USAF 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron Patch F-4 Phantom II Soesterberg 1970s (4 Inch) – Variant A

USAF Patch USAFE 32 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron Wolfhounds Crest Red Crown F-4 Phantom II 4 Inch a

Date – 1970s

Based – Camp New Amsterdam Soesterberg AB Netherlands

Manufacture – Embroidered on ridged twill gauze back cut edge

Size – 101mm by 61mm four inches by two and three eighth inches.

Shipping – Free

Squadron History

WWII

Curtiss YP-37 Hawk and Curtis P-36A Hawk fighter aircraft – 32d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)

The US Army Air Corps activated 32d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 1 February 1940 at Kelly Field, Texas. 32d PS was equipped with Curtis YP-37 Hawk fighter aircraft. The Squadron relocated to Langley Field Virginia in November 1940 assigned to 36th Pursuit Group. The Squadron reequipped with Curtiss P-36A Hawk fighter aircraft.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft – Panama Canal Defense – 32d Fighter Squadron

With German military operations increasing in South America the Squadron was relocated to, Ponce Field, Puerto Rico on 6 January 1941. 32d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) began reequipping with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters. The Squadron was tasked with air defense against attacks on the Panama Canal. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941 the Squadron deployed a detachment to Arecibo Field, Puerto Rico. The detachment was tasked with providing fighter cover and additional strike capability for the larger anti-submarine attack aircraft.

The Germans stepped up their U Boat anti-shipping operations in the Caribbean at the beginning of 1942. With attack occurring in island harbors a further detachment was deployed to Bourne Field, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Squadron relocated from Ponce Field to Arecibo Field on 19 February 1942. A detachment was established at Hato Field, Curacao for fighter cover for the anti-submarine patrol aircraft already stationed there.

32d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) was redesignated 32d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942. With its anti-submarine tasking in pursuit of German U Boat Wolfpacks the Squadron decided to adopt the name Wolfhounds. A new emblem designed by Walt Disney Studios depicting a cartoon wolfs head was adopted at the same time.

32d Fighter Squadron was reassigned to Trinidad Detachment and VI Fighter Command, Antilles Air Command in June 1943 when 36th Fighter Group returned to the US. The Squadron and its detachments relocated to France Field Panama Canal Zone on 13 March 1944. 32d FS was again tasked with air defense and reconnaissance of the Panama Canal.

Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter – 32d Fighter Squadron (Twin Engined)

The Squadron relocated to Howard Field Panama on 10 January 1945. 32d FS began preparing for its transition to Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft. 32d Fighter Squadron was redesignated 32d Fighter Squadron (Twin Engined) on 1 February 1945.

With the end of the War in Europe the Squadron stopped flying in June 1945, put the aircraft into storage and ran down personnel and equipment. 32d Fighter Squadron (Twin Engined) was inactivated on 15 October 1946.

Cold War

North American F-86F Sabre – 32 Fighter Day Squadron – Camp New Amsterdam Soesterberg AB

In 1954 the Dutch government entered into an agreement with the US to the stationing of a US Air Force fighter squadron in the Netherlands to augment Dutch air defence. Royal Netherlands Air Base Soesterberg was chosen as the location for the fighter squadron.

512th Fighter Day Squadrons relocation to Soesterberg Netherlands in 1954 was well underway when the 512th designation was transferred to RAF Bentwaters in September 1955. North American F-86F Sabre aircraft personnel and equipment remained at Soesterberg and was activated as 32d Fighter Day Squadron. The 32d designation was chosen because of its history with the Netherlands via its anti-submarine defence of Dutch Caribbean possessions in WW2. The Squadron retained its WWII name Wolfhounds and its cartoon wolfs head emblem. 32d Fighter Day Squadron reported to 36th Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Base West Germany. The Squadron was the only USAF flying unit at Soesterberg. The Squadron named its part of the base as Camp New Amsterdam after the first Dutch US settlement New Amsterdam which became New York City.

North American F-100C Super Sabre -32d Tactical Fighter Squadron

The Squadron upgraded to North American F-100C Super Sabre in 1956. 32d Fighter Day Squadron was redesignated 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron on 18 July 1958 remaining part of 36th Tactical Fighter Wing.

In 1959 in recognition of its contribution to the Cold War defence of The Netherlands 32d TFS was authorised to use an official Dutch Royal Air Force Crest in 1959. The Squadron added the Royal crown and oranges wreath to the Wolfhounds emblem.

F-102 Delta Dagger 32d Fighter Interceptor Squadron

32d Tactical Fighter Squadron was renamed 32d Fighter Interceptor Squadron FIS on 8 July 1959. The Squadron began its transition to F-102 Delta Dagger interceptor aircraft. The 32d Wolfhounds were recognized as the most outstanding fighter interceptor squadron in the United States Air Force winning the Hughes Award three times.

F-4 Phantom II fighter 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron

Control of 32 Fighter Interceptor Squadron was transferred to Seventeenth Air Force at Sembach West Germany on 1 November 1968.  32d Fighter Interceptor Squadron was redesignated 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1969 reequipping with F-4 Phantom II fighters.

F-15 Eagle 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron

F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft were received in 1978 with the Squadrons F 4 Phantoms reassigned to 86 TFW at Ramstein AB.

Gulf War F-15 Eagle 32d Tactical Fighter Group 32d Fighter Squadron

In 1989 the Dutch Government permitted USAFE to upgrade its headquarters unit at Soesterberg from squadron to group status. The 32d Tactical Fighter Group was activated on 16 November 1989 taking over the functions 32d TFS HQ element and support detachments.

32d TFS Wolfhounds was deployed to Incirlik Turkey from August 1990 to March 1991 for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and were credited with the destruction of an Iraqi Mig on 28 January 1991. Additional deployments continued for Operation Provide Comfort from April 1991.

32d Tactical Fighter Squadron was redesignated 32d Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991. Deployments for Operation Provide Comfort continued to April 1993. 32d Fighter Squadron and 32d Fighter Group were both inactivated on 1 July 1994.  632d Air Base Squadron was activated in their place to complete the closure of Camp New Amsterdam Soesterberg. The US area of the base was handed back to the Netherlands on 27 September 1994 and 632d Air Base Squadron was inactivated.

Balkans War

32d Air Operations Squadron 32d Air Operations Group – Air Space and Cyberspace Operations

To preserve the 32d lineage HQ USAFE used the designation for the new 32d Air Operations Group and 32d Air Operations Squadron on 1 July 1994. 32d AOG was based at Ramstein AB Germany as the USAFE Theater Air and Space Operations Center consolidating Command and control of air operations in Europe. 32 AOG in its capacity as Combined Air Operations Center for Coalition Operations largely planned and provided the operational execution of Operation Allied Force NATOs bombing of Serbia Former Yugoslavia.

32d Air Operations Squadron was assigned to 32d AOG and operated the element of USAFE TASOC at Kapaun Air Station Germany. 32d Air Operations Squadron was inactivated on 1 November 2005.

32d Air Operations Group was inactivated on 1 December 2006 with its personnel and equipment were transferred to the new 603d Air and Space Operations Center. 603d ASOC has adopted the call sign Wolfhound.

USAFE-AFAFRICA 32d Air Expeditionary Group

In early 2011 the designation 32d Air Operations Group was added to USAFE-AFAFRICA provisional Air Expeditionary status as a temporary unit to activate as 32d Air Expeditionary Group when needed for contingency operations.

 

Insignia elements

Squadron Name – With its anti-submarine tasking in pursuit of German U Boat Wolfpacks the Squadron decided to adopt the name Wolfhounds.

Squadron Emblem – A new emblem designed by Walt Disney Studios depicting a cartoon wolfs head was adopted at the same time and formally approved on 2 August 1945.

Crest – In 1959 in recognition of the Squadrons contribution to the Cold War defence of the Netherlands 32d TFS was authorised to use an official Dutch Royal Air Force Crest for its insignia. The Dutch Royal crown and oranges wreath were added to the Walt Disney Wolfhound emblem

Motto — Honor, Courage, and Vigilance was adopted on 16 May 1969.

603d Air and Space Operations Center have adopted the callsign Wolfhound

 

 

This patch dates from the 1970s.