32nd Flying Training Squadron explained

Unit Name:	32d Flying Training Squadron
Dates:	1942–1946; 1973–1979; 1993–1993; 1995–2012
Role:	Pilot Training
Command Structure:	Air Education and Training Command
Battles:	Operation Husky Operation Overlord Operation Market Garden Operation Varsity^[1]
Decorations:	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Identification Symbol Label:	32d Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 5 December 1996)
Identification Symbol 2 Label:	32d Tactical Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 2 January 1974)

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.

History

World War II

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

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

Pilot training

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

• 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

• 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

• 314th Transport Group, 2 March 1942
• 50th Transport Wing, 31 March 1942
• 314th Troop Carrier Group, 19 August 1942 (attached to 441st Troop Carrier Group after September 1945)
• 441st Troop Carrier Group, December 1945 – 30 September 1946
• 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Sep 1973 (attached to 513th Tactical Airlift Wing, 5 November 1973 – 16 January 1974, 3 September–14 November 1975; 322d Tactical Airlift Wing, 3 February–16 April 1975; 435th Combat Support Group, 3 June–14 August 1976, 13 February–13 April 1977; 435th Tactical Airlift Group, 9 September–14 November 1977)
• 314th Tactical Airlift Group, 1 November 1978 – 30 June 1979 (attached to 313th Tactical Airlift Group, 17 February–14 April 1979)
• 46th Test Wing, 31 May–1 October 1993
• 71st Operations Group, 1 June 1995 – 14 September 2012^[2]

Stations

• Drew Field, Florida, 2 March 1942
• Bowman Field, Kentucky, 24 June 1942
• Army Air Base, Knob Noster, Missouri, 4 November 1942
• Lawson Field, Georgia, 22 February–4 May 1943
• Berguent Airfield, French Morocco, May 1943
• Kairouan Airfield, Tunisia, 26 June 1943
• Castelvetrano Airfield, Sicily, Italy, 1 September 1943 – 13 February 1944
• RAF Saltby (AAF-538),^[3] England, 20 February 1944
• Poix Airfield (B-44),^[4] France, 28 February 1945

• AAF Station Frankfurt, Germany, 23 September 1945 – 30 September 1946
• Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, 1 September 1973 – 30 June 1979 (Deployed to RAF Mildenhall, England, 5 November 1973 – 16 January 1974, 3 September–14 November 1975, 9 September–14 November 1977, 17 February–14 Apr 1979; Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, 3 February–16 April 1975, 3 June–14 August 1976, 13 February–13 April 1977)
• Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 31 May–1 October 1993
• Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 1 June 1995 – 14 September 2012^[2]

Aircraft

• Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1942–1946)
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules (1973–1979)
• Beechcraft T-1 Jayhawk (1995–2012)^[2]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Book: Anderson, Capt. Barry. Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II. 1985. Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Maxwell AFB, AL yes. https://web.archive.org/web/20160123155923/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf . January 23, 2016. June 28, 2017.
• Book: Johnson, 1st Lt. David C.. U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day. 1988. Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Maxwell AFB, AL. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150929064443/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf . September 29, 2015. June 26, 2017.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. 1961. December 17, 2016. reprint. 1983. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-912799-02-1. 61060979.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. December 17, 2016. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 72556. 70605402.
• Book: Ravenstein, Charles A.. Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. December 17, 2016. 1984. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-912799-12-9. registration.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Factsheet 32 Flying Training Squadron (AETC). Kane. Robert B.. June 10, 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. February 1, 2018.
2. Lineage, including assignments, aircraft and stations, through February 2010 in Kane, except as noted.
3. Station number in Anderson.
4. Station number in Johnson.