Upgraded to the F-86D Sabre Interceptor in 1953 at Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, where the squadron remained for three years before moving to Dow Air Force Base, Maine. [14], The 75th Fighter Squadron has deployed several times in the battle against global terrorism. Sign up for notifications from Insider! He was a bombardier in the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group and his aircraft "Decatur Deb" was shot down on May 28, 1944. Find the perfect red flag nellis stock photo. At 17, he became a pilot in WWII, and was attached to the "75th Fighter Squadron" in China, Burma, and India Theater. Let others know about your loved one's death. Flew the A-7D until 1981 when conversion to the A-10 Thunderbolt II was completed. The F9F-6 Cougar was the first F9F variant with swept wings. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the mid-morning attack. Preferred memorial to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. [10] Received A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft transferred from the 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina prior to the 353d's inactivation and the base's closure in January 1993. Find 75th fighter squadron images dated from 2014 to 2020. Ryan Foltz, 75th AMU cann manager, pose for a photo in front of A-10C Thunderbolt II tail-995 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 4, 2021. With skillful marksmanship, he destroyed one aircraft and severely damaged three others resulting in their probable destruction. Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. On 18 May 1972, the squadron was redesignated the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and on 1 July 1972 was activated at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Its not the first time an A-10 pilot has encountered such a harrowing experience. [1] Tex then attended Texas A&M for two years before transferring to Austin College, from which he graduated in 1938. He separated from active service in the USAAF in 1945. [8] He was buried at nearby Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Related: A-10 Pilot Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for Landing Without Canopy, Landing Gear. The Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron commemorates the unit's 75th anniversary with an A-10 Thunderbolt II painted to resemble the P-47 Thunderbolt the squadron flew during World War II. At the time of DeVries' mishap, the service said it was "believed to be the first time in the roughly 40-year history of the A-10 that a pilot had to land with no canopy and with the landing gear up.". Taylor Bye, a 75th Fighter Squadron pilot, pulled off an emergency belly landing in her A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft in April 2020 after an unexplained gun malfunction over Grand Bay Range at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia sent panels and her cockpit canopy flying and prevented her landing gear from deploying. This was one of our biggest struggles because we had no experience with rebuilding a crashed jet.. U.S. Air Force Capt. Bye successfully landed an A-10C Thunderbolt II with minimal damage, during an in-flight emergency last year, earning her the Air Combat Command Airmanship Award. As already reported, two U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II jets belonging to the 75th Fighter Squadron, from Moody Air Force Base, performed austere landing operations at the Military Aviation The 75th Fighter Squadron (75 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. On November 2, 2008, the Air Force Heritage Flight at the Lackland AFB Air Show in San Antonio was dedicated to Hill. Copyright 2023 Military.com. U.S. Air Force Airman Timmy Gisclair, 75th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, salutes Capt. On her canopy-less descent back to Moody, Bye tried to shift down in her seat to shield herself from the 350-mph winds whipping the plane but blocked her view of the runway in the process. While attending McCallie, he won the Tennessee Middleweight Championship in boxing in 1934. Minutes later, he belly-landed at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, east of the gunnery range. Colonel Alison led the mission on its first day, landing a glider bearing 15 soldiers in the glade. [15], 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, Tenth Air Force, Department of the Army, General Orders No. One G, zero knots is something Ive heard experienced pilots say, Bye said. Surviving are his daughter, Mary (Carl) Straley; son, Ron (Caroline) Miller; daughter-in-law, Nan (Randy) Miller; ten grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. 169th Operations Group 803-647-8231. Duffey, Foltz, and Master Sgt. Ingber said in the statement that it was his "job to think of everything that (Bye) is not because she has a massive handful of an airplane that is falling apart.". Her courage and cool in crisis earned her the Air Combat Commands Airmanship Award in a May 5 ceremony at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, where she serves as a 75th Fighter Squadron pilot and its chief of standardization and evaluation. A pilot climbs into the cockpit of an aircraft, which looked much different than it did on the day a catastrophic gun malfunction stopped the landing gear from deploying and ripped off the canopy mid-flight. Along with her courageous flight are the extraordinary efforts of the 75th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to repair the aircraft. The 75th AMU repaired A-10C tail-995s damages from a gun malfunction and failed landing gear. Performing proper checks before and after flights is crucial to the safety of pilots. The squadron inactivated there on 30 November 1969 as part of the drawdown of ADC interceptor bases, the aircraft being passed along to the Air National Guard. He was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. Buy 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron F-89 Model: Aircraft - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron F-89 Model : Arts, Crafts & Sewing Remained at Dow Air Force Base until 1968 when it was transferred to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan. (Airman First Class Eugene Oliver/Air Force) About 240 airmen with the 75th Fighter Squadron, which flies A-10C Warthogs, began returning home to Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia,. It is believed that he was the first to down a Zero with a P-51. The 75th Fighter Squadron (75 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. During one of the passes, his gun malfunctioned, creating turbulence that blew out the canopy. Air Force Capt. They wrote the playbook to do this on the fly, because nobody had ever done this before, said Douglas Birkey, director of government relations for the Air Force Association, which promotes education about air power. After the deactivation of the Flying Tigers in July 1942, Hill was one of only five Flying Tigers to join its United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) successor, the 23rd Fighter Group, with the rank of major. Activated on 10 Oct 1946. We attack it head on and always get the mission done.. Bye's leadership presented her with the Air Combat Command Airmanship Award on May 5 for outstanding performance and dedication to safety during the incident, according to a news release. Taylor Bye was descending for a strafing run and about to unload rounds from her A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft's 30mm GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun last year when the training mission went sideways. Jamie Sansom, 75th AMU production superintendent, were the maintainers who oversaw the reconstruction of tail-995. Serving with the 75th Fighter Squadron, Bye was able to land the stricken attack aircraft with immense skill, showing her abilities as a US Air Force pilot. Colonel Cochran, who died in 1979, had been a successful fighter group commander in North Africa. In 1999, Hill was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame located at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, Texas. Taylor Bye, 75th Fighter Squadron standardization and evaluation chief, prepares to enter the A-10C Thunderbolt II tail-995 cockpit at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 3, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Snider) During World War II, the 75th Fighter Squadron was one of the three original squadrons (74th, 75th, 76th) of the 23rd Fighter Group. As she approached her departure in the aircraft, she showed complete resilience. Active between 1941-1942, the original Flying Tigers comprised volunteer pilots from the United States Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps. She climbed farther away from the ground to check whether her engines were still functioning. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rachel Perkinson), U.S. Air Force Capt. Austin Duffey, 75th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron cann manager, left, and Tech. U.S. Air Force Capt. During this period, the 75th served under the Air Defense Command and flew the F-86 Sabre day interceptors with a mission to maintain a high degree of operational proficiency so that it might repel any possible enemy air attack. After graduating the Weapons Instructor Course, Paetzhold joined the Airmen who serve as tactical and operational advisors to military leaders at all levels. He was 98. Taylor Bye, 75th Fighter Squadron standardization and evaluation chief, and her wingman fly over the flightline at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 3, 2021. .Flags collection; Made with 100% cotton canvas. And there to be recognized was actually one of the founding members, retired Air Force Col. Dale Hendry. 141114-F-AV342-049. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Sioux City, Iowa --. Another mishap in Arizona in March 2020 saw the A-10s engine compressor stall out; the engine was damaged and the pilot returned to base without injury. [7], During the early days of its history, the 75th's mission was to attack and destroy the enemy by strafing airfields, troops, and supply depots, while maintaining air superiority so that the Japanese could not locate and bomb targets in China. First to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia for a series of exercises with friendly Middle Eastern air forces, then onto Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan to fly close-air support missions in support of U.S. and Afghan forces.[15]. The .25 kills comes from an assist; he and 3 other pilots worked together to shoot down a Japanese Nate fighter. Taylor Bye, 75th Fighter Squadron standardization and evaluation chief, taxis to a canopy after her flight at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 3, 2021. The enemy managed to get seven fighters airborne, but they were promptly shot down. Which is why I think the Air Force and the military in general do a great job practicing emergency procedures because the more intuitive it is the more likely you are to handle the situation better, Bye continued. Capt. They eventually settled in San Antonio, Texas, where his father was the minister of the First Presbyterian Church. Received A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft transferred from the 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina prior to the 353d's inactivation and the base's closure in January 1993. On 25 January 2019, the squadron returned from a six-month deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Freedoms Sentinel. [3], On 17 December 1941, the American Volunteer Group (AVG) 2nd Fighter Squadron was redesignated as the 23rd Pursuit Group 75th Pursuit Squadron and subsequently the 75th Fighter Squadron. Forty-two Japanese airplanes were destroyed, and twelve more were probably destroyed in the attack. The 74th then moved to Thule AB, Greenland in 1954. This squadron went on to become the third largest CAP squadron in the nation and in 2003 became the most decorated CAP squadron in the nation receiving the Texas Squadron of Merit, Texas Emergency Services Squadron of the Year, Regional (SW Region of the USA) Squadron of Distinction, and National Squadron of Distinction. Major Donald K. Miller, Ret., 96, went to be with his heavenly family January 6, 2021. List of battleships of the United States Navy, Articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Military units and formations of the United States in World War II, Fighter squadrons of the United States Air Force, Military units and formations in Georgia (U.S. state), 23d Tactical Fighter (later, 23d Fighter) Wing, http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.org/bio-Rodewald.htm, http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.org/bio-Hill.htm, "History: The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force", http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.org/tiger1.htm, Reduced flying hours forces grounding of 17 USAF combat air squadrons, Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II, "AVG American Volunteer Group - Flying Tigers", House Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Senate Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Hangchow Airfield, China, 10 Oct 10 Dec 1945, A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. After the flight, Bye climbs out of the aircraft. The squadron is equipped with the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II attack fighter. Taylor Bye, 75th Fighter Squadron pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation, poses on the flight line at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, May 5, 2021. Soon after graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in engineering in 1936, Mr. Alison enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Overview of Taylor Bye's incredible landing (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers), An Airman displays the aircraft forms binder for A-10C Thunderbolt II tail-995 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 3, 2021. Capt. ), the Washington Post, and others. "I guess I was nervous the whole time, but I didn't have time to think about being nervous. The across-the board spending cuts, called sequestration, took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan. During his career he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner 4th, 5th and 6th grades, 2-Star Wing Decorations, Chinese Victory Medal, Legion of Merit, and British Distinguished Flying Cross. The 75th Fighter Squadron's first assignment as an active unit was in the China-Burma-India theatre. The exercise is designed to collect and analyze data on the performance of precision weapons and measure their suitability for use in combat. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The Air Force logged five A-10 mishaps in fiscal 2020, according to Air Force Safety Center data. The squadron flew the F-101B Voodoo, a supersonic fighter that could carry nuclear-tipped. AVON PARK AIR FORCE RANGE, Fla. - Members of the 23rd Wing participated in the Brass Tumbler training event recently. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. On 18 May 1972, the squadron was redesignated the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and on 1 July 1972 was activated at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. The A-10, assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron, landed with its landing gear in the up position after declaring an in-flight emergency. U.S. Air Force Capt. She and the A-10 may look the same as they did when she took off in 2020, and the resiliency and innovation from the maintainers and operators make it all possible. 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On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. After graduating from Austin College in 1938, Hill enlisted in the United States Navy. Following a period of activations and inactivations, during which the squadron was assigned to such bases as Northwest Field, Guam, and Howard Air Force Base, Canal Zone, the squadron returned to active duty on 12 January 1951 as the 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron stationed at Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine. ", "I guess I was nervous the whole time, but I didn't have time to think about being nervous," Bye said. During World War II, the 75th Fighter Squadron was one of the three original squadrons (74th, 75th, 76th) of the 23d Fighter Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers). [4], Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called basic mission capable for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013. To stem this tide, squadron leader Hill led a flight of four new P-40Es bombing and strafing into the mile-deep gorge. He was born in Gwangju, Korea (then under Japanese rule), the youngest of four children of Presbyterian missionaries. Sgt. In November, Maj. Brett DeVries, a Michigan Air National Guard A-10 pilot with the "Red Devils," the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a 2017 belly landing without working landing gear or a cockpit canopy. Taylor Bye when her attack aircraft began falling apart in midair. 169th Operations Support Squadron 803-647-8231. There's no Thunderbirds or Blue Angels this year, but a new Air Force demonstration team will debut at this weekend's Melbourne Air & Space Show. The 75th Fighter Squadron departed for Combat Hammer, an air-to-ground exercise hosted at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. General Arnold decided he needed the two lieutenant colonels because the British, under Maj. Gen. Orde C. Wingate, had faced calamitous conditions in 1943 when they first tried to pin down Japanese occupation forces in Burma. [1] He learned to fly the P-40 in the AVG training program in Burma, and did well as a fighter pilot in the 2nd Pursuit Squadron (the "Panda Bears") as a flight leader and then squadron commander, becoming one of the top aces under the tutelage of Claire Chennault. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider That landing took place in 2017 when DeVries, then a captain, was flying with other A-10 pilots over the Grayling Air Gunnery Range in the northern part of the state. The 75th is one of the original squadrons of the 23rd Fighter Group and while at Dow in the '60's, the 75th participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Rachel Cohen joined Air Force Times as senior reporter in March 2021. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Ryan Foltz, 75th AMU cann manager. Lineage, including assignments, stations and aircraft in Robertson, AFHRA Factsheet, Learn how and when to remove this template message, 23d Tactical Fighter (later, 23d Fighter) Wing, "History: The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force", "How the A-10 Warthog Keeps Getting Better and Better", "Reduced flying hours forces grounding of 17 USAF combat air squadrons", "75th Fighter Squadron and its A-10s return to Moody after six-month deployment", House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons, Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=75th_Fighter_Squadron&oldid=1130929175, Fighter squadrons of the United States Air Force, Military units and formations in Georgia (U.S. state), Fighter squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces, Articles needing additional references from December 2012, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 19421946; 1946-1949; 1951-1968; 19681969; 19721991; 1992-present, Discontinued and inactivated, on 30 June 1968, 23d Fighter Group, 10 October 1946 24 September 1949, 23d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 12 January 1951, 23d Operations (later, 23 Fighter) Group, 1 June 1992 present, Luliang Airfield, China, 12 September 1944, Hangchow Airfield, China, 10 October 1945 10 December 1945, Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine, 18 August 1955, This page was last edited on 1 January 2023, at 18:04. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. During World War II, the 75th Fighter Squadron was one of the three original squadrons (74th, 75th, 76th) of the 23rd Fighter Group. Operating from numerous airfields within China, the 75th Fighter Squadron compiled an impressive record during World War II and received the Presidential Unit Citation. 169th Operations Group. Three fighter squadrons were tasked with defending. All the wraps in the group have shark teeth and an aircraft metal background, but each squadron has its own unique look. Capt. [14], Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called "basic mission capable" for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers), U.S. Air Force Capt. In November, then-Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett presented the Distinguished Flying Cross to Maj. Brett DeVries, an A-10 pilot with the 107th Fighter Squadron at Michigan's Selfridge Air National Guard Base, for executing a successful emergency landing without his landing gear or canopy. The two-seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully combat-capable. The emergency occurred April 7, 2020, while Bye was flying at the Grand Bay Bombing and Gunnery Range east of Moody. once you become Fully Mission Qualified (FMQ) where our Aggressor Squadron looks to make you even better. 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron (CF-188 Hornet) 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron (CF-188 Hornet) 410 Tactical Fighter (Operational Training) Squadron. ARTIFACT: Early 1960's United States Air Force 75th Fighter - Interceptor Squadron (FIS) jacket patch from when the Squadron was flying F-101's out of Dow Air Force Base. The 74th Fighter Squadron (74 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Capt. [13], Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. A cann manager is in charge of keeping record of parts taken from a cannibalizing jet. Download Images of 75th fighter squadron - Free for commercial use, no attribution required. The other incidents involved engine issues: A Warthog suffered an engine fire during flight but safely returned to base in Afghanistan in January 2020. Within an aircraft forms binder is a record of every discrepancy that has been fixed or needs to be fixed on a particular aircraft. There the squadron began flying the A-7D Corsair II ground attack aircraft. [11][12] On 19 December 2007, the last three of the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft left for Moody AFB and assumed its current mission. If nothing else, I will know that this is not going to keep me from flying and continuing to pursue my passion.. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers), U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, left, commander of Air Combat Command, and Capt. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cynthia Griggs) Despite these problems, DeVries got the plane back on the ground safely. The Pentagon has not provided any public updates or said when the formal policy will be issued. She was recently awarded the Air Combat Command Airmanship Award for her skillful flying. "What's most important is preventing total loss of the A-10 or, even worse, her life.". Airmen with the 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron unload cargo from a C-17 Globemaster III at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Aug. 9, 2019. I think it will help build my continued confidence in learning how to fly the A-10 and mastery of it. Due to the relationship between the 75th FS and 76th FS, Paetzhold is slated to deploy as the 75th FSs weapons officer. The light blue and white scheme was conceptualized to emulate the WWII era Grumman F-4F Wildcat flown by South Dakota native and Medal of Honor recipient Joe Foss. Constituted as 75 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 17 Dec 1941. The ACC Airmanship Award is presented to Airmen in recognition of outstanding performance and dedication to safety. So, just sitting (in the aircraft) at zero knots is the best time to make decisions, because going 300 miles per hour is not the time where I want to make a decision without having thought about it. In terms of guarding India, it was tremendously successful because the Japanese were distracted by having to deal with the guerrilla incursion, Mr. Birkey said. She then slowed down and allow her wingman, Maj. Jack Ingber, to inspect the damaged aircraft. Bye successfully flew A-10C Thunderbolt II tail-995 after its restorations from a gun-malfunction that caused her canopy to depart and stopped her landing gear from deploying. [7] It upgraded to the F-86D Sabre interceptor in 1953 at Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, where the squadron remained for three years before moving to Dow Air Force Base, Maine. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The squadron moved to Moody AFB, Georgia in 2007 due to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) panel recommendations. Her nearby wingman, Maj. Jack Ingber, the squadrons assistant operations director, looked over her jet from his own plane and helped guide Bye back to the runway. The C-17 is attached to the Reserve 89th Airlift Squadron assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing out of Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The memorial is dedicated to the memory of five Rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment and seven airmen from the 1st Special Operations Air Wing who died when the MH-60G Pave Hawk they were riding . [4] He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The squadron moved to Moody AFB, Georgia in 2008 due to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) panel recommendations.