbus Goodfellow Gunter Annex Keesler Lackland Laughlin Luke Maxwell Randolph Sheppard Tyndall Vance
Wings	12th Flying Training 14th Flying Training 17th Training 33d Fighter 37th Training 42d Air Base 47th Flying Training 56th Fighter 58th Special Operations 59th Medical 71st Flying Training 80th Flying Training 81st Training 82d Training 97th Air Mobility 314th Airlift 502d Air Base
Groups	336th Training Group 381st Training Group

United States Air Force
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