29th Flying Training Wing
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T-38 Talon as flown by the 29th Flying Training Wing
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Active | 1939–1944; 1944-1946; 1972–1977 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Flying training |
Motto(s) | Power for Peace |
Engagements | Pacific Theater of Operations |
Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Insignia | |
29th Flying Training Wing emblem (Approved 12 March 1973) | |
29th Bombardment Group emblem (Approved 14 October 1940) | |
World War II tail code | Square O |
The 29th Flying Training Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit last based at Craig AFB, Alabama. It was inactivated when Craig AFB was closed as a budget reduction action after the Vietnam War.
The unit's origins begin with its United States Army Air Forces World War II predecessor, the 29th Bombardment Group (29th BG). It originally conducted anti-submarine warfare over the Caribbean during the early years of the war as part of Third Air Force. Later, the 29th BG was a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) of the Army Air Forces Training Command. In 1944, the group was reequipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses and was engaged in combat as part of Twentieth Air Force. The 29th Bomb Group's aircraft engaged in very heavy bombardment operations against Japan.
Constituted as the 29th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 22 December 1939. Activated on 1 February 1940 at Langley AAF, Virginia. Equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Douglas B-18 Bolos, the group trained and took part in aerial reviews as part of the GHQ Air Force.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 29th was reassigned to Third Air Force and flew antisubmarine patrol missions in the Caribbean area, December 1941 – June 1942 from MacDill AAF, Florida.
After the antisubmarine mission was turned over to the Navy and Coast Guard, the 29th was reequipped with Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers and was reassigned to Gowen Field, Idaho, where it functioned as an operational training (OTU) and later as a replacement training unit (RTU). The group was inactivated on 1 April 1944 and replaced by an AAF Base Unit.