449th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron

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449th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron

Cessna T-37 at Mather Air Force Base

Active| 1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1973–1988
Country|  United States
Branch|  United States Air Force
Role| Pilot Training
Part of| Air Combat Command
Engagements| European Theater of Operations[1]
Decorations| Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
449th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron emblem[1][a]|
449th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][2]|
World War II Fuselage Code[3]| PN

Military unit

The 449th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force. It was first activated as the 449th Bombardment Squadron in July 1942. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in December 1942. It engaged in combat operations from 1943 to 1945, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for demonstrating the effectiveness of medium bombers in the ETO. Following V-E Day, it participated in the disarmament of the Luftwaffe, until September 1945, when it returned to the United States for inactivation.

The squadron served in the reserves from October 1947 to June 1949, when it was inactivated as the military budget was reduced, although it does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft at this time.

In 1973, Air Training Command was converting its flying training units from MAJCON status. As part of this reorganization, the squadron was redesignated the 449th Flying Training Squadron and replaced the 3538th Navigator Training Squadron at Mather Air Force Base, California. It conducted flight training for members of the United States military and foreign allies until inactivating in May 1993 as Mather prepared for closure.

On 28 October 2008, it was converted to provisional status as the 449th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron and assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as needed, but does not appear to have been active.

## History[edit]

### World War II[edit]

Established as a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber squadron in mid-1942;[4] trained under Third Air Force in Florida.

B-26 of the 322d Bombardment Group on a bomb run

Deployed to European Theater of Operations, being assigned to VIII Bomber Command 3d Bombardment Wing in England. Engaged in attacks on enemy targets in France and the Low Countries; being reassigned to IX Bomber Command in 1943 with the establishment of Ninth Air Force in England. Also supported VIII Bomber Command strategic bombardment raids in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, attacking enemy airfields to disrupt interceptor attacks on heavy bomber formations and destroy enemy interceptor aircraft on the ground before they could be launched.

After D-Day deployed to Advanced Landing Grounds in France and later Belgium. Provided tactical air support and bombardment of enemy strong points and military targets to disrupt resistance to Allied ground forces advancing from the French invasion beaches and the ensuing offensives on the continent; 1944–1945. Attacked enemy forces as part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany, 1945 and continued offensive tactical operations in support of ground forces until German capitulation in May 1945.

Became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe army of occupation in Germany during 1945. Demobilized in place and personnel returned to the United States in the fall of 1945; squadron inactivated as a paper unit in December 1945.

### Air Force reserve[edit]

The squadron was reactivated on 4 October 1947 at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, Pennsylvania. It does not appear to have been fully manned and was equipped only with trainer aircraft.[1] In July 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[5] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[6] and the 449th was inactivated[1] and not replaced as reserve flying operations at what was now North Philadelphia Airport ceased.

### Navigator training[edit]

#### Background[edit]

Convair T-29C from Mather AFB 3536 Navigator Training Sq emblem

Air Training Command (ATC) organized the 3536th Bombardier Training Squadron at Mather Air Force Base, California. It was later redesignated the 3536th Observer Training Squadron in 1953, 3536th Aircraft Observer Training Squadron on 31 August 1954 and finally, on 15 November 1956,[7] the 3536th Navigator Training Squadron.[8] The squadron was initially equipped with Boeing TB-50 Superfortresses to train bombardiers, radar observers and radar navigators on the K-3 bombardment/navigation system used by the Convair B-36 Peacemaker. In the early 1950s, later model TB-50Hs equipped the squadron and its focus shifted to training Boeing B-47 Stratojet crewmembers.[9] Later, the squadron used Douglas C-54s and North American B-25 Mitchells to train bombardiers.[10] By the 1960s, training was conducted with Convair T-29 Flying Classrooms.

However, MAJCON units like the 3536th could not continue their histories once discontinued, and ATC received permission to replace its MAJCON flying training units with permanent Air Force controlled (AFCON) units.

#### Training Operations[edit]

Boeing T-43A Bobcat

On 1 April 1973, the squadron, now designated the 449th Flying Training Squadron, absorbed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 3536th Navigator Training Squadron. In May 1975, the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force and the Chief of Naval Operations agreed to consolidate navigator training, and the squadron began training United States Navy and United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard navigators.[11][c] In 1978,the first females began navigator training.[12] It conducted undergraduate navigator training for USAF, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States allies from 1973 until 1992.[1][13] In 1989, the base closure commission recommended that Mather be closed. The Air Force moved its navigator training to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas and the squadron was inactivated on 31 May 2993 as Mather drew down in preparing for closing on 1 October.[14]

### Expeditionary unit[edit]

On 28 October 2008, the squadron was converted to provisional status as the 449th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron and assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as needed,[1] but the squadron does not appear to have been active since then.

