Major Matt Busch of the 56th Training Squadron explains the controls of an F-16 Fighting Falcon to Herschel Walker at Luke AFB
Active
1941–1944; 1952–1960: 1979–1993; 1994–present
Country
United States
Branch
United States Air Force
Role
Fighter Training
Part of
Air Education and Training Command
Engagements
Asiatic-Pacific Theater American Theater of World War II
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
56th Training Squadron emblem (approved 20 July 1984)[1]
Patch with the 56th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 1 March 1944)[2]
Military unit
The 56th Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
The squadron was first activated at Hamilton Field, California in 1941 as the 56th Pursuit Squadron. It deployed to Alaska where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation in combat during the Aleutian Campaign. It returned to the United States, where it became a training unit and was disbanded in a general reorganization of the Army Air Forces in 1944.
The squadron was redesignated the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and activated late in 1952 as an air defense unit in the upper midwestern United States. It initially flew North American F-86 Sabres, but converted to the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. It continued to fly the Starfighter until Air Defense Command began to phase them out of its inventory.
In 1979, the squadron was redesignated as the 56th Tactical Training Squadron. It dropped the "Tactical" from its designation in 1991. Since 1979, except for a brief break in 1993–1994, the squadron has conducted academic training for United States Air Force fighter pilots, earning six Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards along the way.
^Endicott, Judy G. (15 June 2010). "Factsheet 56 Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
^Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 227
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Global Information
United States
United States Air Force
