39th Pursuit Squadron

39th Flying Training Squadron
39th Flying Training Squadron Patch
Active	1 February 1940 – 8 December 1957 15 October 1969 – 15 March 1974 1 July 1977 – 11 May 1984 2 April 1990 – 15 December 1991 8 September 1993 – 1 September 1999 2 April 2001 – 21 July 2007 12 September 2007 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Pilot Training
Decorations	DUC AFOUA PPUC ROK PUC
Commanders
Notable commanders	Lt. Col. Thomas J. Lynch

The 39th Flying Training Squadron (39 FTS) is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

It operates the T-6 Texan II, T-1A Jayhawk and T-38 Talon aircraft conducting Pilot Instructor Training.

Activated by Northeast Air District (later First Air Force) as a P-40 Warhawk pursuit squadron, assigned to Selfridge Field, Michigan. Moved to Baer Field, Indiana during the summer of 1941. Deployed to the Pacific Northwest after the Pearl Harbor Attack and flew Antisubmarine patrols off the coast of Washington from, c. 15 December 1941-c. 15 January 1942.

Re-equipped with long-range P-38 Lightnings and deployed to Fifth Air Force in Australia, June 1942. Engaged in combat operations against the Japanese in the Lightning, but became the second Pacific Theater Fighter Group to convert to the P-47 in late 1943. Conducted combat operations in the P-47 Thunderbolt from late 1943 through Spring 1945. Participated in offensives in the Netherlands East Indies, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa.

Re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs and moved to Japan as part of the Army of Occupation, September 1945, remaining as part of the Far East Air Forces air defense mission throughout the postwar era. Engaged in combat, June 1950, during the initial actions of the Korean War. Re-equipped with F-80 Shooting Star jets, fighting air-to-air combat against communist aircraft and engaging in ground support missions supporting United Nations Forces, 1950–1953. Returned to Japan after the 1953 armistice and upgraded to the purpose-built F-94 Starfire interceptor flying air defense missions. Inactivated 1957 due to budget restraints.