The 31st Flying Training Wing was a

training Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and performance. I ...

formation of the

U.S. Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

(AAF) during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The wing's mission was to train personnel of the U.S. Army Air Forces Training Command. Headquartered at Enid Field,

Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...

, for most of its operational service, it controlled contract pilot schools primarily in the Central United States. There is no lineal connection to the

31st Fighter Wing The 31st Fighter Wing (31 FW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe major command and the Third Air Force. It is stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) base ...

History

Until 1939, the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

Air Corps provided all flying training with military instructor pilots. Beginning in 1939, it contracted with nine civilian flying schools to provide primary flight training. Primary training consisted of a three-month course of 65 hours of flying instruction. As the United States prepared to enter World War II by expanding its number of flying squadrons, the number of contract primary schools increased.Manning, Thomas A. (2005), ''History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002''. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas According to the contract, the government supplied students with training aircraft, flying clothes, textbooks, and equipment. The Air Corps also put a detachment at each school to supervise training. The schools furnished instructors, training sites and facilities, aircraft maintenance, quarters, and mess halls. From the Air Corps, schools received a flat fee of $1,170 for each graduate and $18 per flying hour for students eliminated from training. The Primary Pilot Training used Boeing PT-17 or

Fairchild PT-19 The Fairchild PT-19 (company designation Fairchild M62) is an American monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces, Royal Air Force, RAF and Royal Canadian Air Force, RCAF during World War II. Design ...

two-seater single-engine training aircraft. Also, the wing controlled specialized schools for Liaison Pilots using the Stinson

L-5 Sentinel The Stinson L-5 Sentinel is a World War II-era liaison aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), U.S. Army Ground Forces, U.S. Marine Corps and the British Royal Air Force. It was produced by the Stinson Division of the Vultee ...

, and

Women Airforce Service Pilots The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) (also Women's Army Service Pilots or Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots) was a civilian women pilots' organization, whose members were United States federal civil service employees. Members of WASP became t ...

(WASP) primary training was conducted exclusively at

Avenger Field Avenger Field is a List of airports in Texas, Texas airport in Nolan County, Texas, Nolan County, three miles west of Sweetwater, Texas, Sweetwater. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 FAA airport categories, called ...

, Sweetwater, Texas. Following the

fall of France The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Net ...

in 1940, the Air Corps upped its pilot production goal to 7,000 per year. To meet that goal, the Air Corps increased the capacity of its schools and added more contract primary schools. The vast majority of contract primary pilot training ended in the spring of 1944 as part of the rundown of Army pilot training. The ones remaining open ended their operations in October 1945.

Lineage

* Established as 31st Flying Training Wing on 17 December 1942 : Activated on 16 January 1943 : Disbanded on 30 December 194531st Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

Assignments

* Army Air Forces Gulf Coast Training (later, AAF Central Flying Training) Command, 16 January 1943 – 30 December 1945

Stations

* Chickasha, Oklahoma, trained 8,000 troops at the Wilson and Bonfis Flying School that opened in October 1941, after the war it became Chickasha Municipal Airport. * Enid Field,

, 16 January 1943 * Fort Worth Field,

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, 31–30 May 30 December 1945

Training aircraft

CPS Primary Trainers were primarily

PT-17 Stearman The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 is an American biplane formerly used as a military Trainer (aircraft), trainer aircraft, of which at least 10,626 were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. Stearman Aircraft became a subsidiary o ...

biplanes and

s monoplanes, although a wide variety of other types could be found at the airfields. The Fairchild PT-19 aircraft also could have the student pilot covered with a hood for "Blind" instrument flying training. Glider pilot schools used Aeronca TG-5As,

Taylorcraft TG-6A The Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper is an American observation and liaison aircraft built by Taylorcraft Aircraft, Taylorcraft for the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. Design and development In 1941 the United States Army Air For ...

s, and Piper TG-8As unpowered glider conversions of powered light observation aircraft which had similar characteristics to the military gliders under development.

