74th Flying Training Wing (World War II)

History

The mission of the wing was to provide both Classification and Preflight stage training to air cadets which had completed Training Command basic indoctrination training.

Classification Stage processed the cadet and issued him his equipment. This was the stage where it would be decided whether the cadet would train as a navigator, bombardier, or pilot.

Pre-Flight Stage taught the mechanics and physics of flight and required the cadets to pass courses in mathematics and the hard sciences. Then the cadets were taught to apply their knowledge practically by teaching them aeronautics, deflection shooting, and thinking in three dimensions.

Once the cadet successfully completed the training at the center, they would be assigned to one of the AAF primary flight schools for initial flying training.

The wing also provided specialized flight training for foreign pilots as well as a navigation school at Selman, Louisiana that encompassed the entire range of training from preflight ground school to advanced navigation training.

Lineage

Established as 74th Flying Training Wing on 14 August 1943

Activated on 30 December 1943 Disbanded on 1 November 1945

Assignments

Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command, 25 August 1943 – 30 June 1945

Stations

Maxwell Field, Alabama, 16 September 1943 – 30 December 1945