CAFB unveils T-6 heritage colors

COLUMBUS AFB Miss. - The 14th Flying Training Wing unveiled the first of its six T-6 Texan II heritage flagship aircraft during a ceremony May 30 at Columbus Air Force Base. Members of the 37th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) were able to see their freshly painted T-6, which represents the squadron’s patch - a Bengal tiger mother with a cub in her mouth. The T-6 is primarily yellow and its black stripes represent their lineage and heritage at CAFB. “This is about having pride in our unit and across the base as a whole,” said Lt. Col. William Free, 37th FTS commander. Now that the plane is finished it will give people an opportunity to honor and celebrate the great traditions at Columbus AFB and the squadrons that are represented, he continued. The new paint schemes reflect the heritage of the aircraft’s squadron. Squadrons are responsible for designing the aircraft’s look. The 37th FTS has a strong lineage dating to the Army Air Corps in the 1940’s. It was initially a pursuit squadron assigned to the 55th Pursuit Group at Hamilton Field, Calif. During WWII, the 37th Fighter Squadron conducted combat operations with their P-38s in the European and Mediterranean theaters of operations. In March 1972, the squadron was re-designated the 37th FTS and assigned to the 14 FTW at CAFB. With a strong legacy to uphold, the 37th FTS continues its mission to create pilots and will use this newly painted T-6 to reach the next generation of aviators, giving them the opportunity to connect with their heritage and build the future. (Source: CAFB 05/31/19)