497th Combat Training Flight

Mission

The squadron supports/participates in regional exercises and global contingencies, and provides housing; morale, recreation and welfare facilities and programs: medical services; force protection to resources and personnel; and legal, financial, communications, and contracting support to assigned and deployed personnel. The 497th commander is also the designated commanding officer for the Uniform Code of Military Justice for U.S. military personnel in nine Southeast Asian countries.

History

World War II

The squadron was activated in 1942 as the **302nd Bombardment Squadron ** (Light) at Savannah Air Base, Georgia, and equipped with Douglas A-24 Banshee dive bombers as one of the original squadrons of the 84th Bombardment Group. It received its initial cadre and equipment from the 3d Bombardment Group. It operated briefly with Vultee V-72 (A-31 Vengeance) aircraft, but its operations showed this aircraft was unsuitable for dive bombing. The squadron served as an Operational Training Unit (OTU), equipping with Douglas A-24 Banshees and Bell P-39 Airacobras.

The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres to “satellite groups " The OTU program was patterned after the unit training system of the Royal Air Force. After forming the satellite groups, the parent unit assumed responsibility for satellite training and oversaw its expansion with graduates of Army Air Forces Training Command schools to become effective combat units. Phase I training concentrated on individual training in crewmember specialties. Phase II training emphasized the coordination for the crew to act as a team. The final phase concentrated on operation as a unit. The squadron contributed to the 84th Group's role as the parent for elements of several light bombardment groups.

In August 1943, the squadron was redesignated the 497th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

In October 1943, the squadron moved to Harding Field, Louisiana, where it became a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) and also participated occasionally in demonstrations and maneuvers. The squadron was, therefore, disbanded in April 1944

Cold War air defense

The squadron was reconstituted as the 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and activated in February 1953 at Portland Air Force Base, Oregon, where it was assigned to the 503d Air Defense Group.

In August 1955, Air Defense Command (ADC) implemented Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars. In this reorganization, the 337th Fighter Group replaced the 503rd Air Defense Group at Portland and the squadron transferred its mission, personnel and F-89s to the 337th's 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which moved to Portland on paper from McGhee-Tyson Airport, Tennessee. Simultaneously, the 497th moved to Geiger Field, Washington, where it assumed the personnel and North American F-86D Sabres of the 445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and was again assigned to the 84th Fighter Group.

In June 1958, the squadron moved to Torrejon Air Base, Spain, where it was assigned to the 65th Air Division of Strategic Air Command the following month. It continued to fly Sabres until 1960, when it converted to the data link equipped and AIM-4 Falcon armed Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, On 1 July 1960, United States Air Forces Europe assumed responsibility for United States air defense in Spain, and the squadron was reassigned to it, although it remained attached to 65th Air Division. While flying Deuces at Torrejon, the squadron was twice a runner-up for the Hughes Trophy (1961 and 1962), and won the trophy for most outstanding performance as an air defense squadron in 1963. Instead, it was decided to use the overseas interceptor squadrons as the elements of the 32d Tactical Fighter Wing, which was forming at George Air Force Base, California.

Vietnam War

The squadron moved on paper to George on 18 June 1964, but its assignment to the 32nd Wing lasted little over a month, transferring to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, which replaced the 32nd, which was still organizing, on 25 July. For the next year and a half, the squadron trained with McDonnell F-4 Phantom IIs and participated in numerous exercises. In December 1965, the 8th Wing moved to Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, followed two days later by the 497th. Initial combat operations included armed reconnaissance, air support, bombing, air interdiction and air defense.

North Vietnamese logistics movement along the Ho Chi Minh Trail had become almost exclusively night operations. Accordingly, in support of Operation Commando Hunt, the 497th was tasked to act as nighttime Fast Forward Air Control (FAC)s controlling night strikes in Laos, particularly near the Mu Gia Pass and Ban Karai Pass, which were choke points, in what were called "Night Owl" missions. The squadron flew its first Night Owl mission on 18 October 1969. Night Owl missions involve flying individual sorties over areas of enemy activity to either strike them or call in additional aircraft to destroy the targets they identified. Squadron F-4s would drop flares, mark targets, and control strikes illuminated by the flares. The squadron typically launched 8 to 12 sorties nightly to provide coverage of potential targets from dusk until dawn.

The 8th Wing continued combat operations in Southeast Asia until August 1973, but afterwards remained in Thailand, flying training missions and maintaining the capability to resume combat operations. In mid-1974 it began to draw down, flying its last F-4 mission in July 1974. On 16 September, the squadron was inactivated as other wing elements moved on paper to Korea.

Tactical fighter operations in Korea

The squadron was once more activated at Taegu Air Base, South Korea in October 1978. For the next ten years it was an element providing for the defense of South Korea. It trained to remain proficient in close air support, interdiction, and air-to-air combat skills. The squadron was inactivated in January 1989.

