32nd Flying Training Squadron

The 32d Flying Training Squadron was last part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operated Beechcraft T-1 Jayhawk aircraft conducting flight training. It was inactivated on 14 September 2012.

32d Flying Training Squadron
Active1942–1946; 1973–1979; 1993–1993; 1995–2012
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RolePilot Training
Part ofAir Education and Training Command
EngagementsOperation Husky
Operation Overlord
Operation Market Garden
Operation Varsity[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
32d Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 5 December 1996)[1]
32d Tactical Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 2 January 1974)[1]

History edit

World War II edit

 
32d Troop Carrier Squadron C-47 taking off from Poix Airfield[note 1]

Activated in late 1942 under I Troop Carrier Command and equipped with C-47 Skytrains. Trained in various parts of the eastern United States until the end of 1943. Deployed to French Morocco in May 1943 and assigned to Twelfth Air Force to support combat operations in the North African Campaign. Remained with Twelfth Air Force, moving to Tunisia and Sicily providing transport and resupply operations as well as casualty evacuation of wounded personnel in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Reassigned to IX Troop Carrier Command, in England during early 1944 as part of the build-up of Allied forces prior to the D-Day invasion of France.

Began operations by dropping paratroops into Normandy on D-Day (6 June 1944) and releasing gliders with reinforcements on the following day. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for these missions.

After the Normandy invasion the squadron ferried supplies in the United Kingdom. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals. It dropped paratroops near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying reinforcements during the Operation Market Garden, the airborne attack on the Netherlands. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne.

Moved to Belgium in early 1945, and participated in the Western Allied invasion of Germany, participating in the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel.

After V-E Day, became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe, being assigned to AAF Station Frankfurt and was part of the USAFE European Air Transport System, supporting the occupation forces in Germany as well as carrying supplies and personnel between various stations in Western Europe. Inactivated on 30 September 1946 in Germany.

Airlift operations edit

The squadron was redesignated the 32d Tactical Airlift Squadron and conducted worldwide airlift operations between 1973 and 1979.[1]

Pilot training edit

The squadron became the 32d Flying Training Squadron and provided pilot training from 1995–2012.[1] The 32d was inactivated on 14 Sep 2012 and the personnel, aircraft and equipment were transferred to the 3d Flying Training Squadron.

Campaigns and decorations edit

  • Campaigns. World War II: Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.
  • Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Sicily, 11 Jul 1943; France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1995-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1997; 1 Jul 1997-30 Jun 1998; 1 Jul 1998-30 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2000; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2003; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 Jun 2005.

Lineage edit

  • Constituted as the 32d Transport Squadron on 28 January 1942
Activated on 2 March 1942
Redesignated 32d Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Inactivated on 30 September 1946
  • Redesignated 32d Tactical Airlift Squadron on 18 June 1973
Activated on 1 September 1973
Inactivated on 30 June 1979
  • Redesignated 32d Airlift Flight on 1 May 1993
Activated on 31 May 1993
Inactivated on 1 October 1993
  • Redesignated 32d Flying Training Squadron on 3 March 1995
Activated on 1 June 1995[2]
Inactivated on 14 September 2012

Assignments edit

Stations edit

Aircraft edit

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is Douglas C-47A-15-DK Skytrain serial 42-92862 taking off from Poix Airfield (B-44), France, during Operation Varsity, 24 March 1945.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f Kane, Robert B. (10 June 2010). "Factsheet 32 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Lineage, including assignments, aircraft and stations, through February 2010 in Kane, except as noted.
  3. ^ Station number in Anderson.
  4. ^ Station number in Johnson.

Bibliography edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency