2d Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron

[prinses]

Hello guys,
Found the following pic of F-101B 57-0418 taken around 1965.


The aircraft belonged to the 2d FITS of the 52d Fighter Wing (Air Defense). I am trying to make sense of the different unit markings on the aircraft. Anybody know what the white marking is on the blue splitter plate just in front of the engine intake? And what do the 5 blue stars stand for on the tail of the aircraft?

Thanks

[PBY Pilot]

The photo was taken when the 2nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron was still at Suffolk County AFB (now Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, L.I.) The letter on the splitter vane is for "C" Flight. The five stars represent the 52nd Fighter Group (Wing). The group from its inception during WWII consisted of the 2nd, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadrons. Prior to receiving the F-101Bs in 1959, the 5th FIS moved up to Minot, ND and converted to F-106s and was one of the last active ADC units. 2nd FITS did not exist until the unit moved down to Tyndall. They now fly T-38s as an Aggressor squadron. As perhaps you can tell by now, I was a proud member of the unit, 1959-60!

[prinses]

Thanks for the reply. This was exactly the information I was looking for....
Maybe you can answer some more questions on the markings of 2d FIS F-101Bs.
On the following pic dated F-101B 56-0278 is shown in 1962.



The markings differ a bit from the 1965 pic. Was it standard at that time to place the 2d FIS badge on the vertical tail of the aircraft? And what is the blue marking on the aircrafts top fuselage? I saw the marking on different 2d FIS aircraft with sort of hooks on the beginning, what do they represent? And was the red/white marking on the spitter plate painted on all 2d FIS aircraft?

Thanks again

[PBY Pilot]

The aircraft came bare metal from the factory. At their first IRAN they were painted ADC Grey. The blue stripe with points represented, flight leaders, squadron CO and maybe Wg. CO? When I left in 1960 we still had the 52nd FG insignia on the tail and ADC Decal on the opposite side. Don't know about those markings on the splitter, never saw them. Also when the 98th FIS came up from Dover they were painted the same only the blue stripes and stars were orange! Great photo. I recognize some of them!

[Chris Brame]

From Forgotten Fighters:

F-101B-70-MC s/n 56-0278
*Designated TF-101B.
*1968: USAF 2nd FIS.
*7/1968: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1/1977: Salvaged.

Prinses, would it be OK for me to pass this photo along to Nathan Decker for his Forgotten Fighters site? He doesn't have an image of this one.

[RBQ 52]

[quote="PBY Pilot"]The photo was taken when the 2nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron was still at Suffolk County AFB (now Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, L.I.) The letter on the splitter vane is for "C" Flight. The five stars represent the 52nd Fighter Group (Wing). The group from its inception during WWII consisted of the 2nd, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadrons. Prior to receiving the F-101Bs in 1959, the 5th FIS moved up to Minot, ND and converted to F-106s and was one of the last active ADC units. 2nd FITS did not exist until the unit moved down to Tyndall. They now fly T-38s as an Aggressor squadron. As perhaps you can tell by now, I was a proud member of the unit, 1959-60![/quote]