Current operations

The squadron was redesignated the 497th Fighter Training Squadron and activated at Paya Lebar Airbase, Singapore under Thirteenth Air Force to conduct combat training. In 1994, it was renamed the 497th Combat Training Squadron and in 2006 it was reduced in size to a flight. Since then, it has been assigned to the 36th Operations Group, which is located at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

The 497th organization includes the functional elements of a small-scale wing – operations, flightline logistics, community and mission support, and medical services. With a small staff, it is the entire permanent USAF presence in Singapore. Several times a year, for up to four weeks the unit grows to between 120 and 190 in strength, with the deployment of aircraft and support personnel. When so configured, the flight conducts an intense schedule of air-to-air combat training with the Republic of Singapore Air Force in exercises titled Exercise Commando Sling. While Commando Sling is normally a bilateral air-to-air combat exercise, but it has been expanded on occasion to include the Royal Australian Air Force.

The flight's base support functions are located at Sembawang Air Base,

Lineage

• Constituted as the 302d Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 13 January 1942
• Activated on 10 February 1942 : Redesignated 302d Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 27 July 1942 : Redesignated 497th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 10 August 1943
• Disbanded on 1 April 1944
• Reconstituted on 3 February 1953 and redesignated 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
• Activated on 18 February 1953 : Redesignated 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 25 July 1964
• Inactivated on 16 September 1974
• Activated on 1 October 1978
• Inactivated on 24 January 1989 : Redesignated 497th Fighter Training Squadron on 28 October 1991
• Activated on 31 October 1991 : Redesignated 497th Combat Training Squadron on 1 August 1994 : Redesignated 497th Combat Training Flight on 26 October 2006

Assignments

• 84th Bombardment Group (later 84th Fighter-Bomber Group), 10 February 1942 – 1 April 1944
• 503d Air Defense Group, 18 February 1953
• 84th Fighter Group, 18 August 1955
• 65th Air Division, 5 July 1958
• United States Air Forces Europe (attached to 65th Air Division), 1 July 1960
• 32d Tactical Fighter Wing. 18 June 1964
• 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 July 1964
• 831st Air Division, 6 December 1965 (attached to 479th Tactical Fighter Wing)
• 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 December 1965 – 16 September 1974
• 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 October 1978
• 51st Composite Wing (later 51st Tactical Fighter Wing), 1 January 1982 – 1 January 1988
• Thirteenth Air Force, 31 October 1991
• 36th Air Base Wing, 30 June 2005
• 36th Operations Group, 15 March 2006 – present

Stations

• Savannah Air Base, Georgia, 10 February 1942
• Drew Field, Florida, 7 February 1943
• Harding Field, Louisiana, 4 October 1943 – 1 April 1944
• Portland Air Force Base, Oregon, 18 February 1953
• Geiger Field, Washington, 18 August 1955
• Torrejon Air Base, Spain, 21 June 1958
• George Air Force Base, California, 18 June 1964
• Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 8 December 1965
• Taegu Air Base, South Korea, 1 October 1978 – 24 January 1989
• Paya Lebar Airbase, Singapore, 31 October 1991 – present

Aircraft

• Vultee V-72 Vengeance, 1942
• Douglas A-24 Banshee, 1942–1943
• Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1943
• Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944
• Lockheed F-94B Starfire, 1953
• Lockheed F-94A Starfire, 1953–1954
• Northrop F-89D Scorpion, 1954–1955
• North American F-86D Sabre, 1955–1960
• Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, 1960–1964
• McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, 1964–1974; 1978–1988

Awards and campaigns

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

• Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, (1956)
• :
• :
• McMullen, Richard F. (1964) "The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962–1964" ADC Historical Study No. 27, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, CO (Confidential, declassified 22 March 2000)

; Further reading

References

1. (20 June 2011). "Factsheet 497 Combat Training Flight (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
2. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 599–600
3. "About Us: 497th Combat Training Squadron (497th CTS)". Embassy of the United States, Singapore.
4. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 150
5. "Abstract, History 84 Fighter-Bomber Group to Jul 1943". Air Force History Index.
6. Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
7. Goss, p. 74
8. Greer, p. 601
9. Greer, p. 606
10. RTUs were also oversized units, but with the mission of training individual [[aviators
11. Buss, ‘’et al.’’, p. 6
12. Cornett & Johnson, p. 79
13. Cornett & Johnson, p. 129
14. Cornett & Johnson, pp. 74, 128, 130
15. Ravenstein, pp. 20-22
16. Gilster, pp. 16-17
17. Schlight, p. 34
18. Mortati, pp. 4-5
19. Schlight, p. 34
20. Mortati, p. 23
21. (June 8, 2004). "Flexibility helps 497th CTS Airmen succeed in Singapore". Air Force Print News.
22. (June 2012). "Cope Tiger". Air Force Magazine.
23. (June 2025). "Tenant Commands: 497th Combat Training Squadron". CNIC Singapore Area Coordinator.
24. Lineage, including assignments, stations and aircraft in Robertson, AFHRA Factsheet
25. "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center.