Aviation Cadet Training Program (USAAF)
Encyclopedia
The Flying / Aviation Cadet Pilot Training Program was created by the US Army to train its pilots. Originally created in 1907 by the US Army Signals Corps, it expanded as the Army's air assets increased.
Candidates originally had to be between the ages of 19 and 25, athletic, and honest. Two years of college or three years of a scientific or technical education were required. Cadets were supposed to be unmarried and pledged not to marry during training.
From 1907 to 1920, pilot officers were considered part of the Signals Corps or the Signals Officer Reserve Corps. After 1920, they were considered part of their own separate organization, the US Army Air Service (1918–1926).
The US Army Air Corps Training Center (USAACTC) was at Duncan Field from 1926 to 1931 and Randolph Field from 1931 to 1939. Two more centers were activated on 8 July 1940: the West Coast Army Air Corps Training Center (WCAACTC) in Sunnyvale, California and the Southeast Army Air Corps Training Center (SAACTC) in Montgomery Alabama. The USAACTC was renamed the Gulf Coast Army Air Corps Center (GCAACTC). In 1942 the Army moved the WCAACTC from Moffett Field to Santa Ana Army Air Base
(SAAAB), located on West 8th Street in Santa Ana
, California.
Aviation Cadet Centers
Randolph Field
; San Antonio
, Texas (1931–1947).
From 1947, it was run by the now-independent US Air Force from Lackland, Kelly, Randolph, or Brooks AFB. The Air Force program stopped taking civilian and enlisted pilot candidates in 1961 and Navigator candidates in 1965.
and service hat
. In June, 1918 the Air Service insignia of a winged single-prop propeller replaced the Signals Corps insignia. In 1925, they were allowed to wear the overseas cap and had branch of service piping of ultramarine blue with threads of golden orange.
From 1928 to 1941, Flight Cadets wore a distinctive slate-blue uniform. Visor-cap insignia was a pair of gold wings (3 inches wide) and a silver propeller (2 inches high). Flight Cadet insignia was worn on the lower right sleeve. Rank insignia was worn on the upper sleeves and consisted of 1 to 4 point-down black mohair chevrons to indicate the following equivalent ranks: Cadet Corporal (1 chevron), Cadet Sergeant (2 chevrons), Cadet Lieutenant (3 chevrons), and Cadet Captain (4 chevrons).
, North Island, San Diego, California.
and its functions moved to other facilities. Rockwell field was closed in 1920 and just used for storage.
On July 9, 1918 the rank of Flying Cadet was created by act of Congress.
Cadet training was in 3 stages
, Texas in June, 1922. This was to save money and provide good year-round flying conditions.
From 1941 to 1961 Aviation Cadets wore the same uniform as Army officers, except they lacked the mohair cuffband of a full officer. The service cap
differed in that it had a blue hatband (with Olive Drab uniform) or brown hatband (with Khaki uniform) and the General Issue eagle was replaced by the winged propeller insignia of the Army Air Force. They were paid $75 a month – the same rate as Army Air Corps Privates with flight status. As junior officers, cadets were addressed as "Mister" by all ranks.
In August of 1941 the minimum age for cadets was dropped from 21 to 18. The requirements for a 4-year college degree or at least 2 years of college was dropped to a high school diploma and graduating at the top of their class, later dropping to possession of a high school diploma in November, 1942. After demand lifted in mid-1944, the requirements went back to college-educated or college-graduated candidates.
Graduating cadets who lacked a college education were graded as Flight Staff Sergeants, with cadets who graduated at the top of their class being graded as Flight Technical Sergeants; and nicknamed Flying Sergeants. They were usually assigned to flying transport and liaison aircraft
. Their pilot status was only indicated by their pilot's wings, often leading to enlisted aviators being mistaken for air crew or harassed for impersonating a pilot. This caused a lot of bad feelings between the enlisted plots (who had more dangerous jobs for lower pay and no privileges) and the officer pilots (who received the same pay, promotability, and privileges as officers). When the education requirements dropped in 1942, all enlisted pilots were promoted to the rank of Flight Officer and graduating enlisted cadets were graded as Flight Officers or Second Lieutenants depending on merit.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor
and the United States entry into the war, the number of volunteers for pilot training was enormous. Fearing that they would lose them to the general draft, aviation cadet-applicants were given exemption from 1942 until 1944.
Demand for pilots meant that training had to be modified to accommodate the large numbers of pilot candidates. Training came in four stages (extended to five stages in April 1942 with the creation of the Pre-Flight stage). Classification lasted 1 week and the education and training stages were 9 weeks each. Each 9 week stage was divided into two 4.5 week (63 day) halves: a lower half and an upper half . The lower half was made up of students just beginning the stage and the upper half was made up of the students who were half-finished. The more experienced cadets would (hopefully) help the new cadets get through the section before they were promoted to the next stage.
Pilot School
Graduates were usually graded as Flight Officers (Warrant Officers). Cadets who graduated at the top of their class were graded as Second Lieutenants. Aviation Cadets who washed out of pilot training were sent to navigator or bombardier school. Aviation Cadets who washed out of navigator or bombardier training were usually sent to gunnery school.
Liaison Pilot School lasted 60 flight hours. It was an option for cadets who had passed Primary training, but had washed out of Basic or Advanced. They were trained to fly single-engined light aircraft similar to the light trainers they flew in Primary and were given training in takeoffs over obstacles, short-field landings, and low-altitude navigation. Their duties included transportation of troops and supplies, medical evacuation, aerial photography
, and low-level reconnaissance
. Graduates received Liaison Pilot wings. They were originally graded as Flight Staff Sergeants until 1942, when they were graded as Flight Officers.
Bombardier School lasted 18 weeks. It consisted of 425 hours of ground instruction in the proficiencies of a bombardier (plus familiarity with the tasks of the pilot, radioman, or navigator in case of an emergency). After 3 weeks this included 120 hours of air training in which the cadet began with practice runs and ended by performing bombing runs with live ordnance. Graduates received a Bombardier's wings.
Navigator School lasted 18 weeks. It consisted of 500 hours of ground instruction in the duties of a Navigator (charting, directional bearings, computed headings, airspeed, radio codes, celestial navigation, etc.). This was combined with familiarity with the tasks of a pilot or radioman in case of emergency. After 4 weeks the cadet acted as a navigator in day and night flights. Graduates received a Navigator's wings.
Flexible Gunnery School was a 6 week program that taught the cadet how to man a flexible-mount machinegun or a powered turret. All aircrew had to attend Gunnery School in case of emergencies and had to qualify before they could join an aircrew. Bombardiers and Navigators attended either before or after they attended their training school.
implemented a four-phase pilot training program: pre-flight, primary, basic, and crew.
to provide its pilots and aircrews.
, Florida, for the honor of "Last Aviation Cadet" based on his high academic, military, and flying grades.
Candidates originally had to be between the ages of 19 and 25, athletic, and honest. Two years of college or three years of a scientific or technical education were required. Cadets were supposed to be unmarried and pledged not to marry during training.
From 1907 to 1920, pilot officers were considered part of the Signals Corps or the Signals Officer Reserve Corps. After 1920, they were considered part of their own separate organization, the US Army Air Service (1918–1926).
The US Army Air Corps Training Center (USAACTC) was at Duncan Field from 1926 to 1931 and Randolph Field from 1931 to 1939. Two more centers were activated on 8 July 1940: the West Coast Army Air Corps Training Center (WCAACTC) in Sunnyvale, California and the Southeast Army Air Corps Training Center (SAACTC) in Montgomery Alabama. The USAACTC was renamed the Gulf Coast Army Air Corps Center (GCAACTC). In 1942 the Army moved the WCAACTC from Moffett Field to Santa Ana Army Air Base
Santa Ana Army Air Base
Santa Ana Army Air Base was an air base built during World War II that was decommissioned in 1946. The air base was used for basic training but did not have planes, hangars or runways. The base was and located in Costa Mesa between Baker Street on the north, Harbor Blvd. on the west, Wilson...
(SAAAB), located on West 8th Street in Santa Ana
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
, California.
Aviation Cadet Centers
Randolph Field
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
; San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Texas (1931–1947).
- West Coast Army Air Corps Training Center (WCAACTC) – Moffett FieldMoffett Federal AirfieldMoffett Federal Airfield , also known as Moffett Field, is a joint civil-military airport located between northern Mountain View and northern Sunnyvale, California, USA. The airport is near the south end of San Francisco Bay, northwest of San Jose. Formerly a United States Navy facility, the former...
; SunnyvaleSunnyvale, CaliforniaSunnyvale is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley located in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, California (1940–1941). Santa Ana Army Air BaseSanta Ana Army Air BaseSanta Ana Army Air Base was an air base built during World War II that was decommissioned in 1946. The air base was used for basic training but did not have planes, hangars or runways. The base was and located in Costa Mesa between Baker Street on the north, Harbor Blvd. on the west, Wilson...
(SAAAB); Santa Ana, California (1942–1947). - Southeast Army Air Corps Training Center (SAACTC) – Maxwell FieldMaxwell Air Force BaseMaxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
; MontgomeryMontgomery, AlabamaMontgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, Alabama (1940–1947).
From 1947, it was run by the now-independent US Air Force from Lackland, Kelly, Randolph, or Brooks AFB. The Air Force program stopped taking civilian and enlisted pilot candidates in 1961 and Navigator candidates in 1965.
Flying Cadet Program (1918–1940)
In 1918, Flight Cadets wore standard Army uniform and were differenced by a white hatband on the service capForage cap
Forage cap is the designation given to various types of military undress, fatigue or working headresses. These varied widely in form, according to country or period...
and service hat
Campaign hat
A campaign cover is a broad-brimmed felt or straw hat, with a high crown, pinched symmetrically at the four corners .It is associated with the New Zealand Army, the Royal Canadian...
. In June, 1918 the Air Service insignia of a winged single-prop propeller replaced the Signals Corps insignia. In 1925, they were allowed to wear the overseas cap and had branch of service piping of ultramarine blue with threads of golden orange.
From 1928 to 1941, Flight Cadets wore a distinctive slate-blue uniform. Visor-cap insignia was a pair of gold wings (3 inches wide) and a silver propeller (2 inches high). Flight Cadet insignia was worn on the lower right sleeve. Rank insignia was worn on the upper sleeves and consisted of 1 to 4 point-down black mohair chevrons to indicate the following equivalent ranks: Cadet Corporal (1 chevron), Cadet Sergeant (2 chevrons), Cadet Lieutenant (3 chevrons), and Cadet Captain (4 chevrons).
1907–1917
The US Army Signal Corps Aviation School was first based at College Park, Maryland from 1907 to 1912. It later moved in 1912 to Rockwell FieldRockwell Field
Rockwell Field was an Army air base located in Coronado, California, near San Diego. It shared the area known as North Island with Naval Air Station North Island from 1912 to 1935. Its functions were eventually moved to March Field so that the naval air station could take over the whole area...
, North Island, San Diego, California.
1917–1918
To meet the increased demand for pilots, the Signal Corps Aviation School was shut down during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and its functions moved to other facilities. Rockwell field was closed in 1920 and just used for storage.
On July 9, 1918 the rank of Flying Cadet was created by act of Congress.
Cadet training was in 3 stages
- Ground School was created in 12 May 1917. Cadets were taught the basics of flight, airplane operation and maintenance, meteorology, astronomy, military science, and officer behavior. It lasted 8 weeks (extended to 12 in 1918) and took place at Schools of Military Aeronautics at MITMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, Cornell UniversityCornell UniversityCornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, University of Texas, University of Illinois, University of California at Berkley, and Ohio State. - Preliminary Flight School was next. This was taught at flight centers across the country. Facilities included Selfridge FieldSelfridge FieldSelfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...
, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
; Chanute and Scott FieldScott Air Force BaseScott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
; Wilbur Wright Field, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
; Kelly, Taliaferro, Love, Call, RichRich FieldRich Field is a defunct military airfield near Waco, Texas, used for flying training during World War I. It was named in honor of 2nd Lt. C. Perry Rich of the Philippine Scouts. He had been instructed to fly by Lt. Frank P. Lahm in May 1913, then crashed his Wright Model C into Manila Bay on...
, and Ellington FieldEllington FieldEllington International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in the U.S. state of Texas within the city of Houston— southeast of Downtown. Established by the Army Air Service on 21 May 1917, Ellington Field was one of the initial World War I Army Air Service installations when...
s Texas; Post Field, Fort SillHenry Post Army AirfieldHenry Post Army Airfield is a military use airport located at Fort Sill in Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States. This military airport is owned by United States Army. It is the oldest continually operating airfield in the U.S. Army inventory...
, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
; and Gerstner Field, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Cadets had about 40–50 flight hours in Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplanes: 4–10 hours of dual training, 24 hours of solo flying, and a 16-hour cross-country flight. Graduates were certified as Reserve Military Aviators in the Army Signal Corps. - Advanced Flight Training took place in the United Kingdom, France, or ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Cadets were trained on their assigned aircraft for about 90 hours before being sent into combat in Europe.
1919–1921
Cadet training was in 2 stages.- Preliminary Training was for four months (combining Ground and Preliminary Flight School) and was held at Carlstrom FieldCarlstrom FieldCarlstrom Field was named for Lt. Victor Carlstrom, who was killed in an aircraft accident in Newport News, Virginia. At the outbreak of World War I, he was one of the foremost aviators of his time. He made many first flights and set many altitude and distance records...
, Florida or March Field, California. - Advanced Training was for three months. It was held at Post, Kelly, or Ellington Fields.
1922–1926
The Air Service consolidated all its training at San AntonioSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Texas in June, 1922. This was to save money and provide good year-round flying conditions.
- Primary Training was extended to 5 months at Brooks FieldBrooks City-BaseBrooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...
. - Advanced Training was extended to 6 months at Kelly Field.
1926–1938
The Army Air Service becomes the Army Air Corps in 1926. The Air Corps Training Center was built at Duncan Field, near Kelly Field, in 1926. This was moved to Randolph Field on 1 October 1931.- Primary and Basic Training was extended to 8 months each and was held at the Air Corps Training Center.
- Advanced Training was reduced to 4 months and was held at Kelly Field.
1939–1940
In 1938 the US Army Air Corps was to be expanded to 24 Groups by 1939. This required an influx of cadets to meet the requirements. There were three 12-week cycles (or about 9 months total).- Primary Flight Training would be performed by contracted civilian flight schools.
- Basic Flight School would be performed at Randolph Field.
- Advanced Flight Training would be done at Kelly Field and Brooks FieldBrooks City-BaseBrooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...
.
Aviation Cadet Program (1941–1961 / 1965)
On 20 June 1941, the air arm of the US Army became the "US Army Air Forces" (USAAF). The grade of Aviation Cadet was created for pilot candidates, and the program was renamed the Aviation Cadet Training Program (AvCad). The program was expanded to also cover training navigators and bombardiers and Moffett Field became the first center to give "pre-flight" training to navigators and bombardiers. Later non-rated specialties covered included communications, armament, meteorology, and radar operation.From 1941 to 1961 Aviation Cadets wore the same uniform as Army officers, except they lacked the mohair cuffband of a full officer. The service cap
Forage cap
Forage cap is the designation given to various types of military undress, fatigue or working headresses. These varied widely in form, according to country or period...
differed in that it had a blue hatband (with Olive Drab uniform) or brown hatband (with Khaki uniform) and the General Issue eagle was replaced by the winged propeller insignia of the Army Air Force. They were paid $75 a month – the same rate as Army Air Corps Privates with flight status. As junior officers, cadets were addressed as "Mister" by all ranks.
1940–1945
Cadet flight training was reduced in 1940 to seven months of training and only 200 Flight Hours to meet a potential demand for military pilots.In August of 1941 the minimum age for cadets was dropped from 21 to 18. The requirements for a 4-year college degree or at least 2 years of college was dropped to a high school diploma and graduating at the top of their class, later dropping to possession of a high school diploma in November, 1942. After demand lifted in mid-1944, the requirements went back to college-educated or college-graduated candidates.
Graduating cadets who lacked a college education were graded as Flight Staff Sergeants, with cadets who graduated at the top of their class being graded as Flight Technical Sergeants; and nicknamed Flying Sergeants. They were usually assigned to flying transport and liaison aircraft
Auxiliary Pilot Badge
The Glider, Service, and Liaison Pilot Badges were qualification badges of the United States Army Air Force which were issued during the years of World War II. The badges appeared as the standard USAAF Pilot Badge with one of three letters centered on the badges’ shield, or escutcheon...
. Their pilot status was only indicated by their pilot's wings, often leading to enlisted aviators being mistaken for air crew or harassed for impersonating a pilot. This caused a lot of bad feelings between the enlisted plots (who had more dangerous jobs for lower pay and no privileges) and the officer pilots (who received the same pay, promotability, and privileges as officers). When the education requirements dropped in 1942, all enlisted pilots were promoted to the rank of Flight Officer and graduating enlisted cadets were graded as Flight Officers or Second Lieutenants depending on merit.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
and the United States entry into the war, the number of volunteers for pilot training was enormous. Fearing that they would lose them to the general draft, aviation cadet-applicants were given exemption from 1942 until 1944.
Demand for pilots meant that training had to be modified to accommodate the large numbers of pilot candidates. Training came in four stages (extended to five stages in April 1942 with the creation of the Pre-Flight stage). Classification lasted 1 week and the education and training stages were 9 weeks each. Each 9 week stage was divided into two 4.5 week (63 day) halves: a lower half and an upper half . The lower half was made up of students just beginning the stage and the upper half was made up of the students who were half-finished. The more experienced cadets would (hopefully) help the new cadets get through the section before they were promoted to the next stage.
- Classification stage processed the cadet and issued him his equipment. This was the stage where it would be decided whether the cadet would train as a navigator, bombardier, or pilot. Candidates who failed the advanced physical were returned to the regular Army.
- Pre-Flight stage was divided into two parts and was attended by pilots, navigators, and bombardiers. The first 6 weeks concentrated on athletics and military training. This was followed by 3 weeks of academics. They were taught the mechanics and physics of flight and required the cadets to pass refresher courses in mathematics and physics. Then the cadets were taught to apply their knowledge practically by teaching them aeronautics, deflection shooting, and thinking in three dimensions.
Pilot School
- Primary Pilot Training taught basic flight using two-seater training aircraft. This was usually done by Contract Schools (civilian pilot training schools) through the Civil Aeronautics Authority – War Training ServiceCivilian Pilot Training ProgramThe Civilian Pilot Training Program was a flight training program sponsored by the United States government with the stated purpose of increasing the number of civilian pilots, though having a clear impact on military preparedness....
(CAA-WTS). Cadets got around 60 to 65 Flight Hours in Stearman, Ryan, or FairchildFairchild PT-19|-See also:-Bibliography:* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4....
trainers before going to Basic. - Basic Pilot Training taught the cadets to fly in formation, fly by instruments or by aerial navigation, fly at night, and fly for long distances. Cadets got about 70 Flight Hours before being promoted to Advanced.
- Advanced Pilot Training placed the graduates in two categories: single-engined and multi-engined. Single-engined pilots flew fighters and fighter-bombers. Multi-engined pilots learned to fly transports and bombers. First they flew Trainer aircraft, then transitioned to front-line aircraft. Cadets were supposed to get a total of about 75 to 80 Flight Hours before graduating.
Graduates were usually graded as Flight Officers (Warrant Officers). Cadets who graduated at the top of their class were graded as Second Lieutenants. Aviation Cadets who washed out of pilot training were sent to navigator or bombardier school. Aviation Cadets who washed out of navigator or bombardier training were usually sent to gunnery school.
Liaison Pilot School lasted 60 flight hours. It was an option for cadets who had passed Primary training, but had washed out of Basic or Advanced. They were trained to fly single-engined light aircraft similar to the light trainers they flew in Primary and were given training in takeoffs over obstacles, short-field landings, and low-altitude navigation. Their duties included transportation of troops and supplies, medical evacuation, aerial photography
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
, and low-level reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
. Graduates received Liaison Pilot wings. They were originally graded as Flight Staff Sergeants until 1942, when they were graded as Flight Officers.
Bombardier School lasted 18 weeks. It consisted of 425 hours of ground instruction in the proficiencies of a bombardier (plus familiarity with the tasks of the pilot, radioman, or navigator in case of an emergency). After 3 weeks this included 120 hours of air training in which the cadet began with practice runs and ended by performing bombing runs with live ordnance. Graduates received a Bombardier's wings.
Navigator School lasted 18 weeks. It consisted of 500 hours of ground instruction in the duties of a Navigator (charting, directional bearings, computed headings, airspeed, radio codes, celestial navigation, etc.). This was combined with familiarity with the tasks of a pilot or radioman in case of emergency. After 4 weeks the cadet acted as a navigator in day and night flights. Graduates received a Navigator's wings.
Flexible Gunnery School was a 6 week program that taught the cadet how to man a flexible-mount machinegun or a powered turret. All aircrew had to attend Gunnery School in case of emergencies and had to qualify before they could join an aircrew. Bombardiers and Navigators attended either before or after they attended their training school.
1952–????
In 1952 Air Training CommandAir Training Command
Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
implemented a four-phase pilot training program: pre-flight, primary, basic, and crew.
The End of AvCad
The Aviation Cadet program ended for pilots in 1961 and navigators in 1965. The Air Force now relied on the USAF Academy, Reserve Officer Training Corps, and Officer Candidate SchoolOfficer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
to provide its pilots and aircrews.
The Last Aviation Cadet Pilot
The last Aviation Cadet pilot classes were Webb AFB class 61G and Reese AFB class 62A. The last Aviation Cadet pilot to graduate was 2nd Lieutenant William F. Wesson, the only member of Reese AFB class 62B-2, on 11 October 1961. Wesson was originally a member of class 62A but was injured during a training accident and had to recover and re-qualify before he could graduate.The Last Aviation Cadet Navigator
The last Aviation Cadet navigator class was 65–15 at James Connally AFB. It was made up of Eulalio Arzaga, Jr., James J. Crowling, Jr., Ronald M. Durgee, Harry W. Elliott, Timothy J. Geary, Robert E. Girvan, Gleen D. Green, Paul J. Gringot, Jr., William P. Hagopian, Steven V. Harper, Robert D. Humphrey, Hollis D. Jones, Evert F. Larson, Gerald J. Lawrence, Thomas J. Mitchell, Ronald W. Oberender, Raymond E. Powell, Victor B. Putz, Milton Spivack, Donald E. Templeman, Herbert F. Turney. The above aviation cadets became USAF 2nd Lieutenants. and were awarded their navigator wings on March 3, 1965. Class 65-15 chose classmate Cadet Steven V. Harper of MiamiMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Florida, for the honor of "Last Aviation Cadet" based on his high academic, military, and flying grades.
Lineage of the United States Air Force
- Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal CorpsAeronautical Division, U.S. Signal CorpsThe Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps was the world's first heavier-than-air military aviation organization and the progenitor of the United States Air Force. A component of the U.S...
1 August 1907 – 18 July 1914 - Aviation Section, U.S. Signal CorpsAviation Section, U.S. Signal CorpsThe Aviation Section, Signal Corps, was the military aviation service of the United States Army from 1914 to 1918, and a direct ancestor of the United States Air Force. It replaced and absorbed the Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps, and was succeeded briefly by the Division of Military...
18 July 1914 – 20 May 1918 - Division of Military Aeronautics 20 May 1918 – 24 May 1918
- United States Army Air ServiceUnited States Army Air ServiceThe Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
24 May 1918 – 2 July 1926 - United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air CorpsThe United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
2 July 1926 – 20 June 1941 - United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air ForcesThe United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
20 June 1941 – 18 September 1947 - United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
18 September 1947–present
Flight/Aviation Cadets
- "We Wanted Wings: A History of the Aviation Cadet Program" by Dr. Bruce Ashcroft.
- Bruce D. Callander, “The Aviation Cadets,” Air Force Magazine: Journal of the Air Force Association vol. 73, no. 11 (November 1990)
- "The Army Air Forces in World War II, Vol. 6: Men and Planes" by Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955.
- "The Last of A Breed" by Errol Severe.
- "Pilots With Stripes" by Richard Sassaman. America in WWII: The Magazine of a People At War Vol. 7, No.2 (August, 2011).
Links
- http://www.capnbilly.com/class61f_avcad_001.htm
- http://www.aviationcadet.com/