Contract Pilot Schools

; Arledge Field, Stamford, Texas : 308th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Stamford Flying School and Lou Foote Flying Service and Coleman Flying School : Opened: August 1941, Closed: August 1944 (PT-17, PT-19) : Controlled four auxiliary airfields ;

, Sweetwater, Texas : 319th Flying Training Detachment : 2563d Army Air Forces Base Unit (Women Air Service Pilots), April 1944 : Operated by: Aviation Enterprises. Conducted Primary, Basic and Advanced (WASP) training : Opened: May 1942, Closed: December 1945 (PT-17, PT-19) : Controlled five auxiliary airfields ; Bruce Field, Ballinger, Texas : 306th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Fred Harmon Flying School : Opened: October 1941, Closed: October 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled five auxiliary airfields ; Chickasha Municipal Airport, Chickasha, Oklahoma : 316th Flying Training Detachment : 2549th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Contract Pilot School, Primary), April 1944 : Operated by: Wilson-Bonfils Flying School : Opened: October 1941, Closed: August 1945 (PT-17, PT-19) : Controlled four auxiliary airfields ; Cimarron Field, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma : 310th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Oklahoma Air College : Opened: October 1941, Closed: May 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled three auxiliary airfields ; South Coleman Airport, Coleman, Texas : 304th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Coleman FLying School, Limited : Opened: July 1941, Closed: November 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled four auxiliary airfields ; Corsicana Field, Corsicana, Texas : 301st Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Air Activities of Texas : Opened: April 1941, Closed: November 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled six auxiliary airfields ; Cuero Municipal Airport, Cuero, Texas : 303d Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Brayton Flying Services, Inc. : Opened: May 1941, Closed: August 1944 (PT-17, PT-19) : Controlled four auxiliary airfields ; Gibbs Field, Fort Stockton, Texas : 313th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Pacific Air School Limited : Opened: June 1942, Closed: April 1944 (PT-17, PT-19) : Controlled two auxiliary airfields ;

Garner Field Garner Field is an airport in Uvalde County, Texas, three miles east of the city of Uvalde, which owns it. It is named for John Nance Garner, 32nd Vice President of the United States. History Opened in October 1941 with three 6,000 ft hard ...

, Uvalde, Texas : 305th Flying Training Detachment : 2566th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Contract Pilot School, Primary), April 1944 : Operated by: Hangar Six, Incorporated : Opened: October 1941, Closed: July 1945 (PT-13, PT-19) : Controlled four auxiliary airfields ; Grider Field, Pine Bluff, Arkansas : 312th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Pine Bluff School of Aviation : Opened: April 1941, Closed: October 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled five auxiliary airfields ; Harvey Parks Airport, Sikeston, Missouri : 311th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Missouri Institute of Aeronautics : Opened: January 1941, Closed: November 1944 (PT-18, PT-19) : Controlled seven auxiliary airfields ; Hatbox Field, Muskogee, Oklahoma : 315th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by Spartan Aircraft Company and Spartan School of Aeronautics : Opened: January 1941, Closed: June 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled three auxiliary airfields ;

Hicks Field Hicks Field (Camp Taliaferro Field #1) is a former World War I military airfield, located north-northwest of Saginaw, Texas. It operated as a training field for the Air Service, United States Army, from 1917 until 1920. It was one of 32 ...

, Fort Worth, Texas : 307th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Texas Aviation School and W. F. Long Flying School. : Opened: September 1941, Closed: May 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled three auxiliary airfields ; Jones Field, Bonham, Texas : 302d Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Bonham Aviation School : Opened: September 1941, Closed: November 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled four auxiliary airfields ; Miami Municipal Airport, Miami, Oklahoma : 322d Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Spartan School of Aeronautics : Opened: June 1941, Closed: March 1944 (PT-17, PT-19)Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004 : Controlled four auxiliary airfields ; Mustang Field, El Reno, Oklahoma : 320th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Midwest Air School : Opened: February 1943, Closed: November 1944 (PT-17, PT-19) : Controlled four auxiliary airfields ; Parks Metropolitan Airport, East St. Louis, Illinois : 309th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Parks Air College : Opened: June 1939, Closed: August 1943 (PT-13, PT-17, PT-19) : Controlled one auxiliary airfield ; Ponca City Municipal Airport, Ponca City, Oklahoma : 323d Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Darr School of Aeronautics : Opened: June 1941, Closed: May 1944 (PT-17, PT-19) ; Tulsa Municipal Airport, Tulsa, Oklahoma : 314th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Spartan School of Aeronautics : Opened: June 1939, Closed: August 1944 (PT-3A, PT-17, PT-19) : Controlled five auxiliary airfields ;

Victory Field Victory Field is a minor league ballpark in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is home to the Indianapolis Indians of the International League. History Victory Field opened on July 11, 1996, with the Indians falling to the Oklah ...

, Vernon, Texas : 317th Flying Training Detachment : Operated by: Hunter Flying Service and Richey Flying Service. : Opened: December 1941, Closed: August 1944 (PT-19) : Controlled five auxiliary airfields

Contract Glider Pilot Schools

; Aberdeen Regional Airport, Aberdeen, South Dakota : 26th Glider Training Detachment : Basic Glider Training School WW2 US Army Air Force CG-4A Combat Glider History Report
/ref> (TG-8A) : Operated by: Anderson & Brennan Flying Service ;

Eberts Field Eberts Field is a former military airfield, located northwest of Lonoke, Arkansas. The airfield was List of airfields of the Training Section of the United States Army Air Service, one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established in 1 ...

, Lohoke, Arkansas : 15th Glider Training Detachment : Pre-Glider/Primary Training School (TG-8A) : Operated by: Kenneth Starnes Flying Service ; Renner Field, Goodland, Kansas : 22d Glider Training Detachment : Pre-Glider/Primary Training School (TG-8A) : Operated by: William A. Ong ;

Hale County Airport Hale County Airport is a public airport about south-southwest of Plainview, Texas. History From 1942 to 1944, the Hale County Airport consisted of an all-way turf airfield with a 2,700' x 2,700' landing/takeoff area. Glider training was provi ...

, Plainview, Texas : 4th Glider Training Detachment : Basic Glider Training School (TG-4A, TG-5, TG-8A) : Operated by: Clint Breedlove Aerial Service ; Hartlee Field Airport, Denton, Texas : 17th Glider Training Detachment : Basic Glider Training School (TG-4A, TG-5, TG-8A) : Operated by: Harte Flying Service ; Hays Airport, Hays, Kansas : 19th Glider Training Detachment : Pre-Glider/Primary Training School (TG-8A) : Operated by: Morey Airplane Company ; Janesville Field, Janesville, Wisconsin : 16th Glider Training Detachment : Basic Glider Training School (TG-4A, TG-5, TG-8A) : Operated by: Bonham Aviation School ; Okmulgee Municipal Airport, Okmulgee, Oklahoma : 25th Glider Training Detachment : Pre-Glider/Primary Training School : Operated by: Sooner Air Training Corp. ; Pittsburg Airport, Pittsburg, Kansas : 21st Glider Training Detachment : Pre-Glider Training School (TG-8A) : Operated by: McFarland Flying Service ; Spencer Municipal Airport, Spencer, Iowa : 23d Glider Training Detachment : Pre-Glider/Primary Training School(TG-8A) : Operated by: Hunter Flying Service : Hunter Flying Service moved from Spencer, Iowa, to Hamilton Airport at Hamilton, Texas, on 20 October 1942. ; Theldor Airfield, Vinita, Oklahoma : 27th Glider Training Detachment : Pre-Glider/Primary Training School (TG-8A) : Operated by: Burke Aviation Service

List of wing commanders

* BG Warren R. Carter, 16 January 1943 * BG T.W. Blackburn, 26 April 1943 * Col Henry W. Door, 10 April 1944 * BG Aubry Hornsby, 22 May 1944 * Col James F. Powell, 15 June 1944 * Col Walter S. Lee, 31 July 1944 * BG Charles T. Myers, c. Nov 1944 (Additional Duty) * Col Walter S. Lee, 16 December 1944 * BG John F. Egan, 4 January 1945 * Col Hilbert M. Wittkop, 23 Apr–31 Oct 1945 * Unknown through 30 December 1945.

Notes

References

{{Authority control 1943 establishments in Oklahoma 1945 disestablishments in Texas Military units and formations established in 1943 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Training wings of the United States Army Air Forces