32d Tactical Fighter Wing
Encyclopedia
The 32d Air Operations Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force
. It was last assigned to the USAFE Theater Air and Space-operations Center, Kapaun Air Station, Germany. It was inactivated on 1 December 2006 and replaced by the Third Air Force
603rd Air Operation Center.
Sixth Air Force
The United States Army Air Corps
constituted the 32d Pursuit Group on 22 November 1940. Shortly afterwords, on 1 January 1941, the Air Corps activated the group at Rio Hato Army Air Base
, Panama. The group and its three assigned flying squadrons, the 51st, 52d, and 53d Pursuit Squadrons, had the mission of protecting the Panama Canal
using obsolete Boeing P-26 Peashooter
s. On 9 December 1941, just after Pearl Harbor, the newly redesignated Caribbean Air Force moved the 32d Pursuit Group to France Field
in the Panama Canal Zone
. The Air Corps equipped the 32d Pursuit Group with Curtiss P-36 Hawk
s to strengthen the defenses of the canal region.
On 15 May 1942, the US Army Air Forces redesignated the unit as the 32d Fighter Group (Twin Engine) and provided it P-38 Lightning
s. However, the group swapped these fighters for P-40 Warhawks to defend the Panama Canal Zone, subsequently being redesignated as the 32d Fighter Group (Single Engine) on 28 September 1942. During 1941 to 1943, the group trained in flying intercept and fighter sweeps over the area surrounding the Canal Zone. However, as the perceived threat to the Canal Zone diminished, the US Army Air Force disbanded the 32d Fighter Group at France Field on 1 November 1943.
Far East Air Force
On 10 August 1948, the United States Air Force established the 32d Composite Wing. Replacing the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, the 32d Composite Wing was activated at Kadena Field, Okinawa, to provide the Thirteenth Air Force
with photographic reconnaissance and search and rescue support. The wing, along with its 23d and 31st Reconnaissance Squadrons, used B/FB-17 Flying Fortresses, RB-29 Superfortresses, and C-46 Commando
s to accomplish this mission until the Air Force inavtivated the wing on 1 April 1949.
Air Defense Command
On 11 December 1956, the Air Force reestablished and redesignated the unit as the 32d Fighter Group (Air Defemse), subsequently activating it at Minot AFB, North Dakota
, as part of the Air Defense Command on 8 February 1957. The 32d Fighter Group trained air defense combat crews such as those belonging to the 433d Fighter Interceptor Squadron using F-106 Delta Dart
s. On 1 April 1959, the 32d FG was redesignated as the Minot Air Defense Sector
.
The Air Force activated the redesignated 32d Fighter Wing (Air Defense) at Minot on 28 December 1960. The wing, along with its 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, flew F-106 Delta Darts to provide air defense in the Minot Air Defense Sector. On 1 July 1962, the Air Force discontinued and inactivated the wing.
Tactical Air Command
In April 1964, the Air Force activated the redesignated 32d Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB, California, to be equipped with McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II
s. The wing had seven assigned fighter squadrons, consisting of the 68th, 431st, 497th, 782nd, 784th, and 785th Fighter Interceptor Squadrons. But, before it had become fully equipped and trained with the new fighters, the Air Force replaced the wing with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, thus discontinuing and inactivating the 32d Tactical Fighter Wing at George on 25 July 1964.
United States Air Forces in Europe
In 1989, the Netherlands
government allowed the US Air Force squadron at Soesterberg Air Base
to assume group status. Thus, on 16 November 1989, the United States Air Forces in Europe
activated the recently redesignated 32d Tactical Fighter Group (consisting of the old 32d Fighter Group and 32d Tactical Fighter Wing) at Soesterberg. The group assumed command over the 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron, along with eight support squadrons, a medical clinic, and an explosive ordnance disposal flight. With the end of the Cold War
a major force draw-down occurred in Europe, the USAF reduced its fighter force structure. on 1 October 1994, the 32d Tactical Fighter Group was inactivated.
On 22 May 2003 USAFE activated the unit as the 32d Air Operations Group, as part of the USAFE Theater Air and Space-operations Center, Kapaun Air Station, Germany.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. It was last assigned to the USAFE Theater Air and Space-operations Center, Kapaun Air Station, Germany. It was inactivated on 1 December 2006 and replaced by the Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
603rd Air Operation Center.
Mission
The USAFE Theater Air and Space-operations Center is an operational echelon which functions to consolidate operational command and control of joint space forces, similar to the functioning of a traditional Air Operations Center, but is classed, by AF doctrine, as a "Functional AOC." The USAFE TASOC, supplies the Joint Functional Component Command for Space operations expertise to create space situational awareness and command and control space forces. All of these efforts are in continuous around-the-clock support of global and theater operations.Lineage
- Constituted as 32d Pursuit Group on 22 November 1940
- Activated in Panama on 1 January 1941
- Redesignated: 32d Fighter Group in May 1942
- Disbanded: on November 1943.
- Reconstituted and redesignated 32d Fighter Group (Air Defense), on 11 December 1956
- Activated on 8 February 1957
- Discontinued and inactivated 1 February 1961
- Consolidated with 32d Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 31 January 1984
- Established as: 32d Composite Wing, 10 August 1948
- Activated: 10 August 1948
- Inactivated: 1 April 1949
- Redesignated as: 32d Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 28 December 1960
- Activated on: 28 December 1960
- Discontinued and Inactivated on: 1 July 1962
- Redesignated: 32d Tactical Fighter Wing and activated, 1 April 1964
- Inactivated on: 25 July 1964
- Consolidated group redesignated: 32d Tactical Fighter Wing, on 31 January 1984
- Activated as: 32d Tactical Fighter Group on 16 November 1989
- Inactivated on: 1 October 1994
- Redesignated and reactivated as: 32d Air Operations Group, 22 May 2003 – 1 December 2006
Assignments
- Caribbean Air Force. 1 January 1941
- XXVI Fighter CommandXXVI Fighter CommandThe XXVI Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...
, 18 September 1942 – 1 November 1943 - Far East Air Forces, 24 August 1948 – 1 April 1949
- Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense ForceThe Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1960 - 29th Air Division, 28 December 1960 – 1 July 1962
- 831st Air Division831st Air DivisionThe 831st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at George Air Force Base, California...
, 1 April 1964 – 23 July 1964 - United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 16 November 1989 – 1 October 1994; 22 May 2003-1 December 2006
Stations
- Rio Hato AABRio Hato AirportRío Hato Airport is an airport and former Panamanian Defense Base in Panama, Río Hato.-International Airport:In 2011 the Government of Panama gave the order to proceed for the project to rebuild the airport...
, Panama, 1 January 1941 - France FieldEnrique Adolfo Jiménez AirportEnrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport is a commercial airport located in Colón, Panama, offering scheduled airline flights to the national capital, Panama City, and to other destinations....
, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 9 December 1941 – 1 November 1943 - Kadena AB, Okinawa, 24 August 1948 – 1 April 1949
- Minot AFB, North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1960; 28 December 1960-1 July 1962 - George AFB, California, 1 April – 23 July 1964
- Soesterberg Air BaseSoesterberg Air BaseSoesterberg Air Base was a Royal Netherlands Air Force military airbase located in Soesterberg, eastnortheast of Utrecht. It was first established as an airfield in 1911, and in 1913, the Dutch Army bought the field and established the Army Aviation Division.For almost 40 years, United States...
, Netherlands, 16 November 1989 – 1 October 1994 - Kapaun Air Station, Germany, 22 May 2003 – 1 December 2006
Units
- Sixth Air Force, 1 January 1941 – 1 November 1943
- 51st Pursuit Squadron51st Fighter SquadronThe 51st Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 6th Fighter Wing, based at Howard Field, Canal Zone...
(Fighter)/Fighter Squadron (twin engine) - 52d Pursuit Squadron52d Fighter SquadronThe 52d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Western Air Defense Force, based at Hamilton Air Force Base, California...
(Fighter)/Fighter Squadron (twin engine) - 53d Pursuit Squadron53d Fighter SquadronThe 53d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 52d Operations Group and stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. It was inactivated on 31 March 1999.-World War II:...
(Fighter)/Fighter Squadron (twin engine)
- Far East Air Forces, 24 August 1948 – 1 April 1949
- 23d Reconnaissance Squadron
- 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
- Air Defense Command
- 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron433d Fighter Weapons SquadronThe 433d Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the USAF Weapons School at at Nellis AFB, Nevada.The unit was first activated in May of 1943 and flew the P-38 Lightning in the Pacific Theater of Operations. The 433d distinguished themselves in air combat against Japan over...
(8 February 1957 – 1 July 1960) - 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron5th Flying Training SquadronThe 5th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates T-1 Jayhawk aircraft conducting flight training.-World War II:...
(8 February 1957 – 1 July 1960)
- Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 1 April – 23 July 1964
- 782d Tactical Fighter Squadron
- 783d Tactical Fighter Squadron
- 784th Tactical Fighter Squadron
- 785th Tactical Fighter Squadron
- 68th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron68th Fighter SquadronThe 68th Fighter Squadron was one of the most long-serving Fighter Squadrons in U.S. Air Force history, remaining activated almost continually for 60 years. Known as the "Lightning Lancers", the squadron pioneered radar interception while flying the P-61 Black Widow during World War II...
- 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 16 November 1989 – 1 October 1994
- 32d Fighter Squadron32nd Air Operations SquadronThe 32d Air Operations Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 32d Air Operations Group, based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
Aircraft
- P-26 PeashooterP-26 PeashooterThe American Boeing P-26 Peashooter, was the first all-metal production fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane used by the United States Army Air Corps...
, 1941–1942 - P-36 HawkP-36 HawkThe Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
, 1942 - P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
, 1942 - P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1943
- B/FB-17 Flying Fortress, 1948–1949
- RB-29 Superfortress, 1948–1949
- C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
, 1948–1949 - F-106 Delta DartF-106 Delta DartThe Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft for the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it has proven to be the last dedicated interceptor in USAF service to date...
