435th Fighter Training Squadron

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= 435th Fighter Training Squadron center|60px |image=150408-F-IJ798-085 Lt. Kinder McCullough, 435th FTS Female instructor pilot student, adjusts her mask and helmet during a pre-flight checklist before a training flight.JPG |image_size=300 |caption=A 435th Fighter Training Squadron fighter candidate adjusts her mask and helmet before a training flight |dates=1943–1945; 1952–1974; 1977–1991; 1993–1997; 1998–present |country={{USA}} |branch={{air force|USA}} |type= |role=Fighter Pilot Training |size= |command_structure= Air Education and Training Command |current_commander= Lt Col John "HoBS" Matchett |garrison= Randolph Air Force Base |ceremonial_chief= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |nickname= Deadly Black Eagles{{Citation needed|date=July 2017}} |patron= |motto= Establish Dominance |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= European Theater of Operations, Vietnam War<ref name=435FTSfacts>{{cite web|url=https://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432773/435-fighter-training-squadron-aetc/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615161642/http://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432773/435-fighter-training-squadron-aetc/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2017|last1=Robertson|first1=Patsy|title=Factsheet 435 Fighter Training Squadron (AETC)|date=10 May 2010|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=25 July 2018}}</ref> |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= |decorations=Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm<ref name=435FTSfacts/> |battle_honours=  |identification_symbol=165px |identification_symbol_label=435th Fighter Training Squadron emblem (approved 20 March 1945)<ref name=435FTSfacts/> |identification_symbol_2=165px |identification_symbol_2_label=435th Fighter Sq emblem (approved 25 February 1944)<ref>Endicott, p. 807</ref> }}

The '''435th Fighter Training Squadron''' is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates Northrop AT-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.

==Mission== The 435 FTS conducts initial instructor and student flying training for over 130 U.S. Air Force and international pilots and Weapon System Operators annually in Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals. The squadron develops students' proficiency, confidence, discipline, judgment, and situational awareness of basic fighter employment. Additionally, the squadron deploys to support fighter syllabus/operational training requirements for Dissimilar Air Combat Training.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.randolph.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9461 |title=12 OG Fact Sheet |access-date=24 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201051915/http://www.randolph.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9461 |archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History== ===World War II=== The 435th flew air defense prior to overseas duty then flew combat in the European Theater of Operations from, 26 May 1944 – 25 April 1945.

===Tactical Air Command===

===Vietnam War=== [[File:Lockheed F-104C-10-LO Starfighter 57-0914 497tfw george 1966.jpg|thumb|F-104C Starfighter, AF Ser. No. 57-0914, 435 TFS, 1965 George Air Force Base California. This aircraft was deployed to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand in 1966 and assigned to 8 TFW. It crashed due to engine failure over Thailand on 16 January 1967. This Film was used in the Opening teaser of the Star Trek series episode Tomorrow Is Yesterday.]] thumb|F-104s of the 435 TFS on the Da Nang flightline – 1965

thumb|435th TFS F-104Cs over Southeast Asia, October 1966 [[File:8tfwF-4D.jpg|thumb|435th Tactical Fighter Squadron Phantom II<ref group=note>Aircraft is McDonnell F-4D-29-MC Phantom II serial 66-234 with laser-guided bombs on a mission north. This aircraft survived the war and eventually was sent to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center for scrapping 29 September 1989.</ref>]]

A detachment operated under the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing detachment at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, 5 Jun-c. 23 July 1966 It conducted air defense in Southeast Asia from, 12 October-20 December 1965 and combat sorties from, July 1966-15 August 1973.

