Summary
The 97th Flying Training Squadron (97 FTS) is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the Reserve associate to the 80th Flying Training Wing based at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. It operates T-6A Texan II and T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training. The squadron trains and provides experienced pilots to augment Air Education and Training Command’s Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training.
Mission: Provide world-class instruction to Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training student pilots and instructor Trainees while demonstrating the values and discipline of military professionals.
Vision: The Air Force’s leader in taking care of people, executing the mission, and accomplishing all required supporting functions.
Lineage. Constituted 97th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on 9 Feb 1942. Redesignated as 97th Pursuit Squadron (I) (Twin Engine) on 22 Apr 1942; 97th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942; 97th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 28 Feb 1944. Inactivated on 9 Sep 1945. Activated on 12 Apr 1947. Redesignated 97th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 15 Aug 1947. Inactivated on 2 Oct 1949. Redesignated 97th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 13 Nov 1950. Activated on 1 Dec 1950. Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958. Redesignated 97th Flying Training Squadron on 22 Jun 1972. Activated on 1 Feb 1973. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1993. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Apr 1998.
Assignments. 82nd Pursuit (later 82 Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942-9 Sep 1945. 82nd Fighter Group, 12 Apr 1947-2 Oct 1949. Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 Dec 1950 (attached to 56th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 Dec 1950-20 May 1951; 142nd Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 20 May 1951-6 Feb 1952); 4706th Defense (later 4706 Air Defense) Wing, 6 Feb 1952; 82nd Fighter Group, 18 Aug 1955-8 Jan 1958. 82nd Flying Training Wing, 1 Feb 1973; 82nd Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-1 Apr 1993. 340th Flying Training Group, 1 Apr 1998-Present.
Stations. Harding Field, LA, 9 Feb 1942; Muroc, CA, 17 Apr 1942; Long Beach, CA, 22 May-16 Sep 1942; Eglington, N. Ireland, 5 Oct 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 24 Dec 1942; Telergma, Algeria, 1 Jan 1943; Berteaux, Algeria, 28 Mar 1943; Souk-el-Arba, Algeria, 13 Jun 1943; Grombalia, Tunisia, 4 Aug 1943 (operated from Gerbini, Sicily, 6-18 Sep 1943); San Pacrazio, Italy, 3 Oct 1943; Lecce, Italy, 10 Oct 1943; Vicenzo Airfield, Italy, 11 Jan 1944; Lesina, Italy, c. 30 Aug-9 Sep 1945. Grenier Field, NH, 12 Apr 1947-2 Oct 1949; Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1 Dec 1950; New Castle Cty Airport, DE, 18 Aug 1955-8 Jan 1958; Williams AB, AZ, 1 Feb 1973-1 Apr 1993; Sheppard AFB, TX, 1 Apr 1998-.
