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The 497th TFS (Combat Training Squadron) is a United States Air Force unit. Its present assignment is to Singapore's Paya Lebar Air Base, where its mission is to provides operational and logistical support to U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft deployed to Singapore for training exercises with the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
Approximately three deployments of USAF F-15s and F-16s from both Active Duty and National Guard units from around the world are made each year to Singapore under the auspices of EXERCISE COMMANDO SLING. The squadron supports/participates in regional exercise and global contingencies, and provides housing; morale, recreation and welfare facilities and programs: medical services; force protection to resources and personnel; and legal, financial, communications, and contracting support to assigned and deployed personnel.
The 497th CTS comprises the basic functional elements of a small-scale USAF fighter wing - fighter operations, flightline logistics, community and mission support, and medical services. With a permanently assigned staff of 37 personnel, the 497th CTS represents the entire USAF presence in Singapore. However, six times a year for up to four weeks the squadron "grows" to between 120 and 190 in strength, with the deployment of 6 to 12 F-15 and/or F-16 aircraft and the associated 75 to 150 support personnel. When so configured, the 497 CTS "presence" is transformed into an operational role, to conduct an intense schedule of air-to-air combat training with the RSAF.
The 497 CTS also supports USAF fighter rotations to Southwest Asia and several other regional exercises such as COPE TAUFAN, COPE TIGER, and COPE WEST. An example of the 497th CTS's "expanding capability" occurred in May 1998 during COMMANDO SLING 98-4 when they also supported the ordered departure of U.S. personnel from Indonesia. Paya Lebar Air Base ramp at that time had 28 USAF F-15s, four USAF C-130s, four USAF KC-135s, one C-141, one C-17, plus all the permanently based RSAF aircraft and aircraft from other nations. All were supported by 497 CTS and RSAF personnel. Additionally, COMMANDO SLING 98-4 was the first time the normally bilateral exercise was expanded to include the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornets.
Operational training unit, June 1942 October 1943; replacement training, October 1943 April 1944. Air defense of West coast, 1953 1955; Air Defense of Southwest Europe, 1958 1964. Combat in Southeast Asia, 1965 1974; Defense of South Korea, 1974 1988. Combat training in Southeast Asia, 1991 present
Lineage Constituted 302d Bombardment Squadron (Light) on January 13, 1942 Activated on February 10, 1942 Redesignated: 302d Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on July 27, 1942 Redesignated: 497th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on to August 1943 Disbanded on April 1, 1944 Reconstituted and redesignated 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on February 3, 1953 Activated on February 18, 1953. Inactivated on June 18, 1964. >>> Reactivated and redesignated 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron on July 25, 1964 Inactivated on September 16, 1974 Reactivated on October 1, 1978 Inactivated on January 1, 1988 Redesignated: 497th Fighter Training Squadron and reactivated on October 31, 1991 Redesignated: 497th Combat Training Squadron on August 1, 1994.
Stations Savannah AB, Georgia, February 10, 1942 Drew Field, Florida, February 7, 1943 Harding Army Airfield, Louisiana, October 4, 1943 April 1, 1944 Portland Army Air Base, Oregon, February 18, 1953 Geiger Field, Washington, August 18, 1955 Torrejon AB, Spain, June 21, 1958 June 18, 1964 George AFB, California, July 25, 1964 Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, December 8, 1965 Kunsan AB, South Korea, September 16, 1974 January 1, 1982 Taegu Air Base, South Korea, January 1, 1982 January 1, 1988 Paya Lebar Airbase, Singapore, October 31, 1991 present
