76th Flying Training Wing (World War II)

76th Flying Training Wing
Locations of airfields controlled by the 76th Flying Training Wing
Active	1943-1946
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

The 76th Flying Training Wing was a wing of the United States Army Air Forces. It was assigned to the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, and was stationed from 1943-46 at Smyrna Army Airfield, Tennessee.

There is no lineage between the United States Air Force 76th Maintenance Wing, established on 5 February 1942 as the 76th Observation Group at MacDill Field, Florida and this organization.

History

The wing was a heavy bomber training wing of Eastern Flying Training Command. Its schools provided four-engine heavy bomber transition training for experienced pilots who were moving from single and two-engine aircraft to the B-17 or B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. Also after 1944, most pilots were learning on B-17/B-24s for eventual transition to B-29 Superfortress training under Second Air Force.^[1]

As training requirements changed during the war, schools were activated and inactivated or transferred to meet those requirements.^[1]

Lineage

Established as 76th Flying Training Wing, on 14 August 1943

Activated on 25 August 1943

Disbanded on 16 June 1946.^[2]

Assignments

Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command, 25 August 1943
AAF Western Flying Training Command, 15 December 1945 – 16 June 1946.^[2]

Training aircraft

The schools of the wing flew primarily B-17D/E/F Flying Fortresses. Some B-17Gs were flown after June 1944 when Second Air Force B-17 training ended. Some B-24D Liberators were also used

Assigned Pilot Schools

Hendricks Army Airfield, Sebring, Florida: AAF Pilot School (Specialized, 4-Engine); 43d Pilot Transition Training (4-Engine); Opened: February 1942, Closed: December 1945 (B-17)^[3]; Transition training for experienced single or two-engine pilots; primarily used for training B-29 Superfortress pilots after mid-1944

Lockbourne Army Airbase, Columbus, Ohio: AAF Pilot School (Specialized, 4-Engine); 44th Pilot Transition Training (4-Engine); Opened: January 1943, Closed: February 1945 (B-17)^[4]; Transition training for experienced single or two-engine pilots; WASP 4-engine school; primarily used for training B-29 Superfortress pilots after mid-1944; Later USAF Lockborune/Rickenbacker AFB, Now OH Air National Guard

Smyrna Army Airfield, Smyrna, Tennessee: AAF Pilot School (Specialized, 4-Engine); 46th Pilot Transition Training (4-Engine); Opened: January 1942, Closed: October 1945 (B-17, B-24)^[5]; Transition training for experienced single or two-engine pilots; primarily used for training B-29 Superfortress pilots after mid-1944; later USAF Smyrna/Stewart Air Force Base, closed 1971

References

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

1 2 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 76th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
↑ www.accident-report.com: Hendricks Army Airfield
↑ www.accident-report.com: Lockbourne Army Airbase
↑ www.accident-report.com: Smyrna Army Airfield

Army Air Forces Training Command

Flying Training

Flying Schools	Eastern Flying Training Command Central Flying Training Command Western Flying Training Command

Specialized Schools	Bombardier Contract Flying Glider Training Gunnery Navigator

Technical Training

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