He was sent to London in the spring of 1941 as a technical adviser to the Royal Air Force. 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. The 75th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. The ACC Airmanship Award is presented to Airmen in recognition of outstanding performance and dedication to safety. Lt. Col. Stephen Joca, the 75th Fighter Squadron commander, said in a statement that "what's most important is preventing total loss of the A-10 or even worse, her life." Its not the first time an A-10 pilot has encountered such a harrowing experience. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; daughter, Dona (Jerry) Kelker; and son, Randy A. Miller. The 23rd Wing at Moody AFB announced on Friday that Bye had received the Air Combat Command Airmanship Award because "she managed to skillfully and safely land her A-10 with minimal damage" despite the challenges she faced in the air. ", "I guess I was nervous the whole time, but I didn't have time to think about being nervous," Bye said. One G, zero knots is something Ive heard experienced pilots say, Bye said. Became an A-10 training unit and remained at England AFB supporting the deployments of the 74th and 76th TFS. [2] It is believed that he was the first to down a Zero with a P-51. Claire Chennault would later write of these critical missions, "The American Volunteer Group had staved off China's collapse on the Salween.". The C-17 is attached to the Reserve 89th Airlift Squadron assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing out of Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The .25 kills comes from an assist; he and 3 other pilots worked together to shoot down a Japanese Nate fighter. During the weekend of September 15, 2017, the 4th Fighter Wing celebrated the 75th anniversary with a weekend of heritage events including a dinner, heritage aircraft static displays, a 50-year-old time capsule unveiling, the Battle of Britain ceremony and a unique base tour. Capt. Find 75th fighter squadron images dated from 2014 to 2020. There the squadron was inactivated on 5 January 1946. By his intrepid direction, heroic leadership, and superior professional ability, Major Hill set an inspiring example to his fellow aviators. There the squadron was inactivated on 5 January 1946.[7]. 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. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Her cannon suffered a dangerous malfunction, damaging the plane's landing gear, popping off panels and jettisoning the cockpit canopy. He was also a founding member of the Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity in 1932.[2]. 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. 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. It was one of the squadrons that became known as the "Flying Tigers." He retired from two careers. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. [2][3] This group of men, under the leadership of General Claire Lee Chennault, engaged in aerial . From: Airmen assigned to the 23d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron,, to Col. Dan Walls, 23d Wing commander, puts on his helmet. [5], In 2002, he was conveyed an honorary lifetime membership in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) with a squadron of the CAP named in his honorthe Tex Hill Composite Squadron, of San Marcos, TX (SWR-TX-435). (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers), U.S. Air Force Airman Timmy Gisclair, 75th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs a pre-flight maintenance check at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 3, 2021. The 75th Fighter Squadron departed for Combat Hammer, an air-to-ground exercise hosted at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. On 17 Dece An A-10 pilot made an emergency wheels-up landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California during a 2008 training flight, but it still had its cockpit canopy. The squadron is equipped with the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. 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. If nothing else, I will know that this is not going to keep me from flying and continuing to pursue my passion.. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Operating from numerous airfields within China, the 75th Fighter Squadron compiled an impressive record during World War II and received the Presidential Unit Citation. During an in-flight emergency in April of 2020, Bye was forced to land the aircraft without landing gear or a canopy. The pair flew on a basic surface attack to Grand Bay Range during the flight. [1] We attack it head on and always get the mission done.. The first operational deployment of a composite wing happened in October 1994, when Iraqi troops began massing near the Kuwaiti Border. The two officers were authorized by General Arnold to acquire as many aircraft and men as needed to insert British forces behind Japanese lines, to set up airfields to supply them and to evacuate the wounded. With exceptional flying ability, Major Hill forced enemy aircraft to turn from the attack and dive away. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The emergency occurred April 7, 2020, while Bye was flying at the Grand Bay Bombing and Gunnery Range east of Moody. The 75th AMU repaired A-10C tail-995s damages from a gun malfunction and failed landing gear. Major Hill's extraordinary heroism and zealous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 10th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces. She flew slowly so her wingman, Maj. Jack Ingber, also of the 75th, could catch up and assess the damage to her plane. Forty-two Japanese airplanes were destroyed, and twelve more were probably destroyed in the attack. [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. After the flight, Bye climbs out of the aircraft. [14], The 75th Fighter Squadron has deployed several times in the battle against global terrorism. They eventually settled in San Antonio, Texas, where his father was the minister of the First Presbyterian Church. After graduating the Weapons Instructor Course, Paetzhold joined the Airmen who serve as tactical and operational advisors to military leaders at all levels. 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. The 75th Fighter Squadron's first assignment as an active unit was in the China-Burma-India theatre. 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. The 74th fighter squadron has a blue stripe with a white lightning. 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. 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(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. 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. The across-the board spending cuts, called sequestration, took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan. Demotions, retirements, separations, and deaths all play a part in the formula which determines the promotion rate average. Soon after graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in engineering in 1936, Mr. Alison enlisted in the Army Air Corps. "The ACC Airmanship award and Distinguished Flying Cross are not mutually exclusive, and receiving one does not prevent a member from being able to receive the other," she said in an email. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. This was one of our biggest struggles because we had no experience with rebuilding a crashed jet.. "The heritage of our wing is impressive. There the squadron began flying the A-7D Corsair II ground attack aircraft. 