Hi Steve, 1942 I received my civilian pilots license 1943 I enlisted in Army Air Corp. basic (boot) camp was at Miami Beach,Florida, then to Gettysburg College ,Pennsylvania for 6 month’s to study and 10 hours flying Piper Cub with a instructor. Then to Maxwell Field Alabama for Pre-flight training to be gentlemen and how to eat. Then to Avon Park and Lakeland Florida to fly the PT-17 Stearman, very noisy plane, to communicate with our instructor, who was in the front cock-pit, was with piece of garden hose with funnel at each end. It was a good acrobatic plane.. Then to Cockran Field Georgia to fly the AT-6 Texan. After I solo and was practicing take off and landing, I dropped the flaps instead of raising the wheels,the plane dropped a little but luck was with me and I climbed over the tree’s. I thought no one seen this, but a month later a student did this and my instructor looked at me and said You wouldn’t do this, would you. January 1945 Air Corp. found they had too many pilots. I was one of thousands they put in Army Infantry. If you want to know how ex-cadets were treated go to http://scottfield.homestead.com/index.html That was end of my flying. When I was dis-charged I looked into flying but it was too expensive. A real good web to see what cadets go through is http://www.angelfire.com/nh/anomalite This is a story by a pilot who is now a re-tired missionary. God Bless Art
WOW ART !! Reading about that made me mad and I was not even in the military. That was really cruel to lead on all those guys and then dump them. At least you got to fly for alittle while. I would think there are alot of bitter people out there still over that treatment. I have read thru the first site on Scott field but I will have to read the second site later tonight. Thank you for the new insight on how they treated some of you during the war. Certainly not what the history books lead you to believe about WWII America. I hope they treat the USAF pilots better than that today. Steve
So Art when they put you in the infantry did you automatically become a private? Or did you automatically become a NCO or officer?
