559th Flying Training Squadron

559th Flying Training Squadron
Squadron T-6 Texan II at Randolph AFB
Active	1941–1946; 1947–1948; 1950–1958; 1962–1970; 1972–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Pilot training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph
Nickname(s)	Fightin' Billygoats[citation needed]
Motto(s)	To The Goats...Fight![citation needed]
Engagements	North African Campaign Operation Husky Operation Avalanche Italian campaign Burma campaign
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Chadford “Swagford” Bridgeford
Insignia
559th Flying Training Squadron emblem[a][1]

The 559th Flying Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. It operates the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, and has trained instructor pilots at Randolph since 1972.

The squadron was first organized in January 1941 as the 81st Bombardment Squadron. After training in the United States, it moved to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it engaged in combat operations until 1944, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. It then moved to the China Burma India Theater, continuing in combat until V-J Day. It returned to the United States and was inactivated at Fort Lawton, Washington on 22 January 1946. It was briefly activated in 1947, but budget considerations resulted in reductions of Air Force strength in Fiscal Year 1949, and the squadron did not equip or man.

In 1950, the squadron became the 559th Fighter-Escort Squadron, under this designation, and as the 559th Strategic Fighter Squadron, the squadron operated under Strategic Air Command (SAC) until July 1957, when SAC transferred its fighter units to Tactical Air Command. It deployed to England and Japan while under SAC control. Plans to upgrade its equipment were dropped, and the squadron inactivated in January 1958.

The squadron was activated again in 1962 as the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Although intended to become one of the Air Force's first McDonnell F-4 Phantom II squadrons, it was temporarily equipped with Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks until Phantoms became available in 1964. The squadron deployed to Okinawa in the summer of 1965 to augment air defenses in the Pacific. Shortly afterwards, in December 1965, the squadron moved to Viet Nam, where it engaged in combat until inactivating in March 1970, earning five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device.

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