The Department of Air Training (1942–1947; 1947–1954) was originally a part of the U.S. Army Ground Force's Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
[1] It trained Forward Observer pilots to act as organic spotter units for U.S. Army artillery battalions and brigades.
The pilots were eventually not just used to adjust artillery fire, but to support naval gunfire, direct bombing missions, perform aerial reconnaissance, conduct medical evacuations, and perform liaison and command and control duties as well.
July 6, 1942, the day the Air Training Department was established, is seen as the birthday of Army Aviation.
They were restricted to reconnaissance and casualty evacuation duties under the Key West Agreement of 1948.