82d Training Wing

Units

The 82 TRW is the largest of four technical training wings in Air Education and Training Command and is the most diversified in scope of training. The 82d, 782d, and 982d Training Groups conduct training at Sheppard and at geographically separated locations around the country. The 982d Training Group conducts training at locations worldwide.

Additionally, the 82d Comptroller Squadron (82 CPTS) reports directly to the 82 TRW.

History

The wing's history started with the 82d Fighter Group, which fought in Europe during World War II.

Cold War

The 82d was established as a Strategic Air Command fighter wing on 28 July 1947 at Grenier Field, New Hampshire. The 82d Fighter Wing was established in accordance with the Hobson Plan which established a controlling wing at each Air Force Base that commanding all groups and support units on the facility. However, the Air Force did not organize (assign personnel) to the wing until 15 August 1947. The wing was attached to the 307th Bomb Wing from 15 August 1947 to 15 December 1948. On 16 December 1948 the wing was reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force.

The operational flying component of the wing was the 82d Fighter Group, composed of the 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons and were equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lighting aircraft. Most officers that arrived were rated pilots that had recently returned to military life. Many had World War II combat experience. Many officers and enlisted men arrived at Grenier from 62nd Fighter Squadron, a unit that had just returned from a winter test in Alaska.

The wing was relieved of its responsibilities to the Fifteenth Air Force on 22 August 1949 and was inactivated on 20 October 1949.

Air Training Command

The 82d replaced and absorbed resources of the 3525th Pilot Training Wing in February 1973 at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona and assumed undergraduate pilot training operations in Cessna T-37 Tweet and Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft. Assigned to the wing were the 96th and 97th Flying Training Squadrons.

On 19 September 1976, the first women entered undergraduate pilot training. Ten female students were in Class 77-08. First Lieutenant Christine E. Schott became the first woman to solo in the T-38. On 2 September 1977, Class 77-08 graduated. The ten women received their wings along with 36 male classmates. In March 1978, the 82d’s first female instructor pilot, Capt Connie Engel, was assigned to the 97th Fighter Training Squadron to instruct T-38 students.

Air Training Command activated the 98th and the 99th Flying Training Squadrons on 1 June 1988 to test a four-squadron organization. The test showed the wing needed a fifth squadron to provide operational support. On 1 September 1989, ATC activated the 100th Flying Training Squadron.

In 1991 Congress approved the second round of base closures, as identified by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. On that list was Williams. The base was to cease operation as of 30 September 1993. With Williams scheduled to close, ATC decided to move part of that base’s T-38 fleet to Sheppard Air Force Base during 1992.

HQ USAF redesignated the 82d Flying Training Wing as the 82d Training Wing and assigned the designation to Air Education and Training Command on 1 July 1993. The 82d was inactivated at Williams and HQ AETC activated the 82d Training Wing at Sheppard and assigned it to Second Air Force. The 82d’s new mission was to conduct ground technical training. The 82d also became the host unit at Sheppard.

The 782d Training Group was activated on 23 March 1994 and assigned it to the 82d Training Wing. At the same time, the 396th Technical Training Group changed its name to the 82d Training Group, the 82d Medical Group became the 882d Training Group, and the 82d Field Training Group became the 982d Training Group. On 30 March, the wing began providing mission ready technician training, first in the C-141 crew chief course and, a day later, in the F-16 crew chief course. The C-141 program graduated its first class in August, followed in September by the F-16 class.

Lineage

Established as the 82 Fighter Wing on 28 July 1947

Organized on 15 August 1947 Inactivated on 2 October 1949

Redesignated 82 Flying Training Wing on 22 June 1972

Activated on 1 February 1973 Inactivated on 31 March 1993

Redesignated 82 Training Wing and activated on 1 July 1993

Assignments

Strategic Air Command, 15 August 1947 (attached to 307 Bombardment Wing)

Fifteenth Air Force, 16 December 1948

First Air Force, 22 August - 2 October 1949

Air Training Command, 1 February 1973 - 31 March 1993

Second Air Force, 1 July 1993 – present

Components

Groups

82d Fighter Group (later 82d Operations Group): August 15, 1947 – October 2, 1949 (detached April 4 – 29 June 1948); 15 December 1991 – 31 March 1993)

82d Training Group

782d Training Group

982d Training Group

Squadrons

96th Flying Training Squadron 1 February 1973 – 15 December 1991

97th Flying Training Squadron 1 February 1973 – 15 December 1991

98th Flying Training Squadron 1 June 1988 – 15 December 1991

99th Flying Training Squadron 1 June 1988 – 15 December 1991

100th Flying Training Squadron 1 September 1989 – 15 December 1991

Stations

Grenier Field (later Grenier Air Force Base)], New Hampshire, 15 August 1947 - 2 October 1949

Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 February 1973 - 31 March 1993

Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, 1 July 1993 – present

Aircraft Operated

North American P-51 Mustang (later F-51) (1947–1949)

Cessna T-37 Tweet (1973–1992)

Northrop T-38 Talon (1973–1993)