32 Fighter Squadron – Eagle Country

The Wolfhounds

Eagle History

The 32nd TFS came to the Netherlands (Soesterberg AB) in the early 50’s.

Soesterberg AB was under Royal Netherlands Air Force control, therefore the 32nd TFS was the only American Squadron that was under the command of a foreign nation. The role of the 32nd TFS was to guard the West-European air space which stretched right up to the Iron Curtain.

The 32nd won many awards while stationed at Soesterberg AB. They had the the honor of being the only squadron in the USAF that won the prestige Hughes Trophy during two consecutive years, in 1979 and 1980. In 1984 the 32nd participated in the William Tell competition at Tyndall AFB, at this competition the Wolfhounds won the F-15 Top Gun trophy.

The 32nd TFS transitioned from the F-4E Phantom to the F-15A Eagle, in 1979.

32 TFS Eagle Drivers RTU F-15 training at Luke AFB, 1978

The Wolfhounds operated the A & B models till 1983 when the 32nd received the new C & D models. Officially, a total of 24 fighters were on strength, including a few two-seater F-15Ds, but at their peak strength, they had an extra 6 aircraft.

On the 4th of July 1989, the Wolfhounds were gathered at the base for the celebration of the Independence Day. Suddenly the call came that the 32nd’s alert fighters were to be scrambled (Alpha Scramble) and intercept a MiG-23 that had crossed the West-German border and was headed toward the Netherlands.

The F-15s were able to intercept the MiG just before it crossed the Dutch Border. They discovered that there was no pilot aboard, and that the ejection seat was missing. Apparently the pilot had discovered a problem with the jet over Eastern-Germany and decided to bail out leaving the airplane flying on it’s course. They escorted the MiG as it flew over the southern part of the Netherlands and started to loose altitude as it ran out of fuel crashing somewhere in Belgium

On August 1st 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. As a result Saudi Arabia wanted to boost its air defense capability fast. An agreement was made with the USAF to deliver 24 F-15s. These had to be retrieved from active units. One of them was the 32nd TFS.

In September of 1990 the first F-15s started leaving towards Saudi Arabia, the 32nd TFS lost 12 of it’s F-15s. Along with 12 F-15s of the 36th TFW Bitburg, Germany.

After the first night of operation Desert Storm 5 F-15s and their crew

deployed to Incirlik AB to participate in the Air Campaign. During this deployment the 32nd TFS scored their first aerial victory. On the 29th of January Capt. Donald Watrous shot down a Mirage F1.

32 TFS Wolfhounds crew that deployed and flew combat during Operation Desert Storm from Incirlik AB, Turkey
Back row:
Brad “Oly”Olson – Rick “Bolo” Pialet – Kevin “Psycho” Hanford – Gene “Batman” O’Nale – Donald “Muddy” Watrous
Front Row:
Matt “Boz” Beals – Marc “Merc” Morris – Liam “Blade”Dooley – Fred “Taco” Bell – Gary “Baghwan” Bauhan – Steve “Thumper” Moore
Not in this picture:
Mark “Fitz” Fitzgerald was first to leave Incirlik AB on February 20. 1991, followed by Mark “Bogey” Cummings who left on February 25. 1991. This picture was taken around March 7. 1991.
Steve “Thumper” Moore & Rick “Bolo” Pialet arrived in Incirlik in March to assist the group Return To Base. (RTB)

After the Gulf War, the 32nd TFS returned to the Netherlands. They transitioned to the F-15A MSIP(Multi Stage Improvement Program) models. These airframes were much older than the C models they flew, but had been upgraded with better radar and avionics, and were of the same standard as late production C-models. Some of these new “old” aircraft had been stationed at Soesterberg before, as brand new F-15As back in 1979.In 1993 it was decided that a number of bases in Europe needed to be closed, as a result of defense cutbacks. In addition, several units would be deactivated, and their planes sent back to the US. Unfortunately, the 32nd FS was one of these. During the fall of 1993, all the F-15’s from the 32nd transitioned to the 101 FS, stationed at Otis AFB Massachusetts.

