52nd Squadron History
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The 52nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) was activated
on 1 February 1940 at Lnagley Field, Virginia, and participated in routine
training in the B-18 until Decmber 1941. During the initial stages of World
War II, the squadron flew patrol missions in the B-17 over the Caribean
then returned to operational training in mid-1942. In 1944 the unit acquired
the B-29 and moved to Guam in January 1945. The 52nd conducted numerous
missions against strategic targets in Japan until the end of the war, and
was inactivated on 20 May 1946.
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The 52nd Flying Training Squadron was activated at
Craig AFB, Alabama in July 1972 and participated in the T-38 phase of Undergraduate
Pilot Training until inactivation in September 1977. After a command reorganization,
the 52nd Flying Training Squadron was reactivated on 11 May 1990 as a second
T-38 squadron at Reese AFB, Texas.
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The T-1A Flying Training Squadron (52nd Provisional)
was activated at Reese AFB on 31 Jan 1992 to form the basis of the first
Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training squadron. On 30 Sep 1992, this
unit assumed the 52nd FTS designation and provided initial training for
airlift, tanker, and maritime pilots.
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The 52nd FTS flies the Beechraft T-1A Jayhawk, powered
by two Pratt and Whitney turbofan engines, each developing 2,900 lbs of
thrust. The aircraft weighs 11,000 lbs empty, with a maximum takeoff weight
of 16,100 lbs. The T-1A has an operating altitude of 41,000 feet and a
range of 2,100 miles.