Aviation Cadet Training Program (USAAF)
This requirement was relaxed in January, 1942, after research on the qualifying exam showed that its scores were sufficiently predictive.
[1] Army Air Forces Cadets were supposed to be unmarried and pledged not to marry during training.
The SAACTC was later renamed the Gulf Coast Army Air Corps Center (GCAACTC).
From 1947, the Aviation Cadet program was run by the now-independent U.S. Air Force from Lackland, Kelly, Randolph, or Brooks AFB, all located in San Antonio, Texas.
[3] When Captain Frank P. Lahm, the school's commander, couldn't find enough commissioned officer applicants, he trained Burge, who received his FAI pilot's license on 14 June 1912.
Lamkey entered the Army Signal Corps in 1913, but had already received his FAI license from the Moisant Aviation School in 1912.
New pilots were usually commissioned to meet the need for pilot-rated officers in Air Corps administrative and command billets.
Enlisted pilots didn't have a place in the hierarchy when they stopped flying and either reverted to their old pre-flying trade or were discharged.
In 1933, the training and creation of enlisted pilots was discontinued due to budget cuts and lack of funds.
On 3 June 1941, Public Law 99 was enacted, allowing enlisted men to apply to flight training.
Candidates had to be between the ages of 18 and 22, have a high school diploma with at least 1.5 credit hours worth of math, and have graduated in the top half of their class.
[7] The U.S. Air Force's last enlisted pilot was Master Sergeant George H. Holmes (1898–1965).
In 1925, they were allowed to wear the overseas cap and had branch of service piping of ultramarine blue with threads of golden orange.
The first 24 certified pilots awarded this distinction (and the accompanying Signals Corps Military Aviator badge) were listed in War Department General Order No.
To meet the increased demand for pilots, the Signal Corps Aviation School was shut down during World War I and its functions moved to other facilities.
Student training was in three stages: During World War I the rank of Junior Military Aviator was indicated by a US Shield with one wing.
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 Forces.
Therefore, in January 1943 the Army authorized training center commanders to procure commercially-made versions to meet demand.
This led to non-standard designs (like dark blue or black chevrons on olive drab backings) and unique duty position insignias.
It was in blue enamel for Air ratings (pilot, navigator, bombardier, Flight Engineer, or Fire Control Officer – graduates of the aviation cadet program) and brown enamel for Ground ratings (radar operator, armorer, meteorologist, etc.
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 the demand lessened in July, 1944.
Aviation cadets who washed out of navigator or bombardier training were usually sent to Flexible Gunnery School to become aerial gunners.
Their duties included transportation of troops and supplies, medical evacuation, aerial photography, and low-level reconnaissance.
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).
Flexible Gunnery School was a six-week program that taught the cadet how to man a flexible-mount machinegun or a powered turret.
At the time, the newly created Air Force had no service academy of its own yet (the USMA and USNA had options for their cadets and midshipmen, respectively, to become USAF officers).
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 requalify before he could graduate.
[13]: 73–74 It was made up of Eulalio Arzaga, Jr., James J. Crowling, Jr., Ronald M. Durgee, Harry W. Elliott, Timothy J. Geary, Robert E. Girvan, Glen 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, and Herbert F. Turney.
