94th Flying Training Squadron

The 94th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 306th Flying Training Group based at United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. It conducts glider training for Air Force Academy cadets. The 94 FTS conducts thousands of sorties every year at the world's busiest VFR airfield. It is the parent squadron of the Air Force Academy's advanced soaring teams: the Aerobatic Demonstration Team and the elite Sailplane Racing Team. The squadron is augmented by the reserve 70th Flying Training Squadron.[2]

94th Flying Training Squadron
A TG-15A used for cross country soaring by the Sailplane Racing Team at the United States Air Force Academy
Active1943-1946; 1949-1951; 1983-present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFlying Training
Part ofAir Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQUnited States Air Force Academy
EngagementsOperation Overlord
Operation Dragoon
Operation Market Garden
Operation Varsity[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
French Fourragère[1]
Insignia
94th Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 23 August 1984)[1]

History

World War II
94th Troop Carrier Squadron C-47[note 1]

Activated in June 1943 under I Troop Carrier Command and equipped with Douglas C-47 Skytrains. Trained in various parts of the eastern United States until the end of 1943. Deployed to England and assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command.

Prepared for the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Began operations by dropping paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy on D-Day (6 June 1944) and releasing gliders with reinforcements on the following day. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French citation for these missions. After the Normandy invasion the squadron ferried supplies in the United Kingdom.

After moving to France in September, the unit dropped paratroops of the 82nd Airborne Division near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne attack on the Netherlands. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne.

When the Allies made the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals. It converted from C-47s to Curtiss C-46 Commandos and the new aircraft to transport displaced persons from Germany to France and Belgium after V-E Day.

Returned to the U.S. during the period July–September 1945, and trained with C-46 aircraft until inactivated.

Reserve operations

The squadron was activated in the reserves in 1949. It was mobilized in 1951, but immediately inactivated and its personnel used as fillers for other units.

Airmanship training

The squadron has taught soaring and parachuting to cadets at the United States Air Force Academy since October 1983.[1]

Campaigns and Decorations

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 94th Troop Carrier Squadron on 14 May 1943
Activated on 1 June 1943
Inactivated on 31 July 1946
  • Redesignated 94th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 19 May 1949
Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949
Ordered to active service on 1 April 1951
Inactivated on 3 April 1951
  • Redesignated 94th Airmanship Training Squadron on 30 September 1983
Activated on 1 October 1983
Redesignated 94th Flying Training Squadron on 31 October 1994[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft
  • Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1943–1945)
  • Curtiss C-46 Commando (1945–1946)
  • North American T-6 Texan (1949–1950)
  • Beechcraft T-7 Navigator (1949–1951)
  • Beechcraft T-11 Kansan (1949–1951)
  • Curtiss TC-46 Commando (1949–1951)
  • de Havilland Canada UV-18 Twin Otter (1983 - 1994)
  • LET TG-10B Blanik (2002–2012)
  • LET TG-10C Blanik (2002-2011)
  • Schempp-Hirth TG-15A Duo Discus (2008–present)
  • Schempp-Hirth TG-15B Discus 2 (2008–present)
  • DG Flugzeugbau TG-16A (2011–present)[1]

See also

References
Notes
  1. Aircraft is Douglas C-47A-80-DL Skytrain serial 43-15159 in Normady Invasion Markings.
Citations
  1. Haulman, Daniel (27 March 2017). "Factsheet 94 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  2. Rea, Maj Chris (6 September 2007). "70th FTS flexes wartime muscle". 302d Airlift Wing public affairs. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  3. Station number in Anderson.
  4. Station number in Johnson.
  5. Station information in Haulman, except as noted.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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