80th Flying Training Wing (World War II)

80th Flying Training Wing
Locations of airfields controlled by the 80th Flying Training Wing
Active	1943-1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Type	Command and Control
Role	Training
Part of	Army Air Forces Training Command
Engagements	World War II World War II American Theater

The 80th Flying Training Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Central Flying Training Command, and was disbanded on 16 June 1946 at Ellington Field, Texas.

There is no lineage between the United States Air Force 80th Flying Training Wing, established on 13 January 1942 as the 80th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) at Selfridge Field, Michigan and this organization.

History

The wing was a World War II Command and Control organization which supported Training Command Navigator Schools. The command controlled three navigation schools in Texas, and also supported the AAF Glider Pilot School at South Plains.

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.

Lineage

• Established as 80th Flying Training Wing on 14 August 1943

Activated on 25 August 1943

Disbanded on 16 June 1946.

Assignments

• Army Air Forces Central Flying Training Command, 25 August 1943 – 16 June 1946.

Training aircraft

The schools of the wing used Beechcraft AT-7s for navigation training. Glider training focused on the Waco CG-4A, along with various tow planes to get the gliders airborne.

Assigned Schools

Ellington Field, Houston, Texas

AAF Advanced Navigation School

68th Navigation Training Group

Opened: January 1942, Closed: November 1945 (AT-7)

Remained open after the war as Ellington AFB, closed 1976, now TX ANG base

Hondo Army Airfield, Hondo, Texas

AAF Advanced Navigation School

87th Navigation Training Group

Opened: July 1942, Closed: December 1945 (AT-7)

Closed December 1945; opened 1951. Later Hondo Air Base, closed 1958; still used for flight screening program

San Marcos Army Airfield, San Marcos, Texas

AAF Advanced Navigation School

Opened: January 1943, Closed: September 1945 (AT-7)

Reopened 1951 as Gary Air Force Base. Closed 1963

South Plains Army Airfield, Lubbock, Texas

AAF Glider School

64th Two-Engine Flying Training Group

Opened: August 1942, Closed: November 1944 (A-25, AT-17, CG-4, L-4, TG-1, TG-5)

Stations

• San Marcos Army Airfield, Texas, 25 August 1943
• Ellington Field, Texas, 1 January 1945 – 16 June 1946

See also

• Army Air Forces Training Command

• Other Central Flying Training Command Flight Training Wings:

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

34th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Bombardier and Specialized Two/Four-Engine Training

77th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Advanced Flight Training, Single Engine

78th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Classifcation/Preflight Unit

79th Flying Training Wing (World War II) Gunnery

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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