39th Flying Training Squadron

The 39th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

The squadron was first activated as the 39th Pursuit Squadron in the buildup of the United States Army Air Corps in response to the War in Europe. It moved to the Pacific Coast in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor and briefly flew antisubmarine patrols before deploying to the Southwest Pacific Theater, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC)s and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the war.

The squadron remained in the Far East and as the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was part of the air defenses of Japan when North Korea invaded South Korea. The 39th earned two more DUCs and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation during combat in Korea. Following the 1953 truce, the squadron returned to Japan, serving as an air defense unit until inactivating in December 1957.

The squadron was activated as the 39th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron in 1969 when Tactical Air Command replaced its Command controlled (4 digit) units with Air Force controlled units. It trained Douglas B-66 Destroyer aircrews until inactivating in 1974.

The squadron has been a flying training unit since 1990, except for a brief stint as a test squadron.

It operates the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk and Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft conducting Pilot Instructor Training.

Activated by Northeast Air District (later First Air Force) as the 39th Pursuit Squadron, a Bell P-39 pursuit squadron, at Selfridge Field, Michigan, where it was one of a number of units drawing its cadre from the 1st Pursuit Group, stationed there. The squadron moved to Baer Field, Indiana the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor, but was soon rushed to Bellingham Army Air Field, where it flew antisubmarine patrols off the coast of Washington until the middle of January 1942, when it was reassigned from the 31st Pursuit Group to the 35th Pursuit Group, which was preparing for deployment to Australia.

Re-equipped with long-range Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and deployed to Fifth Air Force in Australia, June 1942 under the command of the 35th Fighter Group. Began combat operations against the Japanese in the Lightning from their base in Sydney, Australia, 4 May 1942 them moving to Port Moresby, New Guinea, 22 Jul 1942. In late 1943 they converted to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Participated in offensives in the Netherlands East Indies, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa.