37th School Squadron @ Chanute Field

I recently acquired a collection of photos and documents belonging to Kenneth A Ritchey. Among the photos is a long photo (8x30") titled "37th School Squadron; Capt. P. E. Jacobs, Commanding; Chanute Field, Illinois; May 10, 1941". The photo must have 300-400 people in it with some barracks in the background. On the reverse of the photo are about 60 autographs. Also included are a number of photo of Army training aircraft with about a dozen showing the aftermath of accidents. There are also a few photos with good wishes from former students (including one from P/O Alan R Cook R.A.F.), and other photos taken before or after his time at Chanute. Later in WW2 he was a test pilot at the Republic P-47 plant in Evansville, Indiana and I also have photos from that period. From other material in the collection I know Ritchey was a pilot instructor after the War, so I assume he was a flight instructor at Chanute.
 
I emailed the Chanute Field Museum twice, but have not gotten a reply.
 
Does anyone have any information on Kenneth A Ritchey? Or the 37th School Squadron at Chanute? Was it a pilot training squadron?
 
Thanks, Paul

Chanute Field was the original home of the Air Corps Technical School.  The 37th School Sq was a technical training squadron.
 
Activated 6 Dec 40 at Chanute Fld, redesignated 37th Technical School Sq about the beginning of 1942, moved to Grand Rapids MI 8 Feb 43, back to Chanute Fld 9 Jul 43, disbanded 28 Feb 44.
 
There is currently a 37th School Sq at Maxwell AFB AL.  I do not know if its lineage extends to the earlier 37th School Sq.  If it does, the unit historian may have additional information.

Bernie Shearon
Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)

Bernie,
 
Thanks for the lead. I'll' check with Maxwell next week.
 
I also found out there is a 37th. Flying Traning Squadron at Columbus AFB, MS. I do not know if they are in the lineage either. I have sent them an enquiry.
 
By the way, where did you find the info?
 
Thanks,
Paul

The 37th Flying Training Squadron is descended from the WW II 37th Fighter Squadron, not a School Squadron.
 
There's a lineage of the 37th FTS at:
http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10210

Bernie Shearon
Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)

Bernie,
 
Apparently the 37th. School Squadron and the 37th Flying Training Squadron are not related, but I still have not been able to find anything on the lineage of the 37th. School Squadron (even on the afhra site). Where did you find the lineage of the 37th. School Squadron you gave me above?
 
Paul

Different sources.  A basic source for showing where units were (if their station was still open in 1982) Is Air Force Bases Vol 1, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States.  Also station Lists show where units were on speciic dates.  Both these sources, however, do have errors and it is sometimes necessary to rely on other cources required to determine that the departure of the 37th from Chanute on 28 Feb 44 meant it was disbanded, not inactivated or moved.  Hum of the Reaper by Tom Snyder, who was base historian at Chanute in the 1970s also has information on Chanute and its units.

Bernie Shearon
Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)