page_title: Soesterberg Air Base
section_title: 32d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
hierarchical_section_title: Soesterberg Air Base / United States use / 32d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
caption_attribution_description: English: F-4Es of the 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Soesterberg Air Base, Holland.
context_page_description: Soesterberg Air Base was a Royal Netherlands Air Force military air base located in Soesterberg, 14 kilometres east-northeast of Utrecht. It was first established as an airfield in 1911, and in 1913, the Dutch Army bought the field and established the Army Aviation Division.
  For almost 40 years, United States Air Force facilities at Soesterberg, named Camp New Amsterdam was a major front line USAFE air base during the Cold War. The base was closed on 31 December 2008, due to budget cuts in the Dutch Army. The air base ceased flying operations on 12 November 2008, when the command was transferred from the Dutch Air Force to Dutch Defense who will take care of the base until it will be given back to nature. The last fighter ever to depart, delayed due bad weather at Aviano AB, was a Greek F-4E Phantom II. The former USAFE part stays in military hands, and will now officially be called Camp New Amsterdam.
context_section_description: In September 1955, the designation of the 512th was transferred to RAF Shepherds Grove, where it replaced the 78th FIS.  Its aircraft, personnel and equipment however stayed in the Netherlands, and made up the newly activated 32d Fighter Day Squadron, which was operated at Soesterberg as a detachment of the 36th Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Base in the Federal Republic of Germany.
  In 1956, the squadron transitioned to the North American F-100 Super Sabre.  The 32d sent five instructors pilots to Sidi Slimane AB in Morocco to complete transition training for the F-100.  At the same time, the squadron began ferrying the F-86s to Prestwick, Scotland, and Châteauroux-Déols Air Base in France for disposal.  On 18 July 1958, USAFE redesignated the unit as the 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron, as part of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing.
  Due the requirement of a longer runway for landing and take offs, the runway of the base was extended to over 3,000 metres (9,840 ft).
  In 1959, the 32d received the signature "Royal", the crown and wreath of the Dutch Royal Family (the House of Orange) were added to the emblem, giving it its unique look.  This unique honour was granted in recognition of the unit's contribution to the defence of the Netherlands, and graphically illustrates the 32d's close ties with the Royal Netherlands Air Force.  The 32 TFS had the unique distinction of being the only unit in the USAF whose emblem included the royal crest of another nation.  This addition was only authorised as long as the 32d TFS remained in the Netherlands.
  From 1959, the 32d was redesignated as the 32d Fighter Interceptor Squadron and received Convair F-102 Delta Daggers. It acquired a 24-hour alert interceptor mission from Soesterberg as part of NATO’s Second Allied Tactical Air Force.  The 32 FIS was assigned to the USAFE 86th Air Division (Defense) at Ramstein Air Base West Germany on 1 July 1960.  This transfer was made in order that all USAF fighter assets in Europe could be concentrated in one command.
caption: McDonnell Douglas F-4E-61-MC Phantoms of the 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron, AF Serial Numbers 74-1046 and 74-1053. These aircraft served until the late 1980s in USAFE, TAC and AFRES before being retired to AMARC.
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