Randolph AFB 562nd Flying Training Squadron T-43

Randolph AFB 562nd Flying Training Squadron T-43 poster art.

The T-43 “Bobcat” was a modified Boeing 737-200 used by the U.S. Air Force for training navigators. Informally referred to as the “Gator“ (or“navigator”) and “Flying Classroom”, nineteen of these aircraft were delivered in 1973-1974. The 562d Flying Training Squadron (562 FTS) was part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operated the T-43 conducting navigator training. Randolph Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base located 14.8 miles east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command. Randolph AFB is part of Joint Base San Antonio, an amalgamation of the U.S. Army Fort Sam Houston, U.S. Air Force Randolph Air Force Base and Lackland Air Force Base, which were merged on 1 October 2010.