, 1957–1962 - F-4C Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, 1964 - F-15 EagleF-15 EagleThe McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
, 1989–1994
Operational history
The United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
constituted the 32d Pursuit Group on 22 November 1940. Shortly afterwords, on 1 January 1941, the Air Corps activated the group at Rio Hato Army Air Base
Rio Hato Airport
Río Hato Airport is an airport and former Panamanian Defense Base in Panama, Río Hato.-International Airport:In 2011 the Government of Panama gave the order to proceed for the project to rebuild the airport...
, Panama. The group and its three assigned flying squadrons, the 51st, 52d, and 53d Pursuit Squadrons, had the mission of protecting the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
using obsolete Boeing P-26 Peashooter
P-26 Peashooter
The American Boeing P-26 Peashooter, was the first all-metal production fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane used by the United States Army Air Corps...
s. On 9 December 1941, just after Pearl Harbor, the newly redesignated Caribbean Air Force moved the 32d Pursuit Group to France Field
Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport
Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport is a commercial airport located in Colón, Panama, offering scheduled airline flights to the national capital, Panama City, and to other destinations....
in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
. The Air Corps equipped the 32d Pursuit Group with Curtiss P-36 Hawk
P-36 Hawk
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
s to strengthen the defenses of the canal region.
On 15 May 1942, the US Army Air Forces redesignated the unit as the 32d Fighter Group (Twin Engine) and provided it P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
s. However, the group swapped these fighters for P-40 Warhawks to defend the Panama Canal Zone, subsequently being redesignated as the 32d Fighter Group (Single Engine) on 28 September 1942. During 1941 to 1943, the group trained in flying intercept and fighter sweeps over the area surrounding the Canal Zone. However, as the perceived threat to the Canal Zone diminished, the US Army Air Force disbanded the 32d Fighter Group at France Field on 1 November 1943.
Far East Air Force
On 10 August 1948, the United States Air Force established the 32d Composite Wing. Replacing the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, the 32d Composite Wing was activated at Kadena Field, Okinawa, to provide the Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
with photographic reconnaissance and search and rescue support. The wing, along with its 23d and 31st Reconnaissance Squadrons, used B/FB-17 Flying Fortresses, RB-29 Superfortresses, and C-46 Commando
C-46 Commando
The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
s to accomplish this mission until the Air Force inavtivated the wing on 1 April 1949.
Air Defense Command
On 11 December 1956, the Air Force reestablished and redesignated the unit as the 32d Fighter Group (Air Defemse), subsequently activating it at Minot AFB, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, as part of the Air Defense Command on 8 February 1957. The 32d Fighter Group trained air defense combat crews such as those belonging to the 433d Fighter Interceptor Squadron using F-106 Delta Dart
F-106 Delta Dart
The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft for the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it has proven to be the last dedicated interceptor in USAF service to date...
s. On 1 April 1959, the 32d FG was redesignated as the Minot Air Defense Sector
Minot Air Defense Sector
The Minot Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Minot Air Force Base , North Dakota...
.
The Air Force activated the redesignated 32d Fighter Wing (Air Defense) at Minot on 28 December 1960. The wing, along with its 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, flew F-106 Delta Darts to provide air defense in the Minot Air Defense Sector. On 1 July 1962, the Air Force discontinued and inactivated the wing.
Tactical Air Command
In April 1964, the Air Force activated the redesignated 32d Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB, California, to be equipped with McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
s. The wing had seven assigned fighter squadrons, consisting of the 68th, 431st, 497th, 782nd, 784th, and 785th Fighter Interceptor Squadrons. But, before it had become fully equipped and trained with the new fighters, the Air Force replaced the wing with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, thus discontinuing and inactivating the 32d Tactical Fighter Wing at George on 25 July 1964.
United States Air Forces in Europe
In 1989, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
government allowed the US Air Force squadron at Soesterberg Air Base
Soesterberg Air Base
Soesterberg Air Base was a Royal Netherlands Air Force military airbase located in Soesterberg, eastnortheast of Utrecht. It was first established as an airfield in 1911, and in 1913, the Dutch Army bought the field and established the Army Aviation Division.For almost 40 years, United States...
to assume group status. Thus, on 16 November 1989, the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
activated the recently redesignated 32d Tactical Fighter Group (consisting of the old 32d Fighter Group and 32d Tactical Fighter Wing) at Soesterberg. The group assumed command over the 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron, along with eight support squadrons, a medical clinic, and an explosive ordnance disposal flight. With the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
a major force draw-down occurred in Europe, the USAF reduced its fighter force structure. on 1 October 1994, the 32d Tactical Fighter Group was inactivated.
On 22 May 2003 USAFE activated the unit as the 32d Air Operations Group, as part of the USAFE Theater Air and Space-operations Center, Kapaun Air Station, Germany.
External links
- Slobberin Wolfhounds (http://www.slobberinwolfhounds.com)