The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 19 May 1917, being organized at Camp Kelly, Texas.

During World War II, the squadron saw combat service as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress unit, assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy.

The 30th to 37th Aero Squadrons were sent as a group to Fort Totten, New York, and embarked on the RMS Baltic on 23 August for their trans-Atlantic voyage.

They arrived on 15 September at Liverpool, England, where 50 men of the group were selected to remain to train for aircraft mechanic instruction with the Royal Air Force.

There the squadron was engaged in construction activities, building roads, barracks and hangars for what was designated as the 3d Air Instructional Center.

[4] The 32d Aero Squadron remained at Issoudun Aerodrome for the balance of the war, engaging in construction activities at the facility as it grew and expanded.

In early January 1919, orders for demobilization were received and the squadron moved to a Base Port at Bordeaux, France for the return voyage back to the United States.

Its purpose was to train air and ground crews for reconnaissance and bombing duty with the B-17 before deployment to Clark Field in the Philippine Islands.

[2] The day following the Pearl Harbor Attack, the 32d moved to Muroc Army Air Field, performing antisubmarine patrols along the Southern California coast.

[2] The ground echelon moved to Virginia to prepare for movement overseas, leaving for Fort Dix and the Port of Embarkation on 19 July.

Between 20 and 23 November 1942, the air echelon moved forward to bases in southeastern England, from which it flew directly to Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria.

[12] Starting in July 1943, the squadron began flying numerous missions to targets in Italy, moving forward to Oudna Airfield, Tunisia in early August.

Before the squadron arrived at its planned training base, Pyote Army Air Field, Texas, Japan had surrendered and there was no need for additional bomber units.

The squadron was inactivated in October 1945, shortly before Pyote ended training operations and became an aircraft storage depot.

[citation needed] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency