74th Flying Training Wing (World War II)

74th Flying Training Wing

Cadets being drilled at Maxwell Field in the early 1940s,
Active 1943-1945
Country United States
Branch United States Army Air Forces
Type Command and Control
Role Training
Part of Army Air Forces Training Command
Engagements

World War II


  • World War II American Theater
Commanders
Notable
commanders
  • Maj Gen T. J. Hanley Jr., 16 Sep 1943
  • Col Elmer J. Bowling, 27 Nov 1943-at least Nov 1944

The 74th Flying Training Wing was wing of the United States Army Air Forces. It was last assigned to the Eastern Flying Training Command, and was disbanded on 30 December 1945 at Maxwell Field, Alabama.

The wing's mission was to provide classification and preflight testing of aviation cadets. It was one of three such centers, the others being at Maxwell Field, Alabama and Santa Ana Army Air Base, California.

History

The mission of the wing was to provide both Classification and Preflight stage training to air cadets which had completed Training Command basic indoctrination training.[1]

Once the cadet successfully completed the training at the center, they would be assigned to one of the AAF primary flight schools for initial flying training.[1]

The wing also provided specialized flight training for foreign pilots as well as a navigation school at Selman, Louisiana that encompassed the entire range of training from preflight ground school to advanced navigation training.

Lineage

Activated on 30 December 1943
Disbanded on 1 November 1945 [2]

Assignments

Units

Army Air Forces Classification Center, 25 April 1942-7 July 1942
1176th Preflight Training Squadron, 1 March 1943-29 February 1944[3]
AAF Flying School
Opened August 1940 for Free French Pilots (Basic, BT-13). Transferred to Gunter Field, Gunter 1941 and began Advanced, Single-Engine school for basic graduates from Gunter. Flight training ended December 1945[4]
AAF Flying School (Basic)
86th Basic Flying Training Group
Opened: 1941 Closed: December 1945 (BT-13, BT-4)[5]
Basic training for Free French Pilots

3d Preflight Training Group (Bombardier/Navigation)
AAF Navigation School
41st, 42d Navigation Training Groups
Opened: August 1942, Closed: December 1945 (AT-7, BT-13, A-28)[6]
Selman AAF was unique as it was only at Selman that a cadet could get his entire training (pre-flight, and advanced), and wind up with a commission and navigators wings without ever leaving the field. Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) squadrons were assigned to Selman AAF to provide navigational flying to train cadets

Stations

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 74th Flying Training Wing (World War II).
78th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Central Flying Training Command
81st Flying Training Wing (World War II) Western Flying Training Command
27th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Basic Flight Training
28th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Advanced Flight Training, Single-Engine
29th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Primary Flight Training
30th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Advanced Flight Training, Two Engine
75th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Gunnery
76th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Specialized Four-Engine Training

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. 1 2 3 4 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
  2. 1 2 3 74th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  3. Mueller, Robert (1989). Volume 1: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. ISBN 0-912799-53-6, ISBN 0-16-002261-4
  4. www.accident-report.com: Maxwell Field
  5. www.accident-report.com: Gunter Field
  6. www.accident-report.com: Selman Army Airfield

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