Lineage. Organized as the 3 Aero Squadron on 1 Nov 1916. Redesignated Squadron A, Post Field, OK, on 22 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 2 Jan 1919. Reconstituted, and consolidated (1924) with unit organized as 3 Aero Squadron on 13 May 1919. Redesignated: 3 Squadron on 14 Mar 1921; 3 Pursuit Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 3 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 6 Dec 1939. Inactivated on 2 Apr 1946. Redesignated
3 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 12 Mar 1973. Activated on 15 Mar 1973. Redesignated
3 Fighter Training Squadron on 19 Dec 1991. Inactivated on 20 Aug 1993. Redesignated 3 Flying Training Squadron on 14 Feb 1994. Activated on 1 Apr 1994. Inactivated on
7 Apr 2000. Activated on 2 Apr 2001. Redesignated as: 3 Fighter Training Squadron on 8 May 2007; 3 Flying Training Squadron on 14 Sep 2012.
Assignments. Unkn, 1916–1919. Unkn, 13 May–18 Aug 1919; Philippine Department, 18 Aug 1919; 1 Observation (later, 4 Observation; 4 Composite) Group, 10 Mar 1920; 24 Pursuit Group, 1 Oct 1941–2 Apr 1946. 388 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Mar 1973; 3 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Dec 1975 (attached to Thirteenth Air Force, 15–16 Dec 1975); 343 Wing, 19 Dec 1991; 343 Operations Group, 1 Feb 1992–20 Aug 1993. 12 Operations Group, 1 Apr 1994-7 Apr 2000. 479 Flying Training Group, 2 Apr 2001; 71 Operations Group, 26 Apr 2007-.
Stations. Ft Sam Houston, TX, 1 Nov 1916; South San Antonio, TX, May 1916; Ft Sill, OK, 30 Aug 1917; Post Field, OK, Nov 1917–2 Jan 1919. Mitchel Field, NY, 13 May 1919; Hazelhurst Field, NY, 29 May–28 Jun 1919; Manila, Luzon, 18 Aug 1919; Camp Stotsenburg, Luzon, 2 Dec 1919; Clark Field, Luzon, 15 Oct 1920; Nichols Field, Luzon, 16 Jun 1938; Iba Airfield, Luzon, c. 1 Sep 1941; Nichols Field, Luzon, 9 Dec 1941; Ternate, Luzon, c. 12 Dec 1941 (operated from Del Carmen, Luzon, 12–c. 25 Dec 1941); Bataan, Luzon, c. 25 Dec 1941–Apr 1942 (operated from Mindanao, c. 8 Apr–May
1942). Korat RTAFB, Thailand, 15 Mar 1973; Clark AB, Philippines, 15 Dec 1975–19 Dec 1991; Eielson AFB, AK, 19 Dec 1991–20 Aug 1993. Lackland AFB, TX, 1 Apr 1994–7 Apr 2000. Moody AFB, GA, 2 Apr 2001; Vance AFB, OK, 26 Apr 2007-.
Commanders. Maj Benhamin D. Foulois, c. 1 Nov 1916; Capt Thomas S. Bowen, 6 Dec 1917-unkn. Unkn, 13 May 1919-c.1941; Capt Henry G. Thorne, c. 1941-18 Apr 1942; unkn, 19 Apr 1942-2 Apr 1946. Lt Col Jerry A. Crist, 15 Mar 1973; Lt Col Ralph S. Penney, 27 Mar 1973; Lt Col Edward R. Skowron, 20 Sep 1973; Lt Col David R. Brown, 13 Mar 1974; Lt Col Donald L. Rebtoy, 29 Aug 1974; Lt Col Paul E. Orf, 1 Aug 1975; Lt Col James T. Craig Jr., 17 Dec 1975; Lt Col J. R. Gilchrist, 13 Oct 1976; Lt Col William J. Eiback, 20 May 1977; Lt Col David F. Tippett, 15 Feb 1979; Lt Col Larry L. Henry, 23 Jun 1980; Lt Col Richard T. Swope, 1 Aug 1980; Lt Col Larry L. Henry, 14 Apr 1981; Lt Col Michael E. Heenan, 27 Oct 1982; Lt Col James J. Crumbliss Jr., 27 Jan 1984; Lt Col Alan W. Plotnik, 31 Jan 1986; Lt Col William L. Walters by Jan 1988; Lt Col Robert L. French, 9 Sep 1988; Lt Col Brian H. Wilber, 5 Feb 1991-20 Aug 1993. Lt Col William C. Morris, 1 Apr 1994; Lt Col Philip A. Julien, 8 Sep 1995; Lt Col George Vogt, 29 Aug 1997; Lt Col Ronald W. Schaefer, 14 Oct 1998-7 Apr 2000.
Aircraft. Apparently included R–4, JN–4, and JN–6, during period 1917–1919. DH–4, 1919–1924; in addition to MB–3, 1923–1926, and PW–9, 1926–1931, included DH–4 during period 1924–1931; in addition to P–12, c. 1930–1937, included O–2 and O–19
during period 1931–1937; P–26, 1937–1941; P–35, 1941; P–40, 1941–1942. A–7, 1973–1975; F–4, 1975–1991; UH–1, 1991–1993. T-3, 1994-2000.
Operations. Evidently observer training unit, 1918–1919. Combat in the Philippines, 8 Dec 1941–c. 1 May 1942; ground echelon fought as infantry unit on Bataan, 18 Jan–c. 8 Apr 1942; carried as an active unit but was not operational from the fall of the Philippines to 2 Apr 1946. Combat in Southeast Asia, 15 Mar–15 Aug 1973. Supported evacuation of US personnel from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and from Saigon, South Vietnam, Apr 1975,
and the recovery of the SS Mayaquez crew, May 1975. Provided primary flying training, 1994-2000.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Philippine Islands. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941–10 May 1942; Philippine Islands, 8–22 Dec 1941; Philippine Islands, 6 Jan–8 Mar 1942. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: [15 Mar 1973]–15 Aug 1973; 15 Oct 1974–12 May 1975; 13–15 May 1975. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 May 1980–30 Apr 1982; 22 Mar–1 Apr 1986; 1 Jan 1989–1 Jun 1990; 1 Jul 1990-30 Jun 1992; 1 Jul 1992-[20] Aug 1993; 1 Jul 1995-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998; 1 Jan 2001-31 Dec 2002; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2005; 1 Oct 2005-30 Sep 2007; 1 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2010; 1 Jul 2010-30 Jun 2011; 1 Jul 2012-30 Jun 2014. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 24 Jan 2017.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 7 Apr 2000.
Supersedes statement prepared on 23 May 2001.
Emblem Approved on 14 Feb 1924; newest rendition 18 Sep 1995.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman