History of the 32nd Fighter and Operations Group
The 32nd Fighter Group has a history dating back to World War II. The unit’s heritage consists of the history belonging to both the 32nd Fighter Group and the 32nd Fighter Wing, since the United States Air Force consolidated these two units in 1984.
On May 15, 1942 the U.S Army Air Forces redesignated the 32nd Pursuit Group as the 32nd Fighter Group (Twin engine) and provided it with P-38 Lightnings. On September 28, 1942 flying the P-40 Warhawk to defend the Panama Canal the group subsequently being redesignated the 32nd Fighter group (Single engine). ON November 1, 1943 the the U.S Army Air Forces disbanded the 32nd Fighter Group.
The U.S. Army Air Cadets Corps activated the 32nd Composite Wing at Kadena Field on the island of Okinawa, Japan in 1948. The new wing flew F/FB-17s and RB-29s to carry out its mission of providing photographic reconnaissance and search and rescue support. It was inactivated in 1949. The U.S. Air Force activated the newly redesignated 32nd Fighter Group at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota in 1956. The group trained air defense combat crews with various fighters. From 1960 to 1961, the group was equipped with F-106s to provide air defense for the north-central part of the United States. The Air Force discontinued and activated the Group in 1961 after replacing it with the 32nd Fighter Wing. On July 1, 1962 the Air Force discontinued and inactivated the Wing.
In 1964 the Air Force activated the newly redesignated 32nd Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base, California. The Air Force planned to equip the wing with F-4Cs, but shortly after receiving these fighters the wing was replaced by the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, subsequently being inactivated in 1964.
In 1984 the U.S. Air Force consolidated the 32nd Fighter Group and 32nd Tactical Fighter Wing as one unit. It was redesignated as the 32nd Tactical Fighter Group in 1989. In 1989 the Dutch government allowed the U.S. Air Force to upgrade its headquarters unit at Soesterberg Air Base from a squadron to group status. Thus on November 16, 1989, the Air Force activated the 32nd Tactical Fighter Group at Soesterberg. The group took over the mission previously assigned to the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron. On November 1, 1991, the 32nd Tactical Fighter Group was redesignated the 32nd Fighter Group as a result of U.S. Air Force reorganization.
With the end of the Cold War a major force draw-down occurred in Europe, the USAF reduced its fighter force structure. These changes affected the 32nd at Soesterberg too. On July 1, 1994 the group is redesignated the 32nd Air Operations Group and assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The group dealt with peacetime joint force issues and provided a trained nucleus to main an air operations center during contingencies. The group planned, tasked and directed air operations, and could deploy as a rapid reaction unit under a joint/combined task force air component commander.
The 32nd Air Operations Group is inactivated on the 1st of November 2005.