71st Flying Training Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 71st Flying Training Wing


caption=
dates= 21 August 1941 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=Air Force
type=Training
role=
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command_structure=Air Education and Training Command
current_commander=Colonel [http://www.vance.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=8946 Richard Klumpp Jr.]
garrison=Vance Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=


* World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1943-1945)
* Army of Occupation (Japan) (1945 - 1949)
notable_commanders= Lloyd W. Newton
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 71st Flying Training Wing (71 FTW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.

Mission

Train world-class pilots for our Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and our Allies and to prepare AEF warriors to deploy in support of our combatant commanders.

History

The 71st Observation Group trained with B-25, P-38, and P-40 aircraft beginning in October 1941. It moved to California in December 1941 and flew antisubmarine patrols off the west coast, then moved to the Southwest Pacific in the fall of 1943 and flew reconnaissancee missions over New Britain, New Guinea, and the Admiralties from bases in New Guinea and Biak. It also flew combat mission against Japanese installations, airfields, and shipping, while supporting Allied ground forces on New Guinea and Biak. During that time, it flew courier missions, participated in search and rescue operations, and hauled passengers and cargo. From November 1944, the group flew reconnaissance missions over Luzon, supported ground forces, photographed and bombed airfields in Formosa and China, and attacked enemy shipping in the South China Sea. Major William A. Shomo earned the Medal of Honor for shooting down seven enemy aircraft on 11 January 1945. From Ie Shima in August 1945, the 71st attacked transportation targets on Kyūshū and flew reconnaissance missions over southern Japan.

From February 1947 to August 1948, the group, equipped with reconnaissance aircraft, flew aerial photographing missions over Japan and southern Korea. The wing was activated in August 1948 and deactivated two months later

The wing performed strategic reconnaissance and tested a technique for launching small RBF-84 aircraft from GRB-36 bombers, to extend the range of photographic reconnaissance and fighter escort when the wing was reactivated beginning in January 1955. Those tests ended in 1956, but the wing continued strategic reconnaissance until 1957 when it was again deactivated.

The 71st was activated again in 1961 and operated and maintained the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS), including sites in Alaska, Greenland, and England. It also operated the Sea-Launched Ballistic Missile Detection and Warning System, supported the USAF "Spacetrack" system, and monitored the "over-the-horizon" radar system from 1969-1971.

The wing replaced and absorbed resources of the 3575th Pilot Training Wing in November 1972, assuming control of Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and the undergraduate pilot training for USAF, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and allied countries. In addition, it supported Accelerated Co-Pilot Enrichment (ACE) program at numerous operating locations from 1978-1991. The wing provides initial flight training, and follow-on training for fighter, bomber and airlift/tanker aircraft.

Operations

*World War II

Previous designations

*71st Observation Group (1940 – 1943)
*71st Reconnaissance Group (1943 – 1944)
*71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (1944 – 1945)
*71st Reconnaissance Group (1945 – 1948)
*71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (1948 – 1954)
*71st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1954 – 1961)
*71st Surveillance Wing (1961 – 1967)
*71st Missile Warning Wing (1967 – 1972)
*71st Flying Training Wing (1972 – Present)

Assignments

Major Command

*Aerospace Defense Command (1961 – 1971)
*Air Education and Training Command (1972 - Present)

Numbered Air Force

*Fifth Air Force (1943 – 1946)
*Fifteenth Air Force (1955 – 1957)
*Fourteenth Air Force (1968 – 1971)
*Nineteenth Air Force (1993 – Present)

ubordinate Organizations

71st Operations Group (71 OG)
*5th Flying Training Squadron (5 FTS)
*8th Flying Training Squadron (8 FTS)
*25th Flying Training Squadron (25 FTS)
*32d Flying Training Squadron (32 FTS)
*33d Flying Training Squadron (33 FTS)
*71st Operations Support Squadron (71 OSS)

71st Mission Support Group (71 MSG)
*71st Communications Squadron (71 CS)
*71st Logistics Readiness Squadron (71 LRS)
*71st Security Forces Squadron (71 SFS)
*71st Mission Support Squadron (71 MSS)

71st Medical Group (12 MDG)
*71st Medical Operations Squadron (12 MDOS)
*71st Medical Support Squadron (12 MDSS)

Additionally, the 71st Comptroller Squadron (71 CPTS) reports directly to the 71 TFW.

Bases stationed

*Birmingham, Alabama (1941)
*Salinas Army Air Base, California (1941 – 1943)
*Esler Field, Louisiana (1943)
*Laurel Army Air Field, Mississippi (1943)
*Port Moresby, New Guinea (1943 – 1944)
*Biak (1944)
*Leyte (1944 – 1945)
*Binmaley, Luzon (1945)
*Ie Shima, Okinawa (1945)
*Japan, (1945 – 1949)
*Larson Air Force Base, Washington (1955 – 1957)
*Ent Air Force Base, Colorado (1962 – 1969)
*McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey (1969 – 1971)
*Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma (1972 – Present)

Aircraft Operated

*O-38 (1941)
*O-46 (1941 – 1942)
*O-47 (1941 – 1942)
*O-49 Vigilant (1941 – 1942)
*O-52 Owl (1941 – 1942)
*L-2 Grasshopper (1941 – 1942)
*A-20 Havoc (1942 – 1943)
*F-5 Lighting (1942 – 1946)
*P-38 Lightning (1942 – 1946)
*B-25 Mitchell (1942 – 1946)
*L-5 Sentinel (1943 – 1945)
*L-4 (1944)
*UC-61 (1944)
*UC-78 (1944 – 1945)
*F-6 (1945 – 1946)
*P-39 Airacobra (1942 – 1944)
*P-40 Warhawk (1942 – 1945)
*P-51 Mustang (1946 – 1947)
*F-15 Reporter (1947 – 1949)
*F-2 Expeditor (1947 – 1948)
*RB-17 (1948)
*RB-29 (1948)
*RF-61 (1949)
*RF-84 (1955 – 1957)
*RBF-84 (1955 – 1956)
*T-41 Mescalero (1972 – 1973)
*T-37 (1972 – 2006)
*T-38 Talon (1972 – Present)
*T-1 Jayhawk (1994 – Present)
*T-6 Texan II (2004 - Present)

Unit Shields

See also

* 314th Air Division

References

External links

* [http://www.vance.af.mil/ Vance AFB Home Page]