If you are talking aboiut the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida-- the wing was previously the 1st TFW until 1975 when it became the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing, having to relinquish it's designation so that the FIRST USAF F-15 wing at Langley AFB could use 1st TFW. Heritage be damned (I was in the 94th, which was renamed the 62nd TFS),.
The 1st, and then 56th TFW conducted F-4D/E replacement training at McDill for USAF and foreign pilots, weapon systems officers, and maintenance personnel from July 1970 until July 1982.
I seriously enjoyed my RTU at MacDill in D models. I was posted to the 63rd TFS Panthers in 80/81. In the adjoining building was the 13th TFS also flying Ds. Yes, we were TFS, not TFTS. I only have a guess as to why--just to save admin energy and costs, since both of those squadrons were on the bubble for Viper refits. At that time, there were 2 other squadrons in the 56th, both flying A/B model Vipers. IIRC, they were the 61st & 62nd TFTS. Of course after Rhino D RTU, I had to complete my slatted E conversion at my gaining unit (Moody). I later caught up with the 13th as my sister squadron in Misawa while I was in the 14 TFS Flying Samurai. The 61st and 62nd both moved to Luke (early 90s I think).
If you are talking aboiut the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida-- the wing was previously the 1st TFW until 1975 when it became the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing, having to relinquish it's designation so that the FIRST USAF F-15 wing at Langley AFB could use 1st TFW. Heritage be damned (I was in the 94th, which was renamed the 62nd TFS),.
The 1st, and then 56th TFW conducted F-4D/E replacement training at McDill for USAF and foreign pilots, weapon systems officers, and maintenance personnel from July 1970 until July 1982.
Gene K
I seriously enjoyed my RTU at MacDill in D models. I was posted to the 63rd TFS Panthers in 80/81. In the adjoining building was the 13th TFS also flying Ds. Yes, we were TFS, not TFTS. I only have a guess as to why--just to save admin energy and costs, since both of those squadrons were on the bubble for Viper refits. At that time, there were 2 other squadrons in the 56th, both flying A/B model Vipers. IIRC, they were the 61st & 62nd TFTS. Of course after Rhino D RTU, I had to complete my slatted E conversion at my gaining unit (Moody). I later caught up with the 13th as my sister squadron in Misawa while I was in the 14 TFS Flying Samurai. The 61st and 62nd both moved to Luke (early 90s I think).