5
assumed control over PIP. The 557
th
designation was chosen to carry on its illustrious legacy
from World War II. The original squadron had been activated on 1 December 1942 as the 557
th
Bombardment Squadron, flew Martin B-26’s in the European theater of operations, and led the
air attack on Utah beach on D-Day. During the Vietnam War, the squadron was reactivated as
the 557
th
Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) and flew the F-84F Thunderchief before upgrading to
the F-4C Phantom II. The 557 TFS was inactivated on 31 March 1970 and remained inactive
until ATC reactivated it to conduct flying training at the Academy.
17
Like the 3253
rd
, the 557
th
remained at the United States Air Force Academy as a tenant
unit reporting directly to HQ ATC.
18
The new 557 FTS’s mission had three major facets. The
first was to motivate all physically qualified cadets toward a rated career in the Air Force. The
second was to identify those physically qualified cadets who possessed the basic aptitude to be
Air Force pilots. The final goal was to minimize attrition of the United States Air Force
Academy graduates in UPT.
19
Control of the 557
th
Flying Training Squadron remained under AETC from 1974 to 1982.
During this time, superintendents at the Academy increasingly pushed for control of the
airmanship programs. The Academy found a friendly ear in General Thomas M. Ryan Jr.,
AETC commander, who wrote in 1982 that shifting command of the programs to USAFA would
“simplify command and control by consolidating all Academy airfield activities – soaring,
parachuting, aero club, and T-41 – under a single manager.”
20
Furthermore, the expansion of the
airfield at the Academy was completed in 1974, allowing all flying operations to move from
Peterson Field to the Academy. On 1 October 1982, the United States Air Force Academy
gained control of the powered flight programs (along with soaring and parachuting).
21
At the
same time, the flight screening program would remain. General Ryan confirmed that “the
Academy will, of course, continue to provide the UPT screening function.”
22
The Air Force Academy continued to control all of the flight programs throughout the
remainder of the 1980s and the 1990s. In 1989, three Broad Area Review (BAR) meetings, with
representatives from across the Air Force, met to discuss all aspects of training in the flying
community. The BAR determined that while PIP was a good program, flying limitations of the
Academy’s aircraft hindered what could be accomplished. Members of the BAR agreed that
increasing the number of flight hours in the T-41C would provide only a marginal benefit. At
this time, AETC was promoting the new enhanced flight screening (EFS) program, which the
command believed would lower attrition rates in undergraduate pilot training. To adopt such a
17
The Home of The 557
th
FTS, accessed at http://atlas.usafa.af.mil/557/history.htm on 26 May
2005.
18
Hist (FOUO/PV), USAFA, 1 Jul 74-30 Jun 75, vol. VII, p. 3, info used is not FOUO/PV.
19
Hist (FOUO/PV), USAFA, 1 Jul 74-30 Jun 75, vol. VII, p. 2, info used is not FOUO/PV.
20
Hist (FOUO/PV), ATC, 1982, vol. VII, SD I-173, info used is not FOUO/PV.
21
557
th
Flying Training Squadron, Research Division of the Organizational History Branch,
accessed at http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/wwwroot/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0557fts.html on
25 May 05.
22
Hist (FOUO/PV), ATC, 1982, vol. VII, SD I-173, info used is not FOUO/PV.