Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-06
Montana Men Now Training
I'm U. S. Army Flying School

Soon to be wearing wings in Uncl
Sans rapidly expanding army al
corps are three Montana boys now IL
training at Randolph field, Tex, tht
West Point Of the Air" The Montana
men are Thomas j. Davis Jr. Of Butte
A. Mitchell OF Helena.
A fourth, Flying Cadet Paul e
Ghetner of Butte. recently received
his wings" at Kelly field, Tex. and
was commissioned as second neuten-
ant In the air corps reserve and viii
be assigned for active duty with some
branch Of the air service soon. His
commission came as reward for three
intensive training courSeS-each OF
three months duration-at a civilian
school at Glendale, Calf at Randolph
field and finally at Kelly field.
The first three mentioned, after
completing their basic flight training
at Randolph field viii be transferred
to the advanced flying school at Kelly
field for another 10-week period of
flying instruction before joining either
a bonbardment pursuit or observation
squadron Of the air corps.
Every five weeks thereafter another
class OF student pilots will complete its
basic training either at Randolph field
or at one of the other training schools
soon to be announced, and will go into
the advanced period of flight. schooling
before receiving their wings.
When the first air corps expansion
program was announced last spring.
plans were laid for an air army of
$500 airplanes and comparable num-
Der OF highly trained pilots; Today ,0a
training program envisiontng 1000
pilots and $500 navigators and bonn
bardiers annually is getting under way.
Under the air corps pilot training
plan approved early in June, lying
cadets wiz be transformed into military
pilots in slightly less than a year. Ten
weeks Of elementary training on rugged
lowed by second 10-week period Of
basic flight training on $50 horsepower
low wing mOnoplaneS, according TO air
corps training center officials.
A third 1O-week period of advanced
flying training at one OF three ad-
vanced flying schools will prepare the
future birdmen for final five weeks
course in specialized aviation, such as
pursuit, bombardment, attack or obser-
walton. In all. approximately 265 hours
of flying time will be logged by each
flying cadet during the training course.
Every maneuver In the veteran pilots
bag of tricks is taught the future air.
days after the flying cadet arrives at
one Of the many elementary flying
schools, he is making landings and
takeoffs under the watchful eye Of his
flight instructor.
Within eight hours flying time he
has Soloed and is mastering the in
tricacies of the chandeIle, lazy eight,
and pylon eight. all training maneu-
vers. Before completing the first IS
hours of the 265-hour course, aerial
acrobatics such as loops, rolls and I'M
melman turns are executed as matter
of course.
Second phase of the 36-week train
ing period Is spent IN the BT-9s or
low wing monoplanes. top
speed IT'S miles an hour. More pre-
cfsion In all the aerial gyrations is
developed, and flying cadets get their
first taste OF night flying during this
period Of rs flying hours.
Third period of training will be at
one Of the three air corps advanced
flying schools. soon to be set UP. For
nation flying, wing tip to wing tip,
navigation flights. more aerial aero
battles and advanced instrument train
ing will be stressed during this period.
also Is hours Of flying time.