Three times winner of the Hughes Trophy
The Hughes Achievement Award, more popularly known as the Hughes Award, was initiated as a result of discussions in 1952 between the USAF Air defense Command Headquarters (ADC) and the Hughes Aircraft Company. It was during this period, an era of transition from the "white scarves" and "rat races" of day fighters to the more exacting and sophisticated flying of "all weather interceptors", that ADC was having considerable difficulty in securing enough pilots to perform the rapidly expanding air defense mission. Most pilots and fighter squadron personnel were reluctant to give up the highly publicized and glamorous life associated with the day fighter. The success of all weather air defense units required a high degree of teamwork between interceptor directors.
It was towards this end that the Hughes Trophy was directed, with the aim of improving interceptor unit "sprit de corps" by annually recognizing the best fighter interceptor squadron. The trophy was given by Hughes tot the USAF who, in turn would present it to the best Interceptor Squadron in the entire Air Force, as determined by an evaluation by Headquarters USAF. Most important criteria used in this fiscal year evaluation are:
- The squadron must have been engaged in active air defense operations
- Interceptor Training Profile Success Rate
- Aircraft Operationally Ready Rate, to include weapon system verification
- Flying Safety Rate
- Additional improvements in interceptor tactics, techniques, etc
 | The 32nd squadron had the distinction of being the recipient on three of those occasions. In 1966 flying the F-102 Delta Dagger and in 1979 and 1980 flying the F-15 Eagle. It was the fourth unit to win the trophy more than once and the only three-time winner. The Wolfhounds squadron was the first F-15 squadron honored. The 1980 award marks the first time that a unit has won it two years in a row. |
The three replicas won by the Wolfhounds are in the trophy cabinet of the AOC at Ramstein AB, Germany.