454th Flying Training Squadron

World War II Organization and training in the United States The squadron was first activated as the 454th Bombardment Squadron at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina on 4 August 1942 as one of the four original squadrons of the 323d Bombardment Group. After Phase I training at MacDill Field, Florida with Martin B-26 Marauders, the squadron trained for combat at Myrtle Beach Bombing Range, South Carolina until late April 1943, when the ground echelon departed Myrtle Beach for England, sailing on the on 5 May. The air echelon of the squadron had moved to Baer Field, Indiana in February. At Baer, it received new B-26Cs, then proceeded to the United Kingdom via the South Atlantic ferry route by June. Combat in Europe The squadron arrived at its first combat station, RAF Horham, in May 1943. In June 1943, the squadron, along with all other B-26 units in England, moved to Essex, an area where it was planned to build up a tactical air force for the forthcoming invasion of Europe, with the 454th arriving at RAF Earls Colne on 14 June. It began operations with Eighth Air Force in July 1943 as part of the first medium altitude raid on the European continent by B-26s. The squadron flew a mix of trainers and Douglas A-26 Invaders. The unit was manned at only 25% of its normal strength. All reserve combat units, including the 454th, were mobilized for the Korean War. The squadron was mobilized on 10 March 1951. Its personnel and aircraft were used as fillers for other organizations and the squadron was inactivated a week later. Fighter operations The squadron was redesignated the 454th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana on 8 August 1955, when the Air Force reopened the base, a former World War II Navy training station. The squadron was initially equipped with North American F-86 Sabres, but soon began upgrading to the supersonic North American F-100 Super Sabre. However, the squadron, along with all other elements of the 323d Fighter-Bomber Wing, was inactivated on 1 September 1957, when Tactical Air Command transferred Bunker Hill to Strategic Air Command. Navigator training On 1 April 1973, the squadron was activated as the 454th Flying Training Squadron. It continued to conduct undergraduate navigator training for USAF, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States allies until 1993. 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 1993 as Mather drew down in preparing for closing on 1 October 1993. ==Lineage==

• Constituted as the 454th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942 : Activated on 4 August 1942 : Redesignated 454th Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. 20 August 1943 : Inactivated on 26 November 1945 • Redesignated 454th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 10 May 1949 : Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949 : Ordered to active service 10 March 1951 : Inactivated on 17 March 1951 • Redesignated 454th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 9 May 1955 : Activated on 8 August 1955 : Inactivated on 1 September 1957 • Redesignated 454th Flying Training Squadron on 28 July 1972 • 323d Operations Group, 15 December 1991 – 31 May 1993 England, 12 May 1943 • RAF Earls Colne (AAF-358), England, 14 June 1943 • RAF Beaulieu (AAF-408), England, 21 July 1944 • Lessay Airfield (A-20), France, 26 August 1944 • Chartres Airfield (A-40), France, 21 September 1944 • Laon/Athies Airfield (A-69), France, 13 October 1944 • Denain/Prouvy Airfield (Valenciennes) (A-83), France, 9 February 1945 • Innsbruck Airfield (R-88), Austria, c. 15 May 1945 • Nesselwang, Germany, 9 July 1945 • Schongau, Bavaria (R-79), Germany, c. July 1945 • Clastres Airfield (A-71), France, October – c. 12 December 1945 • Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, 11–12 December 1945 • Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 26 September 1947 – 17 March 1951 • Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana, 8 August 1955 – 1 September 1957 • Mather Air Force Base, California, 1 April 1973 – 31 May 1993 Aircraft • Martin B-26 Marauder, 1942–1945 • Douglas B-26 Invader, 1947–1951 • North American F-86 Sabre, 1955–1956 • North American F-100 Super Sabre, 1957-1957 • Convair T-29 Flying Classroom 1973-1975 • Boeing T-43 Gator 1973-1993 Awards and campaigns ==References==