Command History

Established: July 1958

Training Squadron FOUR (VT-4) boasts a dynamic history of evolving missions and platforms, transitioning from basic jet instruction to becoming the Navy's sole simulator-based training squadron for Naval Flight Officers (NFOs).

VT-4 was initially established in July 1958 as Basic Training Group 9 (BTG-9) before being redesignated to VT-4 on May 1, 1960. Its primary role was providing basic jet flight instruction for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Student Naval Aviators, initially utilizing the T-2A Buckeye aircraft. The squadron transitioned to the T-2B aircraft in 1965, modifying its mission to become the Naval Air Training Command's sole site for basic jet instruction in aerial gunnery and carrier qualification (CQ). A further mission change occurred in 1971 when VT-4 transitioned to the T-2C, providing flight training in all phases of the basic jet syllabus. In September 1972, the squadron acquired the TF-9J, uniquely offering both basic and advanced jet training, allowing student pilots to experience their first jet flight and ultimately earn their wings within VT-4. This aircraft was later replaced for advanced flight training by the TA-4J in November 1973. Beginning in December 1975, VT-4 added the mission of providing flight instruction for allied foreign military pilots from nations including Kuwait, Spain, Singapore, and Indonesia.

In December 1985, VT-4's focus shifted from strike training to becoming the sole site for E-2/C-2 intermediate training within CNATRA. In this capacity, the squadron carrier-qualified Student Naval Aviators from the multi-engine training pipeline who were selected to fly the E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound, designating them as Naval Aviators before they proceeded to the Fleet Replacement Squadron. This mission evolved in January 1992, making VT-4 the dedicated E-2/C-2 advanced training site, utilizing the T-2C.

A significant change occurred in 1996 when VT-4 converted from a small, all-Navy advanced E-2/C-2 pilot training squadron to a joint Primary and Intermediate Naval Flight Officer/Navigator training squadron. This transformation saw the annual student throughput increase dramatically from 36 to 450, and instructor ranks expanded to 71 Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force pilots and NFO/Navigators. The squadron transitioned from flying the T-2C to utilizing the T-34C Turbo Mentor and T-1A Jayhawk. VT-4 also began instructing student navigators from international partners, including Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Norway, and Denmark. Following the final carrier qualification detachment in September 1996, the mission fully converted to NFO/NAV training, and the last VT-4 Naval Aviators earned their wings on September 30, 1996.

The squadron began integrating the T-6A Texan II, the joint Air Force/Navy platform slated to replace the T-34C, in January 2003, with the first training flight in the T-6A occurring in August 2003. VT-4 completed the transition to the T-6A Texan II in April 2005, flying its last T-34C student sortie. After temporarily entering cadre status in December 2010, Training Squadron FOUR was reactivated and recommissioned in June 2013. It conducted intermediate Jet training for strike and E-2 student NFOs using the T-39 Sabreliner, with VT-4 flying the last T-39 flight in the Navy on August 27, 2014.

In November 2014, VT-4 transitioned to its current, unique role as the Navy's only Simulator-only based squadron. It now trains Student Naval Flight Officers (SNFOs) to be essential assets in the E-2, E-6, and P-8 communities. Students complete the demanding Advanced Maritime Command and Control Course (MC2), covering flight planning, sensor employment, and tactical communications. They apply these lessons in the Multi-Crew Simulator (MCS), emphasizing Crew Resource Management, before earning their "Wings of Gold." The first class of NFOs winged in April 2015, and since then, VT-4 has winged more than 600 Naval Flight Officers. Since commissioning in 1965, VT-4 has amassed over 600,000 flight hours, logged 42,000 carrier landings, and completed over 70,000 simulator hours.