Commanders. Unk, 9 Feb-16 Apr 1942; Maj. Ernest C. Young, 17 Apr 1942; Maj. William W. Wittliff, 13 Jan 1943; Capt. Richard G. McAuliffe, c. 28 Mar 1943; Maj. William W. Wittliff, c. 28 Apr 1943; Maj. William B. Peterson, 2 May 1943; Maj. William W. Wittliff, 16 Jul 1943; Maj. Harry L. Smith Jr., 26 Aug 1943; Maj. Charles R. Spencer, 19 Jan 1944; Capt. John S. Litchfield, 30 Jan 1944; Maj. Claude E. Ford, 1 Apr 1944; Lt. Col. Paul J. Greene, 12 Aug 1944; Lt. Col. Thomas C. Kelly, Oct 1944; Lt. Col. Joseph L. Dickman, Apr 1945; Maj. Robert C. Booth, 23 Jun 1945; unkn, 30 Aug-9 Sep 1945. None (not manned), 12 Apr-13 Jun 1947; Maj. Julius D. Shivers, 14 Jun 1947; Maj. Donald V. Miller, 10 Mar 1949. None (not manned), 1-5 Dec 1950; Lt. Col. Frank Q. O'Conner, 6 Dec 1950; Lt. Col. Walter E. Modesitt, 29 Jan 1952; Maj. Stevens H. Turner, c. Aug 1952; Lt. Col. George V. Lane, c. Jul 1954; Maj. Ernest P. Stuyvesant, c. 18 Aug 1955; Lt. Col. Willis J. Gary, 3 Jul 1956; none (not manned), 8 Oct 1957-8 Jan 1958. Lt. Col. William P. Smith, 1 Feb 1973; Lt. Col. Richard L. Russell, 25 Nov 1974; Lt. Col. John R. Hullender, 14 Jun 1976; Lt. Col. Joseph L. Higgins, 9 Jun 1978; Lt. Col. Howard T. Hanson, 4 Jan 1980; Lt. Col. Lonny R. Alexander, 20 Oct 1980; Lt. Col. James T. Thomes, 14 Dec 1981; Lt. Col. John R. Rademacher, 30 Jun 1982; Lt. Col. Gary A. Swigart, 23 Jun 1983; Lt. Col. Percy D. Leonard Jr., 15 Jun 1984; Lt. Col. Johnny Engleman, 18 Nov 1985; Lt. Col. David S. Taylor, 16 Sep 1986; Lt. Col. Russell L. Allen, 12 Nov 1987; Lt. Col. Dennis L. Austin, 31 Oct 1989; Lt. Col Douglas W. Knutsen, 17 Jun 1991; Lt. Col. Terrence P. Long, 2 Dec 1992-1 Apr 1993. Unkn, 1 Apr-Jun 1998; Lt. Col. William T. Cahoon, 16 Jun 1998; Lt. Col. Wolfgang C. Asmus, c. Feb 2000; Lt. Col. Douglas H. Standifer, 18 Feb 2005; Lt. Col. Bo McGowan, 23 Mar 2007; Lt. Col. Scott Thomas, 19 Sep 2008; Lt. Col. Michael Stolt, 15 Oct 2010; Lt. Col. Christopher L. Manning, 25 Jan 2013; Lt. Col. William T. Kennedy, 23 Oct 2015, Lt. Col. Allen E. Duckworth, 28 Apr 2017; Lt. Col. Michael A. Rose, 9 Feb 2018; Lt. Col. C. Matthew Sallee, 25 Apr 2019; Lt. Col. Frank W. Waters Jr., 15 Oct. 2021; Lt. Col. Bradley J. Brumbaugh, 20 Oct. 2023.
Aircraft. P-38, 1942-1945. P-51, 1947-1949. F-86, 1951-1955; F-94, 1955-1957. T-38A, 1973-1993. T-37B, 1998-2009; AT-38, 1998-2006; T-38C, 2006-; T-6A, 2007-.
Operations. Combat in European and Mediterranean theaters of operations, 25 Dec 1942-3 May 1945. Fighter escort and air defense, 1947-1949. Air defense, 1951-1957. Trained USAF pilots, 1973-1993. ENJJPT 1998-.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; N. France; S. France; N. Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 25 Aug 1943; Italy, 2 Sep 1943; Ploesti, Romania, 10 Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1978-30 Apr 1979; 1 May 1983 -30 Apr 1985; 1 Jun 1988-31 May 1990; 1 Apr 1991-31 Mar 1993; 10 Oct 1999-30 Sep 2001; 10 Oct 2001-30 Sep 2003; 10 Oct 2003-30 Sep 2005.
Emblem. Approved on 30 Oct 1942.
Significance. The 97th FTS emblem is the stylized face of a Devil Cat, trimmed in red and black with white tusks and green eyes on a blue background. The Devil Cat, neither cat nor wolf, has roamed the steppes of Asiatic Russia for generations. Its awesome appearance is but mildly indicative of the beast’s true ferocity, of its almost diabolical wiliness and daring. In all of central and northern Asia, no animal real or legendary excites a greater respect or fear among the hardened and barbaric peoples of this vast hinterland. The Devil Cat portrays the endurance, courage, resourcefulness and ferocity, which the 97th FTS emulates.