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 2017, Michigan Air National Guard Maj. Brett DeVries landed a Warthog sans canopy or functioning landing gear at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center after his gun misfired during a strafing run. At the same time the unit received their newly upgraded A-10C fighters, which allow for greater employment guided munitions. During the Korean War, he served with the Texas Air National Guard. 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. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The trust Bye has in a successful flight can be attributed to the hard work of the 75th AMU to restore tail-995. An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 80th Fighter Squadron takes off from the flightline at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 18, 2022. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. [7] It became an A-10 training unit and remained at England AFB supporting the deployments of the 74th and 76th TFS. On 22 October 1962, before President John F. Kennedy told Americans that missiles were in place in Cuba, the squadron dispersed one third of its force, equipped with nuclear tipped missiles to Niagara Falls International Airport at the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis. This was the first night interception ever attempted over the China theatre and gave the Japanese quite a shock. Timothy Dischinat) Due to the relationship between the 75th FS and 76th FS, Paetzhold is slated to deploy as the 75th FSs weapons officer. In his book Way of a Fighter (1949), the commander of the Flying Tigers, Gen. Claire Chennault, recalled that Alison got more out of that P-40 in his five-minute demonstration than anybody I ever saw before or after. When he landed, General Chennault said, members of the Chinese delegation pointed at the P-40 and smiled, We need 100 of these. No, I said, pointing to Alison, you need 100 of these.. Bye received the ACC Airmanship Award for successfully recovering an A-10C Thunderbolt II during an in-flight emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers). Its my primary job to think of everything that [Bye] is not because she has a massive handful of an airplane that is falling apart.. ", "This doesn't happen very often in the history of the A-10," said Lt. Col. Stephen Joca, 75th Fighter Squadron commander. On 2 December 1991, the 75th Fighter Squadron was inactivated as part of the conversion to the Objective Wing and drawdown of the Air Force after the end of the Cold War. 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.". 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Bye recalled in an Air Force statement that when things started going wrong, she pulled away from the ground and checked her engines, which were both working. He and six others perished while three were able bail out . During World War II, the 75th Fighter Squadron was one of the three original squadrons (74th, 75th, 76th) of the 23rd Fighter Group. The 74th then moved to Thule AB, Greenland in 1954. Altogether, Hill was credited with destroying 18.25 enemy aircraft. Though such occurrences are rare, they do happen. Find the perfect red flag nellis stock photo. D Troop 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron (UH-60) 93d FS "Makos" (F-16C) 75th FS "Tiger Sharks" (A-10CII) 307th FS "Stingers" (F-15E) (Flying F-16C until Razbam launches) . She was recently awarded the Air Combat Command Airmanship Award for her skillful flying. And there to be recognized was actually one of the founding members, retired Air Force Col. Dale Hendry. She climbed farther away from the ground to check whether her engines were still functioning. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers), U.S. Air Force Capt. U.S. Air Force Capt. Overview of Taylor Bye's incredible landing It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. On Nov. 3, 2021, Bye departed on a sortie in that same A-10C. Arrangements entrusted to Greenlawn Funeral Home. Related: A-10 Pilot Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for Landing Without Canopy, Landing Gear. 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. 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. "Maj Quigley was a 75 th Fighter Squadron commander, one of our only Aces, and a prisoner of war for over a year, said Joca. [1] He shot down two more on January 23, and became an ace the next day when he shot down a fighter and a bomber over Rangoon. When anything [unusual] happens, its apparent and very easy to spot it and fix it, Ingber said in the release. 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. The Air Force logged five A-10 mishaps in fiscal 2020, according to Air Force Safety Center data. Minutes later, he belly-landed at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, east of the gunnery range. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins), An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Read Next: VA Nursing Aide Reta Mays Gets 7 Life Sentences for Killing Veterans in Her Care, "My initial reaction was to climb away from the ground and then look at my engines," Bye, a 75th Fighter Squadron pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation, said in the release. The operation ran for six days and nights, bringing in 9,052 troops, 1,282 pack mules and half a million pounds of supplies. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Air Corps) David Lee "Tex" Hill, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, Tenth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on October 25, 1942, while performing bomber escort duty over enemy-held territory in the China Theatre. By the time the AVG was disbanded in the summer of 1942, Hill was a double ace, credited with 12+14 victories. Jamie Sansom, 75th AMU production superintendent, were the maintainers who oversaw the reconstruction of tail-995. Despite these problems, DeVries got the plane back on the ground safely. It wasn't the first time an A-10 has had to crash-land because of a gun malfunction. "What's most important is preventing total loss of the A-10 or, even worse, her life.". A National Guard pilot was awarded after a similar incident in 2017. Within 72 hours, the 75th Fighter Squadron redeployed to Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, becoming the first U.S. fixed-wing aircraft to be stationed in that country since the end of the 1991 Gulf War. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group, Air Combat Command and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. At 17, he became a pilot in WWII, and was attached to the 75th Fighter Squadron in China, Burma, and India Theater. 157th Fighter Squadron 803-647-8455. The first operational deployment of a composite wing happened in October 1994, when Iraqi troops began massing near the Kuwaiti Border. The China Air Task Force, who had succeeded the AVG "Flying Tigers", consisted of the 23rd Fighter Group with four squadrons, the 74th, 75th, 76th, and 16th Fighter Squadrons, plus the 11th Bombardment Squadron. Vincent De Groot U.S. Air National Guard photo: Senior Master Sgt. AVON PARK AIR FORCE RANGE, Fla. - Members of the 23rd Wing participated in the Brass Tumbler training event recently. 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. He ended his military career in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a brigadier general. Upon return to Maine in 1959 the squadron converted to the McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer.