This article is about the Western Flying Training Command of 1943–1945. For the Western Flying Training Command of 1945–1946, see Flying Division, Air Training Command.
The West Coast Air Corps Training Center was established on 8 July 1940 by the Office of the Chief of Air Corps as part of the expansion of the training department of the Air Corps. After the Fall of France in May 1940, the United States began rapidly expanding its military forces, and with the large numbers of men entering the military, the training requirements of the Air Corps were drastically expanded.[1]
As a result, the centralized training of aircrew was divided into three Training Centers, the Eastern, Gulf Coast (later Central) and Western. Training schools were assigned to the Centers based on the geography of the United States. In July 1943, these Centers were re-designated as Eastern, Central and Western Training Commands.[1]
By 1944, WFTC controlled a large number of training schools in the Southwestern United States, and established several Wings to provide organizational command and control over them, based on both training types and geography. The schools operated by WFTC part of the Aviation Cadet Training Program. These were:[1]
Classification: This was the stage where it would be decided whether the cadet would train as a navigator, bombardier, or pilot
Preflight: Ground training for all air cadets. Successful completion meant being assigned to a flying school for training. "Washouts" were returned to the regular Air Corps ranks for reassignment.
Primary (Phase I): Taught basic flying using two-seater training aircraft. Usually taught by contract flying schools operated by the WFTC
Basic (Phase II): Formation flying, air navigation, cross-country flying skills were taught.
Advanced (Phase II): Single or multi-engine aircraft schools for cadets becoming fighter, bomber or transport pilots. After graduation, the successful Air Cadet received his "wings" and were commissioned Second Lieutenants. In addition, experienced pilots in the field were sent to Training Command "transition schools" to acquire additional single or mulch-engine flying ratings.
In addition to the American Air Cadets, Cadets from the British Royal Air Force and Free French Air Force were trained in flying skills. WFTC also operated aircrew schools for Navigators, Bombardiers and flexible aerial gunners. Radio operators were centrally trained at Scott Field, Illinois. Other aircrew positions, such as B-29 flight engineers and RADAR operators were also trained later in the war as training requirements presented themselves. This included the first jet pilots in 1945.[1]
WFTC was inactivated on 1 November 1945, being consolidated into the new Central Flying Training Command at Randolph Field, Texas, as part of the consolidation of the Army Air Forces after World War II ended.[2]
Shortly after the end of World War II on 15 December 1945, Central Flying Training Command consolidated with Western Flying Training Command on 1 November 1945, and was re-designated Western Flying Training Command. This reflected the massive demobilization after the end of the war, and the closure of the majority of the wartime training bases.[1] On 15 December 1945 Western Flying Training Command consolidated with the Eastern Flying Training Command. The single entity became Army Air Forces Flying Training Command on 1 January 1946, with its headquarters at Randolph Field, Texas.
Lineageedit
Established as West Coast Air Corps Training Center on 8 July 1940 and activated
Redesignated Army Air Forces West Coast Training Center on 29 October 1942
Redesignated Army Air Forces Western Flying Training Command on 31 July 1943
Air Corps Flying Training Command (later Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, Army Air Forces Training Command), 23 January 1942 – 1 November 1945[1]
L-2, L-3, L-4, TG-5 and TG-6s were used for glider and liaison pilot training
Gunnery training schools flew A-33, AT-6s, AT-1s, B-34s, B-10s and RP-63s for air-to-air flexible gunnery training.[1]
Referencesedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
^ abcdefghijklManning, 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
army, forces, western, flying, training, command, this, article, about, western, flying, training, command, 1943, 1945, western, flying, training, command, 1945, 1946, flying, division, training, command, wftc, command, united, states, army, forces, assigned, . This article is about the Western Flying Training Command of 1943 1945 For the Western Flying Training Command of 1945 1946 see Flying Division Air Training Command The Army Air Forces Western Flying Training Command WFTC was a command of the United States Army Air Forces It was assigned to the Army Air Forces Training Command stationed at Santa Ana Army Air Base California It was inactivated on 1 November 1945 Western Flying Training CommandLocations of airfields controlled by the Western Flying Training CommandActive1940 1946Country United StatesBranch United States Army Air ForcesTypeCommand and ControlRoleTrainingPart ofArmy Air Forces Training CommandEngagementsWorld War II World War II American TheaterCommandersNotablecommandersMajor General Ralph P CousinsInsigniaWestern Flying Training Comman emblem Contents 1 History 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 3 Major Components 4 Major Aircraft 5 ReferencesHistory editThe West Coast Air Corps Training Center was established on 8 July 1940 by the Office of the Chief of Air Corps as part of the expansion of the training department of the Air Corps After the Fall of France in May 1940 the United States began rapidly expanding its military forces and with the large numbers of men entering the military the training requirements of the Air Corps were drastically expanded 1 As a result the centralized