History of the 32nd Wolfhounds
The Wolfhounds squadron traces its history from the 32nd Pursuit Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas, constituted on December 1939. After the attack at Pearl Harbor, the 32 squadron flew daily intercept and submarine missions throughout the Caribbean. In the waning years of World War II the unit was reassigned to France Field, Panama, to defend the Panama Canal Zone. In 1954 the Dutch government accepted the American offer to deploy a squadron of combat aircraft to the Netherlands to contribute to Dutch air defense within the context of NATO.
The home base of the squadron became Soesterberg Air Base wich is also known as Camp New Amsterdam. In 1958 the USAFE redesignated the unit as the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), as part of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1959 the squadron, at that time known as 32nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), received the signature "Royal", the crown and wreath of the Dutch Royal Family were added to the emblem. This unique honor was granted in recognition of the unit’s contribution to the defense of the Netherlands during the cold war.
As part of the Seventeenth Air Force the USAF redesignated the unit in 1969 as the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS). Over the years the Wolfhounds flew and maintained a variety of fighters including the P-38, P-47, F-47, F-86, F-100, F-102, F-4 and F-15, achieving impressive results. In the opening days of Operation Desert Storm a Wolfhounds pilot downed an Iraqi MiG-23. The 32nd Wolfhounds was recognized as the most outstanding fighter interceptor squadron in the United States Air Force, winning the Hughes Award three times.
With the end of the Cold War a major force draw down occurred in Europe, the USAF reduced its fighter force structure. Meaning a new concept of operations that emphasized deploying combat forces rapidly to respond to crisis and contingencies. These changes affected the 32nd Fighter Squadron (FS), as part of the draw down the squadron's F-15 Eagles returned to the United States and the squadron was redesigned the 32nd Air Operations Squadron (AOS) and reassigned to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Until November 1, 2005, along with the other squadrons of the 32nd Air Operations Group, the 32nd AOS formed the score of USAFE's "Falconer" Air Operations Center, delivering integrated command and control of air and space operations.