Second World War

History of the Training Wing traces back, starting out with the 82nd Fighter Group which was formed in January 1942, and fought in Europe during the Second World War. The Fighter Group initially moved to North Africa and served with the Twelfth Air Force, operating from Tafraoui Airfield in Algeria, eventually they moved to Telergma Airport in Algeria. They engaged in various dogfights with enemy fighters while escorting bombers over various locations.

Moreover, they participated in the final phase of the Tunisian Campaign, destroying enemy transport planes and conducting bombing missions. In addition to this, the group were involved in the Allied invasion of Sicily, flying combat missions and supporting bomber raids against Naples and Rome.

After the decisive victory in Sicily, they moved onto Italy and provided fighter protection for the Fifteenth Air Force, alongside this they conducted missions to strike oil centers in Romania, Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, France, and Yugoslavia. They remained in Italy until the end of the war where it became inactive in September 1945.

Cold War

The 82nd was established as a Strategic Air Command fighter wing on 28 July 1947 at Grenier Field, New Hampshire. The 82nd Fighter Wing was established in accordance with the Hobson Plan which established a controlling wing at each Air Force Base that commanding all groups and support units on the facility. However, the Air Force did not organize (assign personnel) to the wing until 15 August 1947. The wing was attached to the 307th Bomb Wing from 15 August 1947 to 15 December 1948. On 16 December 1948 the wing was reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force.

The operational flying component of the wing was the 82nd Fighter Group, composed of the 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons and were equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft. Most officers that arrived were rated pilots that had recently returned to military life. Many had World War II combat experience. Many officers and enlisted men arrived at Grenier from 62nd Fighter Squadron, a unit that had just returned from a winter test in Alaska.

The wing was relieved of its responsibilities to the Fifteenth Air Force on 22 August 1949 and was inactivated on 20 October 1949.

Air Training Command

First ten women officers

The 82nd replaced and absorbed resources of the 3525th Pilot Training Wing in February 1973 at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona and assumed undergraduate pilot training operations in Cessna T-37 Tweet and Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft. Assigned to the wing were the 96th and 97th Flying Training Squadrons.

On 19 September 1976, the first women entered undergraduate pilot training. Ten female students were in Class 77-08. First Lieutenant Christine E. Schott became the first woman to solo in the T-38. On 2 September 1977, Class 77-08 graduated. The ten women received their wings along with 36 male classmates. In March 1978, the 82nd's first female instructor pilot, Capt Connie Engel, was assigned to the 97th Fighter Training Squadron to instruct T-38 students.

Air Training Command activated the 98th and the 99th Flying Training Squadrons on 1 June 1988 to test a four-squadron organization. The test showed the wing needed a fifth squadron to provide operational support. On 1 September 1989, ATC activated the 100th Flying Training Squadron.

In 1991 Congress approved the second round of base closures, as identified by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. On that list was Williams. The base was to cease operation as of 30 September 1993. With Williams scheduled to close, ATC decided to move part of that base's T-38 fleet to Sheppard Air Force Base during 1992.

HQ USAF redesignated the 82nd Flying Training Wing as the 82nd Training Wing and assigned the designation to Air Education and Training Command on 1 July 1993. The 82nd was inactivated at Williams and HQ AETC activated the 82nd Training Wing at Sheppard and assigned it to Second Air Force. The 82nd's new mission was to conduct ground technical training. The 82nd also became the host unit at Sheppard.

The 782nd Training Group was activated on 23 March 1994 and assigned it to the 82nd Training Wing. At the same time, the 396th Technical Training Group changed its name to the 82nd Training Group, the 82nd Medical Group became the 882nd Training Group, and the 82nd Field Training Group became the 982nd Training Group. On 30 March, the wing began providing mission ready technician training, first in the C-141 crew chief course and, a day later, in the F-16 crew chief course. The C-141 program graduated its first class in August, followed in September by the F-16 class.

Assignments

• Strategic Air Command, 15 August 1947 (attached to 307th Bombardment Wing)
• Fifteenth Air Force, 16 December 1948
• First Air Force, 22 August – 2 October 1949
• Air Training Command, 1 February 1973 – 31 March 1993
• Second Air Force, 1 July 1993 – present^[12]

Components

Groups

• 82nd Airdrome Group (later 82nd Air Base Group, 82nd Support Group, 82nd Mission Support Group): 15 August 1947 – 2 October 1949, 1 February 1973 – 31 March 1993, 1 June 1993 – present
• 82nd Field Training Group (later 982nd Training Group): 1 June 1993 – present
• 82nd Fighter Group (later 82nd Operations Group): 15 August 1947 – 2 October 1949 (detached 4–29 April June 1948), 15 December 1991 – 31 March 1993^[12]
• 82nd Maintenance & Supply Group (later 82nd Logistics Group): 15 August 1947 – 2 October 1949, 15 December 1991 – 31 March 1993, 1 July 1993 – 1 August 2002
• 82nd Medical Training Group (later 882nd Training Group): 1 June 1993 – 15 September 2011
• 82 Station Medical Group (later 82nd Medical Group, 82nd Flying Training Wing Clinic, 82nd Medical Squadron, 82nd Medical Group): 15 August 1947 – 2 October 1949, 1988 – 31 March 1993, 1 June 1993 – present
• 82nd Technical Training Group (later 82nd Training Group): c. 1 June 1993 – present
• 782nd Training Group: c. 1 July 1994 – present
• 882nd Training Group (see 82nd Medical Training Group)
• 982nd Training Group (see 82nd Field Training Group)

Squadrons

• 82nd Comptroller Squadron: 1 June 1993 – present
• 82nd Field Maintenance Squadron, 1 February 1973 – 3 April 1990
• 82nd Medical Squadron (see 82nd Station Medical Group)
• 82nd Organizational Maintenance Squadron, 1 February 1973 – c. 3 April 1990
• 96th Flying Training Squadron: 1 February 1973 – 15 December 1991
• 97th Flying Training Squadron: 1 February 1973 – 15 December 1991
• 98th Flying Training Squadron: 1 June 1988 – 15 December 1991
• 99th Flying Training Squadron: 1 June 1988 – 15 December 1991
• 100th Flying Training Squadron: 1 September 1989 – 15 December 1991^[12]

Other

• USAF Hospital, Williams: 15 October 1970 – 1988 (consolidated with 82nd Station Medical Group)
• 82nd Flying Training Wing Clinic (see 82nd Station Medical Group)

Stations

• Grenier Field (later Grenier Air Force Base)], New Hampshire, 15 August 1947 – 2 October 1949
• Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 February 1973 – 31 March 1993
• Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, 1 July 1993 – present^[12]

Aircraft operated

• North American P-51 Mustang (later F-51) (1947–1949)
• Cessna T-37 Tweet (1973–1992)
• Northrop T-38 Talon (1973–1993)^[12]