36th Flying Training Wing (U.S. Army Air Forces)

The 36th Flying Training Wing was a wing of the United States Army Air Forces. It was last assigned to the Western Flying Training Command, and was disbanded on 1 November 1945 at Santa Ana Army Air Base, California.

36th Flying Training Wing
Locations of airfields controlled by the 36th Flying Training Wing
Active1942–1945
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
Commanders
Notable
commanders
  • BG Martinus Stenseth, 8 January 1943
  • BG Martin F. Scanlop, 13 January 1944
  • Col Tom J. Cunningham, 11 July 1944
  • Lt Col Arthur S. Blum Jr., 4 Dec 1944-Unknown

The wing directed flying training units of the Army Air Forces Training Command. Headquartered at Victorville Army Airfield, California for most of its operational service, it controlled contract pilot schools primarily in California and other western states.

There is no lineage between the current United States Air Force 36th Wing, established on 17 June 1948 at Howard Field, Canal Zone, and this organization.

History

Until 1939, the Army Air Corps provided all flying training with military instructor pilots. Beginning in 1939, it contracted with nine civilian flying schools to provide primary flight training. Primary training consisted of a three-month course of 65 hours of flying instruction. As the United States prepared to enter World War II by expanding its number of flying squadrons, the number of contract primary schools increased.[1]

According to the contract, the government supplied students with training aircraft, flying clothes, textbooks, and equipment. The Air Corps also put a detachment at each school to supervise training. The schools furnished instructors, training sites and facilities, aircraft maintenance, quarters, and mess halls. From the Air Corps, schools received a flat fee of $1,170 for each graduate and $18 per flying hour for students eliminated from training. The Primary Pilot Training used Boeing PT-17 or Fairchild PT-19 two-seater single-engine training aircraft. Also, the wing controlled specialized schools for Liaison Pilots using the Stinson L-5 Grasshopper, and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) primary training was conducted exclusively at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas.[1]

Following the fall of France in 1940, the Air Corps upped its pilot production goal to 7,000 per year. To meet that goal, the Air Corps increased the capacity of its schools and added more contract primary schools.[1]

The contract primary pilot schools ended their operations in October 1945.[1]

Lineage
  • Established as 36th Flying Training Wing on 17 December 1942.
Activated on 8 January 1943
Disbanded on 1 November 1945[2]

Assignments
  • Army Air Forces West Coast Training (later, AAF Western Flying Training) Command, 8 January 1943 – 1 November 1945.[2]

Stations

Training aircraft

The primary aircraft used were Boeing-Stearman PT-17 and Fairchild PT-19 twin-seat, single engine trainers. However other aircraft were used at several schools. Those were:.[1]

The PT-13, PT-18 and PT-27s were the basic Boeing-Stearman with different engines than the PT-17, with varying horsepower ratings. The PT-19 also could have the student pilot covered with a hood for "Blind" instrument flying training. Due to the proximity of Ryan Aircraft Company in San Diego, it's PT-22 trainer was also purchased and provided to several schools in California[1]

Assigned Schools

[2][8]

See also
29th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Eastern Flying Training Command
31st Flying Training Wing (World War II) Central Flying Training Command
  • Other Western Flying Training Command Flight Training Wings:
35th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Basic/Advanced Flight Training (California)
37th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Basic/Advanced Flight Training (Arizona)
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. 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. 36th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  3. Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
  4. "www.accident-report.com: Kingman Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  5. "www.accident-report.com: Las Vegas Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  6. "www.accident-report.com: Ontario Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  7. "www.accident-report.com: Rankin Field". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  8. "World War II Airfields and seaplne bases by state". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
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