===Training=== The squadron trained fighter pilots and weapon systems officers between January 1977 and February 1991. It conducted training for Taiwan Air Force pilots from, May 1993-c. 31 December 1995 and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals training for international students from, 1998–2004.<ref name=435FTSfacts/>

==Lineage== * Constituted as the '''435th Fighter Squadron''' (Two Engine) on 12 October 1943 : Activated on 15 October 1943 : Redesignated '''435th Fighter Squadron''', Single Engine on 5 September 1944 : Inactivated on 15 December 1945 * Redesignated '''435th Fighter-Bomber Squadron''' on 15 October 1952 : Activated on 1 December 1952 : Redesignated '''435th Fighter-Day Squadron''' on 15 February 1954 : Redesignated '''435th Tactical Fighter Squadron''' on 1 July 1958 : Inactivated 8 August 1974 * Redesignated '''435th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron''' on 22 October 1976 : Activated on 1 January 1977 : Inactivated on 19 February 1991 * Redesignated '''435th Fighter Squadron''' on 1 May 1993 : Activated on 12 May 1993 : Inactivated on 1 April 1997 * Redesignated '''435th Flying Training Squadron''' on 2 April 1998 : Activated on 14 May 1998 * Redesignated '''435th Fighter Training Squadron''' on 19 May 2003<ref name=435FTSfacts/>

===Assignments=== * 479th Fighter Group, 15 October 1943 * VIII Fighter Command, 1–15 December 1945 * 479 Fighter-Bomber Group (later 479 Fighter-Day Group), 1 December 1952 (attached to Iceland Defense Force until 27 March 1953) : Attached to Air Proving Ground Command, 26 July–6 September 1955) * 479th Fighter-Day Wing (later 479th Tactical Fighter Wing), 8 October 1957 : Attached to :: 16th Air Force, 7 December 1960 – c. 15 April 1961 :: 86th Air Division, 19 September 1961 – 22 January 1962, 17 October–c. 30 November 1962 :: 65th Air Division, 15 December 1960 – 14 April 1961, 3 August–17 October 1962, 30 November–19 December 1962, 30 March–23 June 1964 :: 2d Air Division, 12 October–20 December 1965 * 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 24 July 1966 – 8 August 1974 * 479th Tactical Training Wing, 1 January 1977 – 19 February 1991 * 49th Operations Group, 12 May 1993 – 1 April 1997 * 12th Operations Group, 14 May 1998 * 479th Flying Training Group, 1 October 2001 * 12th Operations Group, 2 March 2007 – present)<ref name=435FTSfacts/>

===Stations=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Grand Central Air Terminal, California, 15 October 1943 * Oxnard Airstrip, California, 6 February 1944 * Santa Maria Army Air Field, California, 6–15 April 1944 * RAF Wattisham (Station 377),<ref>Station number in Anderson.</ref> England, 15 May 1944 – c. 9 December 1945 * Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 14–15 December 1945 * George Air Force Base, California, 1 December 1952 – 19 July 1966 : Deployed to: :: Naval Air Station Keflavik, 1 December 1952 – 27 March 1953 :: North Auxiliary Airfield, South Carolina, 26 July–6 September 1955 :: Morón Air Base, Spain, 7 December 1960–c. 15 April 1961, 3 August–17 October 1962, c. 30 November–19 December 1962, 30 March–23 June 1964 :: Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 19 September 1961 – 22 January 1962 :: Hahn Air Base, Germany, 17 October–c. 30 November 1962 :: Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam and Kung Kuan Air Base, Taiwan, 12 October–20 December 1965 * Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 24 July 1966 * Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 2 August 1967 – 8 August 1974 * Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1 January 1977 – 19 February 1991 * Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 12 May 1993 – 1 April 1997 * Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, 14 May 1998 * Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, 2 October 2001 * Randolph Air Force Base (later Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph), Texas, 2 March 2007 – present)<ref name=435FTSfacts/> {{div col end}}

===Aircraft=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1943–1945) * North American P-51 Mustang (1944–1945, 1952–1953) * Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1945) * North American F-86 Sabre (1953–1955) * North American F-100 Super Sabre (1954–1959) * Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (1959–1967) * McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II (1967–1974) * Northrop T-38 Talon (1977–1991, 1993–1997, 1998 – present)<ref name=435FTSfacts/> {{div col end}}

==References==

; Notes {{Reflist|group=note}}

; Citations {{Reflist|40em}}

===Bibliography=== * {{cite book|last=Endicott|first=Judy G.|title=Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995|url= http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/4908883/FID1533/wings_cd.pdf |access-date=2 July 2014|year=1998 |series= Air Force History and Museums Program|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location= Washington, DC |asin= B000113MB2}} * {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date= 17 December 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}} * {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|access-date= 17 December 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}} * {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|access-date=17 December 2016|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}}

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