37th Flying Training Wing (World War II)
37th Flying Training Wing | |
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Locations of airfields controlled by the 37th Flying Training Wing | |
Active | 1942-1946 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
Type | Command and Control |
Role | Training |
Part of | Western Flying Training Command |
Engagements |
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The 37th Flying Training Wing is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. It was last assigned to the Western Flying Training Command, and was disbanded on 16 June 1946 at Luke Field, Arizona.
There is no lineage between the United States Air Force 37th Training Wing, established on 22 December 1939 as the 37th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) at Albrook Army Airfield, Panama Canal Zone, and this organization.
History
The wing directed Training Command Flight Schools in Arizona. Most the assigned schools provided phase II basic and phase II advanced flying training for Air Cadets, although the wing also commanded both contract basic (phase I) and Army schools. Graduates of the advanced schools were commissioned as Second Lieutenants, received their "wings" and were reassigned to Operational or Replacement Training Units operated by one of the four numbered air fores in the zone of interior.[1]
As training requirements changed during the war, schools were activated and inactivated or transferred to meet those requirements.[1]
Lineage
- Established as 37th Flying Training Wing on 17 December 1942
- Activated on 8 January 1943
- Disbanded 16 June 1946.[2]
Assignments
- AAF West Coast (later, AAF Western Flying) Training Center, 8 January 1943 – 16 June 1946[2]
Training aircraft
The schools of the wing used a wide variety of planes to support its numerous training needs:[1]
- Primary training aircraft were the Boeing-Stearman PT-17 and Ryan PT-22. PT-13 and PT-27 aircraft were also used which were basic Stearmans with varying horsepower ratings.
- The Vultee BT-13 was the basic training aircraft, along with the higher-horsepower Vultee BT-15
- The North American AT-6 was used as the single-engine advanced trainer
- The Cessna AT-17 was the standard two-engine advanced trainer, along with the Cessna UC-78 variant of the AT-17
- Curtiss-Wright AT-9s were used for high performance two-engine training in perpetration for Lockheed P-38 Lightning training
- Beechcraft AT-10s were used for pilots in training for two engine bombers (B-25s and B-26s)
- Beechcraft AT-11s were used for pilots in training for C-47 transports
Assigned Schools
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Stations
- Luke Field, Arizona, 8 January 1943 – 16 June 1946.[2]
See also
- Army Air Forces Training Command
- Other Western Flying Training Command Flight Training Wings:
- 35th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Basic/Advanced Flight Training (California)
- 36th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Primary Flight Training
- 38th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Bombardier and Specialized 2/4-Engine Training
- 81st Flying Training Wing (World War II) Classification/Preflight Unit
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- 1 2 3 Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
- 1 2 3 35th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Ajo Army Airfield
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Douglas Army Airfield
- 1 2 3 4 5 Flight Training Field Fuselage Codes of World War II
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Echeverria Field
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Gila Bend Gunnery Range
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Luke Field
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Marana Army Air Field
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Ryan Field
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Thunderbird Field No. 1
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Thunderbird Field No. 2
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Williams Field
- ↑ www.accident-report.com: Yuma Army Airfield