There is no lineage link between the United States Air Force 76th Maintenance Wing, established on 5 February 1942 as the 76th Observation Group at MacDill Field, Florida and the 76th FTW of the Second World War.
History
The wing was a heavy bomber training wing of Eastern Flying Training Command. Its schools provided four-engine heavy bomber transition training for experienced pilots who were moving from single and two-engine aircraft to the B-17 or B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. Also after 1944, most pilots were learning on B-17/B-24s for eventual transition to B-29 Superfortress training under Second Air Force.[1]
As training requirements changed during the war, schools were activated and inactivated or transferred to meet those requirements.[1]
Lineage
Established as 76th Flying Training Wing, on 14 August 1943
Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command, 25 August 1943
AAF Western Flying Training Command, 15 December 1945 – 16 June 1946.[2]
Training aircraft
The schools of the wing flew primarily B-17D/E/F Flying Fortresses. Some B-17Gs were flown after June 1944 when Second Air Force B-17 training ended. Some B-24D Liberators were also used
Opened: January 1943, Closed: February 1945 (B-17)[4]
Transition training for experienced single or two-engine pilots; WASP 4-engine school; primarily used for training B-29 Superfortress pilots after mid-1944; Later USAF Lockborune/Rickenbacker AFB, Now OH Air National Guard
Opened: January 1942, Closed: October 1945 (B-17, B-24)[5]
Transition training for experienced single or two-engine pilots; primarily used for training B-29 Superfortress pilots after mid-1944; later USAF Smyrna/Stewart Air Force Base, closed 1971
^ abManning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas OCLC71006954, 29991467
^ ab76th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama