The squadron was redesignated as the 97th Flying Training Squadron and trained USAF pilots to fly supersonic jet aircraft from 1973 to 1993. Since 1998 it has trained fighter pilots for the United States as well as America's European and NATO allies.
P-38 Lightnings of the 82nd Fighter Group over Italy, 1944
The squadron was first activated in early 1942 at Harding Field, Louisiana as the 97th Pursuit Squadron,[2] one of the original three squadrons of the 82d Pursuit Group.[3] It soon moved to California where it equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and began training with Fourth Air Force as the 97th Fighter Squadron. It left California in the fall and sailed for Northern Ireland, where it received additional combat training under Eighth Air Force. A month after the initial Operation Torch landings in North Africa the squadron deployed to Algeria, where it entered combat as an element of Twelfth Air Force.[4]
In North Africa, the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols, bomber escort missions and attacked enemy shipping and airfields, moving its base east through Algeria and Tunisia. As the North African campaign drew to a close, the unit began attacking targets in Italy, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation[2] for its actions on 25 April 1943 during an attack on enemy airfields in Foggia.[4]
In September, the squadron participated in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, during which it was awarded a second Distinguished Unit Citation for a bomber escort mission against marshalling yards near Naples.[2][4] The squadron moved to Italy, where it became part of Fifteenth Air Force as part of the buildup to providee fighter cover for Fifteenth's heavy bombers.[4] On 10 June 1944 the squadron earned a third Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions during an attack on oil refineries in Ploiești, Romania.[2]
Following the surrender of Germany, the squadron remained in Italy until September 1945, when it was inactivated[2] In the course of the war the squadron was credited with the destruction of 146 enemy aircraft.[5]
Cold War
In 1947 the squadron was again activated at Grenier Field, New Hampshire, where it was equipped with North American P-51 Mustangs as a Strategic Air Command fighter escort unit.[1] Between April and June 1948 the squadron deployed to Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska, where it practiced rendezvousing with and escorting bombers, intercepting simulated enemy bombers and aerial gunnery.[4] In August 1949 it was transferred to Continental Air Command and its primary role became air defense, but this mission change was brief, for the squadron was inactivated in October.[1]
In August 1955, ADC implemented Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[7] Project Arrow was also designed to reunite fighter squadrons with their traditional headquarters. As a result, the 97th moved on paper to New Castle County Airport, Delaware,[2] where it assumed the mission, personnel, and Mighty Mouse Rocket armed Lockheed F-94 Starfire aircraft of the 332d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which moved on paper to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.[8] Meanwhile, the 97th's personnel and equipment at Wright-Patterson were assigned to the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.[9] The squadron remained at New Castle until it was inactivated in 1958.[2]
Flying Training
In 1972 Air Training Command replaced its Major Command (MAJCOM) controlled flying training units with USAF controlled units (AFCON) units. As part of this program the squadron was redesignated the 97th Flying Training Squadron and activated at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona when its parent 82d Flying Training Wing replaced the 3525th Pilot Training Wing. At Williams the unit trained USAF pilots to fly Northrop T-38 Talon supersonic jet aircraft[1] in the advanced phase of the Undergraduate Pilot Training program. The squadron was inactivated in 1993 when Williams closed in the second round of the Base Realignment and Closure program.[4]
In 1998, the 97th Flying Training Squadron was activated in the Air Force Reserve at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas[1] as an associate of the 80th Flying Training Wing. The 80th wing conducts the European-North Atlantic Treaty Organization Joint Jet Pilot Training Program. The squadron also uses the T-38C in the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course (IFF), an advanced pilot course that teaches basic fighter maneuvers.[10] As the reserve associate unit for these programs the squadron uses Air Force Reserve instructor pilots to perform student training.[1]
Lineage
Constituted as the 97th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 January 1942
Activated on 9 February 1942
Redesignated 97th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 22 April 1942
Redesignated 97th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 97th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 28 February 1944
Inactivated on 9 September 1945
Activated on 12 April 1947 *
Redesignated 97th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 15 August 1947
Inactivated on 2 October 1949
Redesignated 97th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 13 November 1950
Activated on 1 December 1950
Inactivated on 8 January 1958
Redesignated 97th Flying Training Squadron on 22 June 1972
^This aircraft is now on static display at the Travis AFB museum in California
^The emblem is the stylized face of a Devil Cat, which is neither cat nor wolf and supposedly has roamed the steppes of Russia for generations. Its awesome appearance indicates the beast's true ferocity and diabolical wiliness and daring. No animal, real or imaginary, excites greater respect or fear among the peoples of the steppes than the Devil Cat. History of the 80th Flying Training Wing,[page needed]
Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, 1956
Anonymous (1949). 82nd Fighter. Robert W. Kelly Publishing Co.
Blake, Steven (2012). P-38 Lighting Aces of the 82nd Fighter Group in World War II. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 108. Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-780968-71-1.
Blake, Steven (1992). Adorimini:"Up and at 'Em" A History of the 82nd Fighter Group in World War II. Boise, ID: Walsworth Publishing Co.
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. ISBN978-0-7643-3401-6.
"ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor. Aerospace Defense Command. 21 (1): 5–11, 26–31, 40–45, 54–59. January 1979.
United States
United States Air Force
