34th Operations Group

The 34th Operations Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated as the 34th Flying Training Wing and supervised training of bombardiers and pilots for multiengine aircraftuntil it was disbanded on 16 June 1946 at Midland Army Air Field, Texas. The wing was reactivated in 1978 as the 34th Tactical Airlift Training Group and conducted various courses for crews of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules until inactivating in December 1961. It was activated a third time in 1994 as the 34th Operations Group and conducted airmanship training at the United States Air Force Academy.

This article is about the 34th Flying Training Wing of World War II. For the 34th Training Wing active since 1994, see 34th Training Wing.
34th Operations Group
Locations of airfields controlled by the 34th Flying Training Wing
Active1942–1946; 1978–1991; 1994–2004
Country United States
Branch United States Army  United States Air Force
RoleTraining

History

The wing supervised Training Command Flight Schools in Central and Northern Texas and Oklahoma. The assigned schools provided specialized training for bombardiers, and the wing was the home of the "West Texas Bombardier Quadrangle" schools (Childress, Midland, San Angelo, and Big Spring Army Airfields).[1]

The wing also provided specialized schools for training on the two-engine Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber (Dodge City, Laughlin Army Airfields), and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator four-engine heavy bomber (Fort Worth, Liberal Army Airfields). After graduation Air Cadets were commissioned as Second Lieutenants, received their "wings" and were reassigned to Operational or Replacement Training Units operated by one of the four numbered air fores in the zone of interior.[1]

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

When the United States Air Force became a separate service in September 1947, former Air Corps units that had been disbanded, including this wing, were transferred to it.

The wing was reconstituted in 1978 as the 34th Tactical Airlift Training Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas and supervised training courses for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules until inactivating in 1991 with the implementation of the Objective Wing organization by its parent 314th Tactical Airlift Wing.

The group was again activated as the 34th Operations Group and supervised airmanship training for the 34th Training Wing at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado until inactivating in 2004 and transferring its mission to the 306th Flying Training Group

Lineage
  • Established as the 34th Flying Training Wing (Bombardier, Specialized) on 17 December 1942
Activated on 8 January 1943
Disbanded on 16 June 1946[2]
  • Reconstituted 1978 as 34th Tactical Airlift Training Group
Activated on 15 September 1978
Inactivated on 1 December 1991
  • Redesignated 34th Operations Group in 1994
Activated on 1 October 1994
Inactivated on 4 October 2004

Assignments
  • AAF Gulf Coast Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command), 8 January 1943 – 16 June 1946 [2]
  • 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, 15 September 1978 – 1 December 1991[3]
  • 34th Training Wing, 1 October 1994 – 4 October 2004[4]

Stations
  • San Angelo Army Air Field, Texas, 8 January 1943
  • Midland Army Air Field, Texas, 25 May 1945 – 16 June 1946[2]
  • Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, 15 September 1978 – 1 December 1991
  • United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, 1 October 1994 – 4 October 2004

Training aircraft

The schools of the wing used primarily the Beechcraft AT-11 for bombardier training.

Assigned Schools

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
77th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Advanced Flight Training, Single Engine
78th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Classification/Preflight Unit
80th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Navigation and Glider

References

Notes
  1. Manning, et al.
  2. 34th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  3. Haulman, Daniel L. (22 June 2017). "Factsheet 314 Airlift Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  4. Warnock, A. Timothy (28 November 2007). "Factsheet 34 Training Wing (USAFA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  5. "www.accident-report.com: Big Spring Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  6. "www.accident-report.com: Childress Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  7. "www.accident-report.com: Dodge City Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  8. "www.accident-report.com: Fort Worth Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  9. "www.accident-report.com: Laughlin Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  10. "www.accident-report.com: Liberal Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  11. "www.accident-report.com: Midland Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  12. "www.accident-report.com: San Angelo Army Airfield". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.

Bibliography

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

  • Manning, Thomas A.; Aschcroft, Bruce A.; Emmons, Richard H.; Hussey, Ann K.; Mason, Joseph L. (2005). History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Randolph AFB, Texas: Office of History and Research, Headquarters, Air Education and Training Command. ISBN 978-1376984057. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
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