Photo By Staff Sgt. Keifer Bowes | T-38 Talons from Laughlin Air Force Base’s 87th Flying Training Squadron perform an...... read more read more
In commemoration of Laughlin’s 87th Flying Training Squadron’s 100th anniversary five T-38 Talons took flight today, Aug. 18.
The centennial flight kicked off the day’s activities with a four-ship formation intended to highlight the squadron’s rich heritage and legacy that it continues to make in developing future combat-ready pilots.
“The Red Bulls are proud of our heritage and the integral role we play in producing the greatest pilots that join the combat Air Force,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Allen, 87 FTS commander, whose flagship aircraft dons the 87 FTS 1940 mascot, the “Skeeter,” on the tail with the words “100th Anniversary.”
The day included a unit photo, short commemorative ceremony and an espirit de corps cooking competition between members of the 47th Maintenance Directorate and 87 FTS.
At the ceremony stood the 87 FTS guideon, embellished with campaign streamers from Egypt, Italy, Germany and many other points around the globe. These streamers signify the squadron’s participation in combat areas, making it not only one of the most decorated squadrons in the Air Force, but one of the oldest.
With a mission committed to developing the world’s best military pilots and mission-ready warriors, the 87 FTS has upheld its duty by maintaining a class size of 9 students, while graduating approximately 115 pilots over the last year.
“When you go back to the first pilots and maintainers who started our unit, to the pilots who flew in North Africa in World War II, and to the unit when it was protecting America’s northern border, one thing remained consistent…their commitment to excellence,” Allen said. “Today, our goal is simple: graduate the best fighter and bomber pilots in the Air Force.”
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2017 09:45 |
| Story ID: | 245334 |
| Location: | LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 174 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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