353d Combat Training Squadron

The 353d Combat Training Squadron is an United States Air Force training squadron responsible for Exercise RED FLAG - ALASKA held annually in Alaska. The squadron was formerly the 353d Fighter Squadron.

The 353rd Combat Training Squadron is a non-flying unit responsible for sponsoring training and experimentation in Alaska. The squadron was previously assigned to 11th Air Force, headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; however, the 353 CTS was returned to the 354th FW in October 2006.

All the activities on Alaska’s three weapons training ranges – incorporating more than 68,000 square miles (180,000 km²) of airspace, 28 threat systems, and 225 targets for range and exercise operations – are planned and controlled by 353rd CTS personnel.

The three tactical ranges supervised by the squadron’s range division are Blair Lakes, Yukon and Oklahoma. The Blair Lakes Conventional Range is located about 26 miles southwest of Eielson AFB. Isolated in a sub-Arctic tundra environment, this range is manned continuously and is normally accessible only by helicopter.

The Yukon Tactical and Electronic Warfare Range is 15 miles (24 km) east of Eielson. Accessible most of the year, this mountainous complex is only manned as necessary to provide electronic warfare training.

The Oklahoma Tactical Range is located within the U.S. Army's Cold Region Test Center at Fort Greely, Alaska, and is the largest of the three ranges, encompassing more than 900,000 acres (3,600 km²) of relatively flat, open terrain.

Cope Thunder exercises take place over Alaskan and Canadian airspace. The airspace – 17 permanent military operations areas and high-altitude training areas, plus two restricted areas – total more than 68,000 square miles (180,000 km²).

Cope Thunder’s economic impact on the communities surrounding Eielson and Elmendorf AFBs have been large and should continue to be so. In 2001 alone, military members taking part in the exercises poured more than $2 million into the local economies. Eielson AFB building projects resulting all or in part from Cope Thunder include a $23 million transient personnel facility, a $13 million Cope Thunder operations building, a $35 million air-to-air tracking system; eight two-bay all-weather aircraft shelters valued at $25 million, and a $2 million range microwave link. Additionally, the number of threat emitters on Cope Thunder ranges was doubled from 14 to 28 and several of the communication systems between ranges and Eielson have been upgraded.

Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, the squadron was deployed and permanently reassigned to the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing at Torrejon Air Force Base, Spain on 27 April 1966.

Prior to 1966, Torrejon AB was manned by squadrons rotating from CONUS TAC bases which would perform 30-day rotations to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Tactical Air Command transferred the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing from England Air Force Base Louisiana to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) on a permanent basis in April 1966 to perform the rotational TDY to Turkey for NATO alerts.

However, only one squadron of aircraft (613th) was deployed from England AFB to Torrejon. Demands from Southeast Asia for F-100s meant that the 612th and 614th TFSs were transferred to the 35th Tactical Fighter squadron at Phan Rang Air Base South Vietnam. With those squadrons deployed to Southeast Asia, TAC replaced the them with the 353d from Myrtle Beach and the 307th TFS from Homestead AFB, Florida, assigning them to the 401st at Torrejon.

With their deployment to Torrejon, the 401st TFW performed rotational alert duty to Incirlik as well as Aviano Air Base, Italy.

Beginning in June 1970, the 401st TFW was re-equipped with F-4E's. The 353d's F-4's were tail-coded TK, the 307th's TJ, and the 613th's TL.

On 15 July 1971 the 363 TFS was deactivated and reassigned without equipment or personnel to the 354 TFW at Myrtle Beach AFB. The 614th TFS was reassigned back without personnel or equipment from Phan Rang to replace the 363d, and the 612th replaced the 307th which was transferred back to Homestead.

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