87th Flying Training Squadron

87th Flying Training Squadron
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(s)	Skeeters (World War II)
Motto(s)	Vigilantia est Pax Latin Vigilance is Peace
Engagements	World War II; North African Campaign ; Operation Husky ; * Operation Avalanche ; Italian Campaign ; Operation Dragoon
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
87th Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 12 February 1969)
87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (approved 16 July 1956
87th Fighter Squadron emblem

The 87th Flying Training Squadron is part of the United States Air Force 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It operates T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.

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The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 18 August 1917 when it was organized at Selfridge Field, Mount Clemens, Michigan as a pilot training Squadron during World War I. The squadron saw combat during World War II, and became part of Air Defense Command, later Aerospace Defense Command and finally Tactical Air Command during the Cold War.

World War I

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

World War II

It was reactivated in 1942 when it was transferred to North Africa to fight against Germany's Afrika Korps. Following the German defeat and withdrawal from North Africa the 87th participated in the Allied Invasion of Sicily and Invasion of Italy and subsequent drive up the Italian Peninsula. During the Allied offensive in Italy the squadron was briefly dispatched to support the invasion 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]

Air Defense Command

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

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

The 87th was re-equipped with new McDonnell 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 President John F. Kennedy told Americans that missiles were in place in Cuba, the squadron dispersed one-third of its force, equipped with nuclear tipped missiles to Clinton County Air Force Base at the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis.^[5]^[6] These planes returned to Lockbourne after the crisis.

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

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

Flying training

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

87th Aero Squadron

Designated as the 87th Aero Squadron and organized, on 18 August 1917

Redesignated Squadron B, Park Field on 25 July 1918

Demobilized on 1 December 1918
Reconstituted and consolidated on 1 December 1936 with 87th Pursuit Squadron as the 87th Pursuit Squadron^[7]

87th Pursuit Squadron

Constituted as the 87th 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 with 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron as the 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron^[7]

87th Flying Training Squadron

Constituted as the 87th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 January 1942

Redesignated 87th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 January 1942

Activated on 9 February 1942

Redesignated 87th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942

Redesignated 87th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 21 August 1944

Inactivated on 15 July 1947

Redesignated 87th 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

Redesignated 87th Flying Training Squadron on 9 Feb 1990

Activated on 2 Apr 1990^[7]

Assignments

III Corps Observation Group, 18 August 1917 – 1 December 1918^[8]
20th Pursuit Group (attached to Air Corps Tactical School, 1 March 1935 – 1 September 1936
79th Pursuit Group (later 79th 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]

Stations

Kelly Field, Texas, 18 August 1917
Selfridge Field, Michigan, September 1917
Park Field, Tennessee, December 1917 - 1 December 1918
Maxwell Field, Alabama, 1 March 1935 – 1 September 1936
Dale Mabry Field, Florida, 9 February 1942
Morris Field, North Carolina, 1 May 1942
Rentschler Field, Connecticut, 25 June 1942 – 28 September 1942
LG 174, Egypt, 12 November 1942^[1]
Gazala (LG 150), Libya, 24 January 1943
Darraugh North Landing Ground, Libya, c. 7 February 1943^[1]
Castel Benito Airport, Libya, c. 27 February 1943^[1]
Causeway Airfield, Tunisia, 13 March 1943^[1]
Malta, 4 July 1943
Sicily, 17 July 1943
Southern Italy, 15 September 1943
Salsola Airfield, Italy, 4 October 1943
Madna Airfield, Italy, 17 November 1943
Capodichino Airport, Italy, 17 January 1944
Pomigliano Airfield, Italy, 1 May 1944
Serragia Airfield, Corsica, France, 11 June 1944^[1]
Saint Raphael-Frejus Airfield (Y-12), France, 22 August 1944^[1]
Valence Airfield (Y-23), France, 1 September 1944^[1]
Iesi Airfield, Italy, 4 October 1944
Fano Airfield, Italy, 6 December 1944
Cesenatico Airfield, Italy, 21 March 1945
Horsching Airfield, Austria, 27 July 1945
Langley Field, Virginia, 25 June 1947 – 15 July 1947
Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa, 1 November 1952
RAF Bentwaters, England, 13 December 1954 – 8 September 1955
Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, 8 April 1956
Duluth International Airport, Minnesota, 30 Sep 1968
K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan, 1 May 1971 – 1 Oct 1985
Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, 2 Apr 1990 – present^[9]

Aircraft

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1942–1944)
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1944–1947)
North American F-51D Mustang (1952–1953)
North American F-86D Sabre Interceptor (1953–1955, 1956–1957)
North American F-86L Sabre Interceptor (SAGE) (1957–1958)
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger (1958–1960)
McDonnell F-101B Voodoo (1960–1968)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart (1968–1985)
Northrop T-38 Talon (1990–present)^[7]

List of American Aero Squadrons

Notes

Explanatory notes

[N 1]
Note the American Revolution Bicentennial Celebration logo on the nose of 59-53
[N 2]
Note the Tactical Air Command emblem on the tail, replacing the squadron emblem

Citations

[1]
Watkins, pp.30-31
[2]
Bailey, Carl E. (10 September 2008). "Factsheet 87 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
[3]
Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 299-300
[4]
"Laughlin AFB Library: Fact Sheet 87th Flying Training Squadron". 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
[5]
McMullen, pp. 10-12
[6]
NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, p. 16
[7]
Lineage, including assignments, stations and aircraft in Bailey
[8]
Per Bailey. However, the III Corps Observation Group was organized in France c. July 1918 and the 87th Aero Squadron never left the United States.
[9]
Station information in Bailey, except as noted

Bibliography

This article incorporates public 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 from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 18 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.
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

[5] [N 1]
Note the American Revolution Bicentennial Celebration logo on the nose of 59-53

[6] [N 2]
Note the Tactical Air Command emblem on the tail, replacing the squadron emblem

[Watkins-1] [1]
Watkins, pp.30-31

[AFHRA_87_FTS_Page-2] [2]
Bailey, Carl E. (10 September 2008). "Factsheet 87 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 September 2017.

[Maurer87FS-3] [3]
Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 299-300

[87_FTS_Fact_Sheet-4] [4]
"Laughlin AFB Library: Fact Sheet 87th Flying Training Squadron". 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2017.

[7] [5]
McMullen, pp. 10-12

[8] [6]
NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, p. 16

[87FTSfacts-9] [7]
Lineage, including assignments, stations and aircraft in Bailey

[10] [8]
Per Bailey. However, the III Corps Observation Group was organized in France c. July 1918 and the 87th Aero Squadron never left the United States.

[11] [9]
Station information in Bailey, except as noted

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[note 1]

[note 2]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]