| Unit Name: | 47th Flying Training Wing |
| Dates: | 1947–1949; 1951–1962; 1972–present |
| Role: | Pilot Training |
| Size: | Wing |
| Command Structure: | Air Education & Training Command |
| Garrison: | Laughlin Air Force Base |
| Notable Commanders: | Donald G. Cook John W. Doucette |
| Decorations: | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 47th Flying Training Wing emblem (approved 2 January 1973)[1] |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Patch with 47th Bombardment Wing emblem (approved 26 October 1951)[2] |
The 47th Flying Training Wing is a United States Air Force pilot training wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, near Del Rio, Texas. It is one of five pilot training units in the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command which conducts joint specialized undergraduate pilot training for the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and allied nation air forces utilizing the T-38C, T-6A and T-1A aircraft.
47th Medical Operations Squadron
47th Medical Support Squadron
47th Security Forces Squadron "Amistad Defenders" Camp Bucca, 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron
47th Operations Support Squadron
85th Flying Training Squadron (T-6A) "Tigers"
434th Flying Training Squadron (T-6A) "Red Devils"
86th Flying Training Squadron (T-1A) "Rio Lobos"
87th Flying Training Squadron (T-38C) "Red Bulls"
96th Flying Training Squadron (T-38C, T-1A)
See 47th Operations Group for additional history and lineage information prior to 1947
On 28 July 1947, the 47th Bombardment Wing was established as part of the Army Air Forces' implementation of the wing base reorganization, which combined tactical and support elements on its bases into a single wing. The wing became active on 15 August 1947 at Biggs Field, Texas, with the 47th Bombardment Group as its operational unit.[1] On 1 February 1948 Biggs was turned over to Strategic Air Command, forcing a relocation of the wing to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana in November. In the fall of 1948 North American B-45 Tornado bombers began to be delivered to the wing, which became the first in the Air Force to fly the aircraft.[3] However, the B-45As were not truly operational, because they lacked both fire control and bombing equipment.[4]
The Air Force planned to equip five groups with the B-45, but in programming the units that would comprise its forty-eight group structure authorized in 1948, the number of light bombardment groups flying the B-45 was reduced to one. With this reduction, the Air Force decided to inactivate the 47th wing and transfer its B-45s to the 3d Bombardment Wing in Japan. However, the first B-45As delivered to the wing lacked sufficient range to ferry across the Pacific and they were too large to send on board available ships.[4] The additional high cost of maintaining its B-45 aircraft led the Air Force to inactivate the 47th on 2 October 1949.[1] [4] However, the 84th and 85th squadrons of the 47th Bombardment Group kept their B-45s and moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia where they were attached to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.[5] [6] [7]
On 12 March 1951, the 47th wing and group were reactivated at Langley, along with a number of support organizations to join the 84th and 85th Bombardment Squadrons.[8] [9] The wing was assigned to Tactical Air Command (TAC).
After becoming proficient in the handling and use of nuclear weapons, the wing moved to RAF Sculthorpe, United Kingdom where it began operations there on 1 June 1952. Operational squadrons of the wing included the 84th, 85th, and 86th Bombardment Squadrons.
In 1962 Project Clearwater halted large scale bomber deployments to Britain with Sculthorpe, along with RAF Fairford, RAF Chelveston, and RAF Greenham Common, being turned over to the British Air Ministry. This resulted in the 47th Bomb Wing being inactivated on 22 June 1962.
The 47th Flying Training Wing was reactivated and redesignated at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas on 1 September 1972, replacing and absorbing the resources of the 3646th Pilot Training Wing. Since its reactivation, the wing has conducted undergraduate pilot training for USAF, Air Force Reserve, and friendly foreign nation air forces. It supported Accelerated Co-Pilot Enrichment Program at numerous locations, 1976–1986. Began airlifter-tanker track pilot training in 1994.
Organized on 15 August 1947
Inactivated on 2 October 1949
Redesignated 47th Bombardment Wing, Tactical on 1 October 1955
Discontinued and inactivated on 22 June 1962
Activated on 1 September 1972
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