## Lineage[edit]

* Constituted as the 449th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942

Activated on 17 July 1942
Redesignated 449th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 20 August 1943[15]
Inactivated on 11 December 1945

* Redesignated 449th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 13 August 1947

Activated in the reserve on 4 October 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949

* Redesignated 449th Flying Training Squadron on 28 July 1972

Activated on 1 April 1973
Inactivated on 31 May 1993

* Redesignated 449th Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron and converted to provisional status on 28 October 2008[16]

### Assignments[edit]

* 322d Bombardment Group, 17 July 1942 – 11 December 1945
* 322d Bombardment Group, 4 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
* 323d Flying Training Wing, 1 April 1973
* 323d Operations Group, 15 December 1991 – 31 May 1993
* Air Combat Command, to activate or inactivate at any time after 28 October 2008[1]

### Stations[edit]

* MacDill Field, Florida, 17 July 1942
* Drane Field, Florida, 22 September 1942
* Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 15–23 November 1942
* RAF Bury St Edmunds (Rougham Airdrome) (AAF-468),[17] England, 1 December 1942
* RAF Great Saling (later RAF Andrews Field) (AAF-485),[17] England, 12 June 1943
* Beauvais/Tille Airfield (A-61),[18] France, 29 September 1944
* Le Culot Airfield (A-89),[18] Belgium, 31 March 1945
* Hanau-Langendiebach Airfield (Y-91),[18] Germany, July 1945

* Fritzlar Airfield (Y-86),[18] Germany, September 1945
* Clastres Airfield (A-71),[18] France, c. 1 October–3 December 1945
* Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 9–11 December 1945
* Northeast Philadelphia Airport (later North Philadelphia Airport), Pennsylvania, 4 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
* Mather Air Force Base, California, 1 April 1973 – 31 May 1993[1]

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### Aircraft[edit]

* Martin B-26 Marauder (1942–1945)
* North American AT-6 Texan (1947–1949)
* Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (1947–1949)
* Convair T-29 Flying Classroom (1973–1974)
* Cessna T-37 Tweet (1974–1992)
* Boeing T-43 Bobcat (1973–1992)[1]

## References[edit]

### Notes[edit]

Explanatory notes

1. ^ Approved 30 May 1973. This is the former emblem of the 3538th Navigator Training Squadron placed on a disc.
2. ^ Approved 12 July 1943. Description: Over and through an orange disc, a black caricatured Negro savage, feet and lips brown, wearing a yellow loin cloth and goggles blue, green headdress and arm bracelets, green rings about the ankles, balanced on right foot on a white cloud formation, outlined blue, in base, and throwing a large gray fire bomb, held aloft in right hand, all in front of a white silhouette palm tree and two small white cloud formations.
3. ^ The Coast Guard withdrew from this program in 1979. Manning, et al., p. 222

Citations

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Robertson, Patsy (12 February 2009). "Factsheet 449 Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 554–555
3. ^ Rust, p. 211
4. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 202–203
5. ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
6. ^ Knaack, p. 25
7. ^ Manning, et al., p. 106
8. ^ Mueller, p. 380
9. ^ No byline (27 May 2023). "3536 Navigator Training Squadron" (PDF). usafunithistory.com. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
10. ^ Manning, et al., p. 96
11. ^ Manning, et al., p. 302
12. ^ Manning, et al., p. 213
13. ^ "Mather Air Force Base (Mather Field, Mather Army Aviation Support Facility)". www.militarymuseum.org. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
14. ^ Manning, et al., pp. 260, 277, 286
15. ^ See Kane, Robert B. (20 May 2011). "Factsheet 322 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 21 July 2017. (showing redesignation of parent group)
16. ^ Lineage in Robertson, Factsheet 449 Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron, except as noted.
17. ^ a b Station number in Anderson.
18. ^ a b c d e Station number in Johnson

### Bibliography[edit]

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

* Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems (PDF). Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
* Manning, Thomas A.; Aschcroft, Bruce A.; Emmons, Richard H.; Hussey, Ann K.; Mason, Joseph L. (2005). History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002 (PDF). Randolph AFB, Texas: Office of History and Research, Headquarters, Air Education and Training Command. ASIN B000NYX3PC. ISBN 978-1376984057. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
* Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
* Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
* Rust, Kenn C.; Hess, William N. (1960). The Slybird Group: The 353rd Fighter Group on Escort and Ground Attack Operations. Drawings by Matt, Paul R. and Preston, John. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, Inc. ISBN 978-0-81689-762-9. LCCN 67-27872.

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