page_title: 32nd Air Operations Squadron
section_title: Tactical fighter operations (1969–1989)
hierarchical_section_title: 32nd Air Operations Squadron / History / Air defense in the Netherlands (1955–1994) / Tactical fighter operations (1969–1989)
caption_attribution_description: The commander's plane of 32nd TFS 'Wolfhounds' taxiing back after landing. Soesterberg, 20 May 1986. This F-15C was sold to Saudi Arabia and should still be in service.
context_page_description: The 32nd Air Operations Squadron, nicknamed the Wolfhounds, is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 32nd Air Operations Group, based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It was inactivated on 1 November 2005. Between 1955 and 1994, the unit was based at Soesterberg Air Base in the Netherlands, providing air defence on behalf of NATO as a fighter squadron.
context_section_description: On 1 July 1969, the USAF redesignated the unit as the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (32nd TFS) and reequipped the squadron with the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, with the first two (68-0401 and 68-0405) arriving on 6 August 1969. On 14 November 1969, the 32nd TFS lost their first Phantom when F-4E 68-0422 crashed on approach to Aviano Air Base, Italy, after running out of fuel - both crew ejected safely.
  On 21 June 1971, F-4E 68-0433 crashed near Maurik, the Netherlands, killing both the crew after the pilot over corrected when trying to avoid a flock of birds.
  In March 1976, the Wolfhounds began receiving newer FY1974 F-4Es to replace their older models.
  On 22 August 1977, F-4E Phantom II 74-1051 crashed into the North Sea near Terschelling after suffering an engine flame out, killing both crew members. On 19 October 1977, the USAF decided that the 32nd would receive the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle as part of Project Ready Eagle.
  Throughout 1978, the majority of Phantoms were flown to Ramstein Air Base in West Germany where they were assigned to the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, while others went to Spangdahlem Air Base and Hahn Air Base. While the Wolfhounds underwent conversion from the Phantom, the 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron and 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Soesterberg from 13 September to 20 December 1978 as part of Coronet Sandpiper to fulfil NATO's air defence commitment. The first two F-15As (77-0074 and 77-0075) for the 32nd TFS arrived at Soesterberg on 13 September 1978, with the last jets arriving on 17 January 1979. The 32nd TFS began receiving the more advanced F-15C in June 1980.
  Between 7 and 23 June 1982, the Wolfhounds hosted the 71st TFS who had deployed to Soesterberg as part of Coronet Sidewinder II. The 32nd TFS hosted the 71st TFS once more between 1 and 29 June 1984 as part of Coronet Hawk. The 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Soesterberg between 20 May and 20 June 1986 under Coronet Apache.
  On 4 July 1989, a pair of 32nd TFS F-15Cs scrambled to intercept what turned out to be an unoccupied Soviet Air Forces MiG-23M 'Flogger' which had flown on autopilot from its base in Bagicz, Poland, to West Germany after the pilot had ejected. The pilots were instructed to shoot it down over the North Sea however the MiG-23 ran out of fuel and crashed into a house in Kortrijk, Belgium, killing an occupant.
  In 1989, the Dutch government allowed USAF to expand its headquarters unit at Soesterberg from squadron to group. The 32nd Tactical Fighter Group was activated at Soesterberg on 16 November 1989 and took over functions of old 32nd Squadron headquarters element and support flights (later squadrons) received support responsibilities.
  On 25 April 1990, F-15C 81-0049 crashed into the North Sea after its engines caught fire – the pilot ejected safely. The 32nd TFS hosted the 60th Tactical Fighter Squadron between 31 May and 25 June 1990 as part of Coronet Trigger.
caption: McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle 79-0032 of the 32nd TFS taxiing at Soesterberg, May 1986.
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