On the 13th of January 1994, the last three F-15 Eagles left took off from Soesterberg for the last time and headed out to Otis AFB. They were escorted by a couple of F-16s of the Dutch Air Force, and a fly-by was conducted in honor of this great unit, that helped defend the Netherlands for 40 years!

32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron group photos

32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, group photo during the command change of Mike ‘Goat” Engelmeyer. Front row left to right, John “Sus” Susalla, Lee “Slim” Lesher, Mark “Merc” Morris, Tim Warren, Bill “ Jake” Herron, Col Wilbrink – Mark “Bogey” Cummings, Back Row Left to right – John “Hoss” Kindred , Tom “Yogi” Allen, rob “Hammer” Williamson, JD Martin, Eddie “rebel” Branch, Goat, ” Ghost”, Joe “Skull” Canizzo, unknown, Nick “nitti” Gritti, john “Jazz” Jannazo, Jeff “Snake” Hardin, Lee “LA” Anderson, Don “Muddy” Watrous (1 kill in Desert Storm), Roman “Rambo” Hrycaj. Photo donated by Anne Sevinga.

32nd TFS group photo 1979

(Standing L-R) Don Delauter, George ‘Boof’ Booth, Eddie ‘Rebel’ Branch, Jerry ‘Hendo’ Henderson, Bill Dobbs, Neal ‘Bags’ Sharra, Blake ‘Crash’ Thomas, Frank ‘Lips’ Ballinger, Jim ‘Raven’ Lemon, Jeff ‘C-Liver’ Cliver, Fred ‘Mountain’ Claussen, Greg ‘Hambone’ Hammond, Al ‘G’rilla’ Guarino, Don ‘Moon’ Ross, Randy ‘Munster’ Muncy, Mike ‘Bishop’ Sheen, Blaine ‘Scooter’ Maw, John ‘Stormy’ Stovall, Jim ‘Klaw’ Kellogg, Al ‘Wildcat’ Pruden. (Kneeling L-R) Don “Duck”Waddell, Stan “Sundance” Kasprzyk, Steve Spence Spencer, Larry Crumrine, Roel Arrendondo, Walt Regehr, Steve Hose’m Beck

32nd TFS group photo 1985

FRONT ROW; JUNIOR Flemming, FLAT Black, TATOO Sciss, GOMER Casey, CISCO Francisco, Harry DAGGER Icke, RIPPER Price , Nelson – GORP Dickinson -KRAZE Kroese , BLADE Gillette , NOT Davies, DICE Dyson 2ND Row: SPANKY Chuhran, CUBBY Lanzit, CHEESE McChesney , HUD Hudnall, VEG Root, CRASH Petridis , BUSH Carlson, DANCE Rein , YODA Speir, MUD Allee, FISH Gillenwaters, FRITES Fry, CASH McCall 3RD Row: HOLLYWOOD Henderson, PACMAN Fredrickson, TINMAN Tindall, GOAT Engelmeyer – JOSE Hesse, STIFF Stiffler, LURCH Lathrop, JC Charles, FLICK Flickinger, DUTCH Dietvorst, MOUSE Lestor, SHIFTY Shiffrin, HOSS Dietrick, MAD DOG Dowdy , WEASEL Martin

32nd TFS group photo 1991

front row from right Coy “Elbee” Briant, unknown, Brian “Stitch” Simpler, Lawrence “Grinder”Otto, Mark “Louder” Henkel, unknown, Rich “Shark” Jones, John Graham, Jr., Gerald Christianson, Col. Fred “Taco” Bell,Col Pabruka, unknown,Donald “Muddy” Watrous 2nd row from right TSgt Sanchez, unknown, unknown, unknown, Tim “Spanky” Spangler, Gary “Dusty” Rhoades, unknown, Chris “Toper” Tope, unknown, Airman Alex Valderez, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown Back row from right unknown, unknown, Dave “Ghost” Wilcox, Craig “Blaster” Jones, Matt “Boz” Beals, Stu “Fuzzy” Hacker, unknown, LtC “Slammin” Therian , Col Doug “Disco” Dildy, A1C Michelle Schlump, unknown, SRA Troy C. Clostio, Capt Robert Conant- weather officer Identified by Vance E. Hoyt & SRA Troy C. Clostio.

32nd TFS group photo 1984

photo donated by Mr. Rick Versteeg. FRONT ROW: Scott “Stork” Turner, Steve “Rat” Lunsford, Ron Junge, Kevin “Cubby”Lanzit, Mike “Cisco” Francisco, Clifton “ Tip” Clark (CC), Charlie “Chopper” Price, Harry “Dagger” Icke, George “ Tatoo”Sciss, Phil “ Junior” Flemming, Gary “Diceman” Dyson, Ran Shelley 2ND ROW: Chris “ Pacman” Fredrickson, Steve “ Tinman” Tindall, Cullen “Shifty” Shiffrin, Marc “Snake” Crail, Steve “ Blade” Gillette, Jeff “Cheese” McChesney, Bob “Snot” Davies, Don “Stiff” Stifler, Larry “Lurch” Lathrop , Jim JC Charles, Joe “ Mad Dog” Dowdy, Dave “Rootman” Root ,Don Travis 3RD ROW: Chuck “Gomer” Casey , Mike “Tits” Pinter, Al “Jose” Hesse, Kelsey “Cash” McCall, Fred “Diesel” Richardson, Ted “Kraze” Kroese, Mike “Boomer”Boehme, Denny “Mo” Lestor, Terry Taulbert, Mike “Hoss” Deitrick, Mike “Dutch” Dietvorst, Bob “Busco” Debusk, Matt “Flat” Black

32 TFS group photo 1987

FRONT ROW…kneeling. left to right as you look at it Rlick Eplett, Goat Engelmyer, Gomer, TJ Klungseth, Kraze Kroese, Dick Giblin (CS???), Ripper Parsons, Yogi Allen, Anne Sevinga and Cor Damen 2nd ROW…bent over; Mud Allee, Chooch Trahan, Clone Fiore, Flex McKinnon, Bush Carlson, Koz Koziol, Flash Mangan, Flick Flickinger, Jive Kerby, Scout Winebrenner, Heater Lange, Unknown 3rd ROW…standing;Snapper Bledsoe, Spike HAferman, Otis Knight, Rebel Branch, Bones Shugg,Turk Hess, Finny Finnegan, Vern Kent, Bogey Cummings, Mark (CS ??) Lee, Rocky Breier, Nitti Gritti, Mo Morrison, Snuffy Smith and Spock Tichenor (Photo donated by Anne Sevinga) Identified by Mike “GOAT” Engelmeyer, Photo donated by Marc Cummings Can anybody help with identifying the unknown persons on the Photo?

Some personal photos donated by Anne Sevinga from the Dutch/American Friendship Alliance.

Capt. Mark “Bogey” Cummings and Lt. Col. Eddie “Rebel” Branch photo donated by Anne Sevinga

General Robin Olds visiting the 32nd TFS talking shop with three Eagle Drivers, (l to r) John “Jazz” Janazzo, Jerry “Jive” Kerby, and Mike “Koz” Koziol photo donated by Anne Sevinga

General Robin Olds visiting the 32nd TFS talking with Lt. Col. Mike Francisco, unknown, unknown, photo donated by Anne Sevinga

Eric “Buster” Brown and his wife Cindy Brown, photo donated by Anne Sevinga

Unknown, going away party Jim Flickinger, photo donated by Anne Sevinga

Outside the Officers Club at CNA, from left to right, John “Hoss” Kindred, William Herron, John Susalla, Mark Cummings photo donated by Anne Sevinga

Lee Anderson, William Herron crew trans back to the Squadron, photo donated by Anne Sevinga

Going away party TJ Klungseth, Tom Allen, unknown and Mike Haferman, photo donated by Anne Sevinga

