414th Combat Training Squadron | |
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Active | 1943–1947; 1969–1981; 1991–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Combat Training Unit |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Garrison/HQ | Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada |
Engagements | World War II – EAME Theater[1] |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (7x)[1] |
Insignia | |
414th Combat Training Squadron emblem (approved 22 October 1980)[1] | |
414th Night Fighter Squadron emblem[2] |
The 414th Combat Training Squadron (414 CTS) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 57th Wing, 57th Operations Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The 414th is a non-flying organization charged with hosting Red Flag exercises, Air Combat Command's largest Large Force Exercise (LFE).
The unit was originally formed as the 414th Night Fighter Squadron in 1943. After training, it was deployed to Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign to provide air defense interceptor protection against Luftwaffe night air raids. It later operated in Sardinia, Corsica, Italy, plus a detachment served in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. It returned to the United States and was inactivated in 1947.
It was reactivated as the 414th Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis in 1969, serving in that role until inactivated in 1983. It was activated again at Nellis in 1991 as the 414th composite Training Squadron. In 2005, it became a non-flying squadron managing Red Flag exercises.