Lineage. Constituted as 29 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Redesignated as 43 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 13 Mar 1940. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated as 43 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, and activated, on 1 Apr 1944. Inactivated on 20 May 1946. Redesignated as 43 Flying Training Squadron on 22 Mar 1972. Activated on 1 Jul 1972. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1977. Activated on 25 Jun 1990. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1992. Redesignated as 43 Flying Training Flight, and activated in the Reserve, on 1 Apr 1997. Redesignated as 43 Flying Training Squadron on 1 Apr 1998.
Assignments. 29 Bombardment Group, 1 Feb 1940-1 Apr 1944. 29 Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1944-20 May 1946. 29 Flying Training Wing, 1 Jul 1972-30 Sep 1977. 14 Flying Training Wing, 25 Jun 1990; 14 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-1 Oct 1992. 610 Regional Support Group, 1 Apr 1997; 340 Flying Training Group, 1 Apr 1998-.
Stations. Langley Field, VA, 1 Feb 1940; MacDill Field, FL, 21 May 1940; Pope Field, NC, c. 7 Dec 1941; MacDill Field, FL, 1 Jan 1942; Gowen Field, ID, 25 Jun 1942-1 Apr 1944. Pratt AAFld, KS, 1 Apr 1944; Dalhart AAFld, TX, 25 May 1944; Pratt AAFld, KS, 17 Jul (ground echelon only to 21 Aug)-7 Dec 1944; North Field, Guam, 17 Jan 1945-20 May 1946. Craig AFB, AL, 1 Jul 1972-30 Sep 1977. Columbus AFB, MS, 25 Jun 1990-1 Oct 1992. Columbus AFB, MS, 1 Apr 1997-.
Commanders. Maj William D. Old, 1 Feb 1940; unkn, c. 1 Mar-4 May 1941; Maj Robert F. Travis, 5 May 1941; Capt James H. Walsh, 21 Oct 1941; Maj C.W. Bicking, c. Mar 1942; Maj Roland J. Bernick, c. Jul 1942; Capt Chester C. Cox, 30 Jan 1943; Maj George H. Blasé, 2 Apr 1943; Capt Robert T. Marland, 16 Apr 1943; Maj Everett C. Wessman, 29 Sep 1943-c. Mar 1944. None (not manned), 1 Apr-3 May 1944; Capt William J. Barter, 4 May 1944; Maj James D. Baird, 25 May 1944; Lt Col Joseph G. Perry, 30 Jun 1944; Maj William Marchesi, Sep 1945-c. Jan 1946; none (not manned) Feb-20 May 1946. Lt Col William M. Pugh, 1 Jul 1972; Lt Col Robert L. Oliver, by Dec 1973; Lt Col William F. Hoeft, by Jun 1976; Lt Col Max L. Hearn, 13 Dec 1976-Jun 1977; unkn, Jul-30 Sep 1977. Lt Col Gregory H. Landers, 25 Jun 1990; Lt Col William H. Barker, 31 Jan-1 Oct 1992. Unkn, 1 Apr 1997-Mar 1998; Col Leonard R. Kight, 1 Apr 1998; Lt Col Roger L. Henry, 1 Aug 1998; Lt Col Dean F. Matcheck, 6 Dec 2002; Lt Col Gerard A. Rowe, 9 Dec 2004; Lt Col Michael J. Gibbons, 9 Dec 2006; Lt Col Brian S. Bowman, 8 Jan 2009 -.
Aircraft. B-18, 1940-1941; B-17, 1940-1943; B-24, 1943-1944. B-17, 1944; B-29, 1944-1946. T-37, 1972-1977. T-37, 1990-1992. Unkn, 1997; T-37, 1998-; T-38, 1998-; T-1, 1998-; T-6, 2007-.
Operations. Antisubmarine patrols, Dec 1941-Jun 1942; operational and later replacement training unit, 1942-1944. Combat in Western Pacific, c.16 Feb-15 Aug 1945. Conducted undergraduate pilot training at Craig AFB, AL, from Jul 1972 until inactivated when the base closed in 1977 and at Columbus AFB, MS, 25 Jun 1990-1 Oct 1992. Trained Air Force pilots and instructor pilots, 1997-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Western Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations (Japan): 31 Mar 1945; 19-26 Jun 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan-31 Dec 1973; 1 Oct 2001-30 Sep 2003; 1 Oct 2003-30 Sep 2004.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 2 Nov 2009.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 28 Oct 2009.
Supersedes statement prepared on 6 Apr 2001.
Emblem. Approved on 30 May 1973.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.