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37th Flying Training Squadron [37th FTS]

The 37th Flying Training Squadron conducts primary flight training in the twin-engine Cessna T-37.

Seated alongside an instructor, each student receives about 81 hours of training in this aircraft.

Students learn basic aircraft characteristics and control, takeoff and landing techniques, aerobatics, and night, instrument and formation flying.

The 37th Flying Training Squadron traces its lineage to the 37th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) which was constituted on 20 November 1940 and activated on 15 January 1941 at Hamilton Field, CA. Assigned to the 55th Pursuit (later, 55th Fighter) Group, the squadron operated the P-43 unti 1942 and was tasked with providing air defense, from 7-24 December 1941.

1942 saw the squadron transition to the P-38 and be redesignated as the 37th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 January 1942; and as teh the 37th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942. Reassigned to the 14th Fighter Group on 1 March 1943, the 37th saw combat in the ETO and MTO, from 6 May 1943-4 May 1945, operating from locations in Algeria, French Morocco, Tunisia and Italy. It was redesignated as the 37th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 28 February 1944 and inactivated on 9 September 1945 at Lesina, Italy.

Redesignated 37th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled, it reactivated, on 20 November 1946 at Dow Field (later, AFB), ME. Assigned to the 14th Fighter Group, the squadron flew the P-47 (1946-1949) and the P-84 (1947-1949), and tasked with providing air defense. The squadron was redesignated at the 37th Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 20 May 1948. It inactivated on 2 October 1949.

The 37th was redesignated as the 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 September 1952 and activated on 1 November 1952 under the 4711th Defense Wing, at Ethan Allen AFB, VT. Flying the F-51 (1952-1953), the F-86 (1953-1958) and the F-102 (1957-1960), the 37th once again assumed an air defense mission. The 37th was reassigned to the 517th Air Defense Group on 16 February 1953 and to the 14th Fighter Group, on 18 August 1955. It was discontinued on 1 May 1960.

The 37th was redesignated as the 37th Flying Training Squadron on 22 March 1972 and activated on 1 June 1972 at Columbus AFB, MS. Assigned to the 14th Flying Training Wing, the squadron was tasked with conductin undergraduate pilot training using the T-37 aircraft.

The squadron was reassigned to the 14th Operations Group on 15 December 1991.