The 49 FTS Black Knights fight as one

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kaleb Snay
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  After Graduating Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, where do pilots who were tracked T-38 go to prepare them for the fighter pilot life?

The 49th Fighter Training Squadron prepares pilots by teaching procedures and techniques of fighter aircraft.

"Our core job is to produce fighter wingmen," said Lt. Col. Paul Carlton, 49 FTS Commander. "We teach them to drop bombs, defend themselves and all other things that are required of them in their career."

The squadron teaches newly graduated pilots by operating the T-38 Talon aircraft to conduct flight training as well as fighter fundamentals. In addition to training pilots they also train weapon systems officers. Those selected learn basic fighter maneuvers and surface attacks in the T-38 at Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals which lasts approximately eight weeks.

Although the 49 FTS molds fresh pilots into fighter pilots today, the squadron has
gone through many changes throughout the years before becoming a training squadron.
The squadron was first started as the 49th Pursuit Squadron in 1941 during the expansion of the U.S military leading up to World War II. In 1942 it was
designated the 49th Fighter Squadron.

The squadron was designated the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in 1952. It was activated to replace an Air National Guard squadron that was being released from active duty at Dow Air Force Base, Maine but was inactivated again in 1987 as the Air National Guard took over the air defense mission.

In 1990, the unit was designated the 49th Flying Training Squadron here in Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. Conducting the advanced phase of undergraduate pilot training. In 2003 its name was changed to the 49th Fighter Training Squadron to reflect its mission.

"When these guys leave here they become tip of the spear Warriors," said Maj. Richard Schafer, 49 FTS Chief of Standardization Evaluation. "If they get picked for fighters they go through us. We basically have to put our stamp of approval on each pilot before sending them off. These Wingmen have gone through T-6 training for about half a year and they move on to T-38s with us, which becomes a big competition."

Transitioning a student pilot into a fighter pilot is the 49 FTS's mission. Therefore the first
sign of progress can be seen through a title.

"We don't refer to them as students; we refer to them as Wingmen. That's because these men and women will be the people who will be my wingman in combat," said Carlton. "They are no longer learning how to fly, they are learning how to be fighter pilots and we try and build that mentality to get them to always excel as a fighter pilot."

The squadron is bound together by vigilance which keeps the pilots focused and
in top shape.

"The thing I appreciate most about our squadron is the brotherhood that we not only uphold but we also teach each wingman that comes through our doors," said Capt. Justin Andress, 49 FTS director of scheduling. "We also try our best to support the local community. It feels great using our squadron's family aspect to show everyone what a strong heritage can do."

With a strong heritage and long history, it becomes more obvious that the squadron has evolved from a workplace to a family of fighter pilots.

"The best thing about our squadron that I like to brag about is the mentality of our instructors," said Carlton. "Whatever it takes. We see a new set of about eight wingmen every month, but our instructors are a constant and are willing to invest everything to ensure the wingmen learn at every opportunity. We want them to know that everything we are doing is building them into fighter pilots."