32nd Wolfhounds squadron during World War II

The squadron had the task of intercepting and identifying any unidentified ships and aircraft approaching Puerto Rico. To cover a larger area the 32nd deployed it's A flight to Arecibo Air Field, Puerto Rico on 11 December 1941.

In 1942 the German Navy began anti-shipping operations using submarine in the Caribbean. The subs sank several tankers in the harbor at San Nicholas, Aruba and even shelled an oil refinery on the island. It's important to note that the refineries at the island of Aruba and Curacao (part of the Netherlands West Indies) possessed oil from wells in Venezuela and counted for one-third of the Allies supply of gasoline.

Adjusting its defensive position the US Army Air Force (AAF) moved the rest of the 32nd Fighter Squadron from Losey to Arecibo Air Field on 19 February. The Germans began shifting their merchant ship attacks in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico areas. As a result the AAF directed its units to begin ant-submarine operations to cover Allied shipping convoys. Shortly after afterwards the 32nd got the assignment of fighting German submarines. The 32nd supplemented its P-36's with Bell P-39 Airacobras and Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, both could fly faster and were equipped with heavier weapons.

They had the responsibility for tracking down "Wolfpacks". The so-called "Wolfpacks", three of more subs together in a mission know as search and destroy, this led to the famous name and insignia "Wolfhounds". On 10 May 1942 the AAF redesignated the squadron as the 32nd Fighter Squadron. In the fall of 1942 the Germans reduced their submarine activity in the Caribbean region to concentrate its activity on the North Atlantic convoy route and the approaches to northwest Africa. With the withdrawal of submarines from the Caribbean region the Antilles Air Task Force, which included the 32nd, concentrated its efforts as a striking force on its primary function of guarding against possible attacks on the Panama Canal.

On 9 March 1943 the AAF moved the 32nd ant its flights to other locations. Headquarters squadron and A flight from Arecibo to Hato Field, Curacao at the same time C flight moved to Losey Field, Puerto Rico en B flight to Dakota Field, Aruba. Until early 1944 the squadron continued to fly missions from the Netherlands West Indies. On 10 February 1944 the AAF redesignated the squadron as the 32nd Fighter Squadron. (Single Engine)

In March 1944 the AAF moved the entire squadron to France Field in the Panama Canal Zone to replace the 52nd Fighter Squadron. The squadron was placed under the 26th Fighter Command, whose task was to defend the Panama Canal and to perform reconnaissance missions. On 10 January 1945 the 32nd moved from France Field to Howard Field in the Panama Canal Zone, their mission was intercepting hostile aircraft and defending the Canal flying the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. On April 1 "Fools day" the standby alert received a scramble order from an unknown source. Once airborne, after radio contact with the information centre, it became clear that they had been fooled. A thorough investigation was ordered by HQ XXVI FC, but the source was never identified.

With the termination of the War the AAF inactivated many units. In September and October of 1945 the squadron acquired personnel from the newly inactivated 28th and 30th Fighter Squadron. The following year, still stationed at Howard Field, the squadron swapped out its P-38's for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Several months later, on 15 October 1946, the AAF inactivated the squadron. Continue to Arrival in Holland.