84th Flying Training Squadron The 84th Flying Training Squadron ( 84 FTS ) is part of the 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base , Texas . It operates T - 6 Texan II aircraft conducting flight training . History . World War II . The squadron was first activated in 1942 , as the 84th Pursuit Squadron ( Interceptor ) . Soon after its activation the US Army transferred the squadron to England where it lost a majority of its pilots and planes to the American war effort in North Africa . During the war the 84th flew missions ranging from bomber escort , ground attack , counter - air , and close air support . In April 1943 , the unit was involved in its first combat mission in North Africa . In June 1944 , the 84th supported the Allied landings at Normandy and directly contributed to the breakthrough at Saint - Lô in July 1944 . In September 1944 , the squadron contributed to the Allied victory in the Arnhem - Nijmegen airborne landings ; notably , they suppressed numerous ground positions during the airborne assault and were credited with saving scores of American and British troop transports . For this action the 84th received the Distinguished Unit Citation . In December 1944 the 84th began flying the P - 51 Mustang . They used their new plane very successfully and on 10 April destroyed 58 aircraft on the ground earning the 84th its second Distinguished Unit Citation . In April 1945 the 84th flew its last combat mission escorting British bombers on their way to Hitler ' s " Eagles Nest " . The squadron completed three years overseas and was credited with 260 German aircraft destroyed . Air Defense Command . The 84th served as part of the occupation forces until it transferred to the United States in June 1947 , where it eventually assumed an air defense mission . Assigned to Air Defense Command and initially equipped with P - 51 Mustang s assigned to Hamilton AFB , California with a mission for the air defense of San Francisco and the Bay Area . Upgraded to F - 84D Thunderjet jet aircraft in 1949 ; equipped with first - generation F - 89B Scorpion s in 1951 . The Scorpion was difficult to fly , costly to maintain , and was subject to mishaps . Was re - equipped with the F - 94C Starfire in 1953 which it flew throughout the balance of the 1950s , acquiring newer F - 94Ds in 1956 and the F - 94J in 1957 . In 1960 received the new McDonnell F - 101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor , and the F - 101F operational and conversion trainer . The two - seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls , but carried the same armament as the F - 101B and were fully combat - capable . In 1966 , F - 101s were featured in the film The Russians Are Coming , the Russians Are Coming . The F - 101Bs were transferred to the Air National Guard and 1968 and replaced by F - 106 Delta Dart s . Moved to Castle AFB , California in 1973 as part of the shutdown of Hamilton AFB , Inactivated in 1981 as the interceptor mission was being transferred to the Air National Guard . Tactical Air Command . In July 1981 the squadron was redesignated the 84th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron and received a fleet of T - 33 s to train in , specializing in electronic counter - countermeasures training . It participated in live flying exercise s as targets for various air divisions and for the F - 15 Eagle s of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing . The squadron also flew target missions for the weapons controller training program until early 1987 when it was inactivated . Modern era . In April 1990 the squadron was resurrected to meet the increased demand for pilots . The 84th was designated a Flying Training Squadron and joined the 85th Flying Training Squadron in training pilots in the T - 37 Tweet at Laughlin Air Force Base . Again yielding to changes in pilot production the squadron was inactivated in October 1992 . In 1998 pilot production increased again and the 84 FTS was reactivated on 1 October 1998 . References . Brand , Daniel 2d Lt , 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs USAF 434th Fighter Training Squadron re - designated