CR tail code
The first two-letter code, which represents the wing, was usually the initial letter of the base's name. The second letter, which designated the squadron, consisted of a series of letters (R, S, T, U and V), that were the same for all USAFE units with the exception of one.
The 32nd was assigned with the "CR" during the early 1970. The base initial "C" was selected to represent Camp New Amsterdam, and the squadron letter was chosen because it was the first letter in the series. A more appropriate code would have been "SR" to represent Soesterberg AB, but it was already in use by the 62nd Tactical Airlift Squadron based at Sewart Air Force Base in Tennessee. From the Phantom period the aircraft were provided with an orange stripe too. In the early years of the F-15 Eagle the stripe was like the F-4 Phantom on top of the tail. When the smaller stencil was replaced by a larger one the ribbon didn't look good and couldn't centred well. They decided to drop it down below the anti collision light. It looked better and centred better.
 | When maintenance squadron was 1 unit, they had Alpha flight and Bravo flight, and were all on the same side of the base, the Zulu side. With the arrival of 6 additional aircraft (81-0045, 81-0046, 81-0047, 81-0048, 81-0049, and 81-0065) the base decided to split the two flights. Alfa flight stayed on the ZULU side of the base and Bravo flight went to the 3rd generation area. The Alfa flight was provided with orange tails with the little green stripes and Bravo flight had the green tails with little orange stripes. Both flights had the Royal crown added to the ribbon. |