Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-98mm
97th FLYING TRAINING SQUADRON (AFRC)
Lineage. Constituted 97 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on 9 Feb 1942. Redesignated: 97 Pursuit Squadron (I) (Twin Engine) on 22 Apr 1942; 97 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942; 97 Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 28 Feb 1944. Inactivated on 9 Sep 1945. Activated on 12 Apr 1947. Redesignated 97 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 15 Aug 1947. Inactivated on 2 Oct 1949. Redesignated 97 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 13 Nov 1950. Activated on 1 Dec 1950. Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958. Redesignated 97 Flying Training Squadron on 22 Jun 1972. Activated on 1 Feb 1973. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1993. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Apr 1998.
Assignments. 82 Pursuit (later, 82 Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942-9 Sep 1945. 82 Fighter Group, 12 Apr 1947-2 Oct 1949. Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 Dec 1950 (attached to 56 Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 Dec 1950-20 May 1951; 142 Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 20 May 1951-6 Feb 1952); 4706 Defense (later, 4706 Air Defense) Wing, 6 Feb 1952; 82 Fighter Group, 18 Aug 1955-8 Jan 1958. 82 Flying Training Wing, 1 Feb 1973; 82 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-1 Apr 1993. 340 Flying Training Group, 1 Apr 1998-.
Stations. Harding Field, LA, 9 Feb 1942; Muroc, CA, 17 Apr 1942; Long Beach, CA, 22 May-16 Sep 1942; Eglington, Northern Ireland, 5 Oct 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 24 Dec 1942; Telergma, Algeria, 1 Jan 1943; Berteaux, Algeria, 28 Mar 1943; Souk-el-Arba, Algeria, 13 Jun 1943; Grombalia, Tunisia, 4 Aug 1943 (operated from Gerbini, Sicily, 6-18 Sep 1943); San Pacrazio, Italy, 3 Oct 1943; Lecce, Italy, 10 Oct 1943; Vicenzo Airfield, Italy, 11 Jan 1944; Lesina, Italy, c. 30 Aug-9 Sep 1945. Grenier Field (later, AFB), NH, 12 Apr 1947-2 Oct 1949 (deployed at Ladd AFB, AK, 4 Apr-29 Jun 1948). Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1 Dec 1950; New Castle County Aprt, DE, 18 Aug 1955-8 Jan 1958. Williams AB, AZ, 1 Feb 1973-1 Apr 1993. Sheppard AFB, TX, 1 Apr 1998-.
Aircraft. P-38, 1942-1945. P (later, F)-51, 1947-1949. F-86, 1951-1955; F-94, 1955-1957. T-38, 1973-1993. T-37, 1998-; T-38, 1998-; AT-38, 1998-.
Operations. Combat in ETO and MTO, 25 Dec 1942-3 May 1945. Fighter escort and air defense, 1947-1949. Air defense, 1951-1957. Trained USAF pilots to fly supersonic jet aircraft, 1973-1993. Trained Air Force Reserve instructor pilots, 1998-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 25 Aug 1943; Italy, 2 Sep 1943; Ploesti, Rumania, 10 Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1978-30 Apr 1979; 1 May 1983-30 Apr 1985; 1 Jun 1988-31 May 1990; 1 Apr 1991-31 Mar 1993.
Emblem. Approved on 30 Oct 1942.