training of aircrew was divided into three Training Centers the Eastern Gulf Coast later Central and Western Training schools were assigned to the Centers based on the geography of the United States In July 1943 these Centers were re designated as Eastern Central and Western Training Commands 1 By 1944 WFTC controlled a large number of training schools in the Southwestern United States and established several Wings to provide organizational command and control over them based on both training types and geography The schools operated by WFTC part of the Aviation Cadet Training Program These were 1 Classification This was the stage where it would be decided whether the cadet would train as a navigator bombardier or pilot Preflight Ground training for all air cadets Successful completion meant being assigned to a flying school for training Washouts were returned to the regular Air Corps ranks for reassignment Primary Phase I Taught basic flying using two seater training aircraft Usually taught by contract flying schools operated by the WFTC Basic Phase II Formation flying air navigation cross country flying skills were taught Advanced Phase II Single or multi engine aircraft schools for cadets becoming fighter bomber or transport pilots After graduation the successful Air Cadet received his wings and were commissioned Second Lieutenants In addition experienced pilots in the field were sent to Training Command transition schools to acquire additional single or mulch engine flying ratings In addition to the American Air Cadets Cadets from the British Royal Air Force and Free French Air Force were trained in flying skills WFTC also operated aircrew schools for Navigators Bombardiers and flexible aerial gunners Radio operators were centrally trained at Scott Field Illinois Other aircrew positions such as B 29 flight engineers and RADAR operators were also trained later in the war as training requirements presented themselves This included the first jet pilots in 1945 1 WFTC was inactivated on 1 November 1945 being consolidated into the new Central Flying Training Command at Randolph Field Texas as part of the consolidation of the Army Air Forces after World War II ended 2 Shortly after the end of World War II on 15 December 1945 Central Flying Training Command consolidated with Western Flying Training Command on 1 November 1945 and was re designated Western Flying Training Command This reflected the massive demobilization after the end of the war and the closure of the majority of the wartime training bases 1 On 15 December 1945 Western Flying Training Command consolidated with the Eastern Flying Training Command The single entity became Army Air Forces Flying Training Command on 1 January 1946 with its headquarters at Randolph Field Texas Lineage editEstablished as West Coast Air Corps Training Center on 8 July 1940 and activatedRedesignated Army Air Forces West Coast Training Center on 29 October 1942 Redesignated Army Air Forces Western Flying Training Command on 31 July 1943 Inactivated on 1 November 1945 1 Assignments edit Office of the Chief of Air Corps 8 July 1940 Air Corps Flying Training Command later Army Air Forces Flying Training Command Army Air Forces Training Command 23 January 1942 1 November 1945 1 Stations edit Moffett Field California 8 July 1940 Santa Ana Army Air Base California 1 April 1942 1 November 1945 1 Major Components edit35th Flying Training Wing Basic Advanced Flight Training California Headquarters Merced Army Airfield California 8 January 1943 Minter Field California 11 September 1943 16 Jun 1946 3 dd 36th Flying Training Wing Primary Flight TrainingHeadquarters Victorville Army Airfield California 8 January 1943 Santa Ana Army Air Base California 21 December 1943 1 November 1945 4 dd 37th Flying Training Wing Basic Advanced Flight Training Arizona Headquarters Luke Field Arizona 8 January 1943 16 June 1946 3 dd 38th Flying Training Wing Bombardier and Specialized 2 4 Engine TrainingHeadquarters Roswell Army Airfield New Mexico 8 January 1943 Kirtland Field New Mexico 10 September 1943 Williams Field Arizona 26 February 1945 16 June 1946 5 dd 80th Flying Training WingHeadquarters Las Vegas Army Airfield Nevada 25 August 1943 16 June 1946 No units ever assigned 6 dd 81st Flying Training Wing Classification Preflight UnitHeadquarters Santa Ana Army Air Base California 25 August 1943 1104 W 8th St Santa Ana California 15 December 1944 1 November 1945 7 dd 83d Flying Training WingHeadquarters Douglas Army Airfield Arizona 25 August 1943 20 December 1943 No units ever assigned 8 dd Major Aircraft editPrimary flight trainingBoeing Stearman PT 17 Fairchild PT 19 and Ryan PT 22 twin seat single engine trainers 1 dd Basic flight trainingVultee BT 13 and Vultee BT 15 1 dd Advanced flight trainingNorth American AT 6 single engine Cessna AT 17 two engine 1 dd Specialized schools 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 along with bombardier training Beechcraft AT 7s were used for two engine pilot training and also navigator training Boeing B 17s and Consolidated B 24s were used for four engine pilot training L 2 L 3 L 4 TG 5 and TG 6s were used for glider and liaison pilot training Gunnery training schools flew A 33 AT 6s AT 1s B 34s B 10s and RP 63s for air to air flexible gunnery training 1 dd References edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 Manning 2005 33 a b 35th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 36th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 38th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 80th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 81st Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 83d Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Western Flying Training Command Portal nbsp Aviation Retrieved from 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