77th Flying Training Wing

77th Flying Training Wing
Locations of airfields controlled by the 77th Flying Training Wing
Active1943–1946
Country United States
Branch  United States Army Air Forces
TypeCommand and Control
RoleTraining
Part ofArmy Air Forces Training Command
EngagementsWorld War II

  • World War II American Theater

The 77th Flying Training Wing was a wing of the United States Army Air Forces. It was assigned to the Central Flying Training Command, and was based in Texas between 1943 and its disbandment on 16 June 1946.

There is no lineage between the United States Air Force 77th Aeronautical Systems Wing, established on 5 February 1942 as the 77th Observation Group at Salinas Army Air Base, California, and this organization.

History

On 14 August 1943, the wing was established at Foster Army Airfield, Texas. It directed Flight Schools in South Texas. The schools provided phase III advanced flying training for Air Cadets, along with advanced single-engine transition training for experienced pilots for reassignment to other flying units. Air Cadet graduates of the advanced schools were commissioned as Second Lieutenants, received their "wings" and were reassigned to First Air Force, Second Air Force, Third Air Force, or Fourth Air Force operational or Replacement Training Units in the Zone of the Interior (the continental United States).[1]

As training requirements changed during the war, schools were activated and inactivated or transferred to meet those requirements.[1] The wing headquarters was moved to Bryan Army Airfield in March 1945, and disbanded there in June 1946.

Lineage

  • Established as 77th Flying Training Wing on 14 August 1943
Activated on 25 August 1943
Disbanded on 16 June 1946 .[2]

Assignments

  • Army Air Forces Central Flying Training Command, 25 August 1943 – 16 June 1946 [2]

Training aircraft

The schools of the wing used primarily the North American AT-6 as their single-engine advanced trainer. Also some Bell P-39s, Curtiss P-40s and North American P-51s were used for transition training. :[1]

Assigned Schools

Stations

See also

31st Flying Training Wing (World War II) Primary Flight Training
32d Flying Training Wing (World War II) Basic Flight Training
33d Flying Training Wing (World War II) Advanced Flight Training, Two Engine
34th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Bombardier and Specialized Two/Four-Engine Training
78th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Classification/Preflight Unit
79th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Gunnery
80th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Navigation and Glider

References

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

  1. ^ a b c Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas OCLC 71006954, 29991467
  2. ^ a b c 77th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  3. ^ "www.accident-report.com: Aloe Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d Flight Training Field Fuselage Codes of World War II
  5. ^ "www.accident-report.com: Bryan Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  6. ^ "www.accident-report.com: Eagle Pass Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  7. ^ "www.accident-report.com: Foster Field". Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  8. ^ www.accident-report.com: Matagorda Peninsula Bombing Range Archived 8 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "www.accident-report.com: Moore Field". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.