Going away party TJ Klungseth, photo donated by Anne Sevinga

Bee Boop and LA, photo donated by Anne Sevinga

Mark “Bogey” Cummings at the Wolfhounds O’Club

Robin Olds together with Mike “Goat”Engelmeyer at the Wolfhounds officers club (1988) photo via Doug “Disco” Dildy

From left to right Charlie “Bones” Shuggs, Dave “Bush Carlson”, T.J. Klungseth together with Gomer

Mike “Goat” Engelmeyer & Ken “Yoda” Speir. Photo donated by Marc Cummings

Three F-15s in fingertip returning to Soesterberg AB from their Decimomannu AB deployment. Photo donated by Bill Minich.

A F-15C from the 32nd TFS returns to Decimomannu AB in Sardinia after a training mission on the ACMI range off the west coast of the Island. Photo donated by Bill Minich

LT. COL Ross Smith, commander of 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron, arrives aboard an F-15A Eagle aircraft. Greeting him are COL Garry Sipple, commander of the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, and Dutch Air Force officers. The Eagle, from the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, are assigned to participate in Exercise Sidewinder II 1982.

Wolfhounds at the 'Last Chance crew' prior to lining up runway 27 Soesterberg AB (Photo Mark E. Bucher) 1990 — Wolfhounds at the ‘Last Chance crew’ prior to lining up runway 27 Soesterberg AB (Photo Mark E. Bucher) 1990

F-15’s lining up runway 27 Soesterberg AB (Photo Mark E. Bucher) 1990

F-15C (79-0019) landing on runway 27 Soesterberg AB (Photo Mark E. Bucher) 1990

a 32 TFS “Wolfhounds” F-15 on a Zulu (Tango) Alert mission banks away over the Netherlands, with a full load of AIM-7s and AIM-9s. Photo take on the 27 of August 1987. (via SSGT David Nolan)

Buzzards last flight at Soesterberg (airshow profile) via Rob Sneed

Two Wolfhounds over Lochness via Rob Sneed

An F-15A and B model over Scotland via Rob Sneed

Two Wolfhounds over Scotland via Rob Sneed

Parking in the Hanger for over the weekend via Rob Sneed

“Break right” some cool formation flying, via Rob Sneed

Take off at Soesterberg air base runway 09/27 via Rob Sneed

Crossing the Dutch Coast line photo taken by Don “Duck” Waddell

Capt. Michael M. ”Dutch” Dietvorst posing for Dutch spectators on the flight-line at Soesterberg AB during the Open House in 1984.

An air-to-air left side view of two 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) F-15C Eagle aircraft carrying a full load of AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles.

two F-15C’s from the 32nd TFS overhead Gorinchem in the early 80’s. (photo credit RNLAF )

Operation Ready Eagle II

6-ship of brand new Eagles flown from Langley AFB to Soesterberg AB on the 20th of November 1978 as part of operation Ready Eagle II. The Eagles delivered in this flight were 77-078, 77-085, 77-086, 77-091, 77-157 and 77-0158.

F-15A 77-0091 flying from Langley AFB to Soesterberg AB on November 20th 1978 as part of operation Ready Eagle. Photo made by Stan ‘Sundance’ Kasprzyk

F-15A 77-0078 flying from Langley AFB to Soesterberg AB on November 20th 1978 as part of operation Ready Eagle. Photo made by Stan ‘Sundance’ Kasprzyk

Delivery of the first Eagles to Soesterberg AB, Operation Ready Eagle (McDonnell Douglas photo)

Rolling out on final for Soesterberg’s runway 27 with ‘Lips’ Ballinger in F-15B 77-0157 after a 7.6 hour flight from Langley AFB on 20 Nov 1978 (Operation Ready Eagle). Photo made by Stan ‘Sundance’ Kasprzyk

79-021 in front of the hanger ready to taxi out in the eaarly 80’s at Soesterberg AB. (photo credit RNLAF)

32 TFS deployment to RAF Binbrook Dec 1986

(I am still looking for the photographer to give credit, and I hope he doesn’t mind Eagle Country promoting these outstanding photos on here)