The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-05-02

McGovern, Jr., son Of Mr.. al
of LounSbury Avenue.
The two young Waterburians are
shown in the accompanying photo
taken III connection with a series Of
stories written by Albert /. Prince
of the Hartford Times In connec-
ton with personal visit to Pensa-
cola, Florida. to see Connecticut
Naval Aviation Cadets in training.
The special story on the Huskies
follows:
The Connecticut Huskies are re-
ceiving their wings at Pensacola.
They came as a group from the
University of Connecticut. Gradu-
alton exercises are held Tuesdays
and Fridays at the Annapolis of
the Air" Usually, some Connecti-
cut relatives are able to make the
trip south TO see this ceremony
Of designation as 1t Is called.
To be sure, the young men after
IL to l6 months of training are
commissioned as ensigns, but
emphasis Is upon designation as
Navy flyers. Often they are ad-
dressed by Rear Admiral George
D. Murray, chief of naval air
training, who is No. % on the
Nays list of early aviators.
British Trainees
It is usually a United Nations
group presented for commissions
and certificates. American sailor
pilots make up the great majority,
Of course, but there are many in
training for the British Royal
Navy. ard the Raj has its sub
stantial contingent. Flyers for the
Marine Corps are trained here,
likewise, and not a few Army pilots
already commissioned take
course to assure familiarity with
Navy type planes. This is an
essential Of joint Army and Navy
combat operations. Many a group
to be seen out over the Gulf of
Mexico includes both British and
American flyers.
One group of Connecticut
HuskieS came to the Pensacola
Naval Air Training Center last
December after training in the
Navy air schools at Dallas, Tex,
and Athens, Ga. Some members
Of this University of Connecticut
group went to another training CEN
ter because Of selection for the
lighter-than-air type of ship. Others
were sent to Corpus Christi, Tex,
where the instruction parallels that
at Pensacola.
From every group there are the
inevitable washouts because of
flight or academic deficiencies.
Emphasis on Sports
Sports have a large part
throughout the Pensacola course
and American and English trainees
are encouraged to swap games. Co
ordination Is Of the utmost impor-
lance to a pilot. Instructors find
that the American is adept in the
use Of his hands, while the English
man does better in sports calling for
foot and head action. The American
game of basketball demands able use
of the hands, so this is recommend
ed for the Englishman. Soccer, on
the other hand, calls for liberal
Use Of feet and head, so Americans
are asked to play it.
Self Preservation Course
At Pensacola the flight students
add to their fund of knowledge
derived at the preparatory schools,
pre-flight schools and primary
stations by a short but complete
self-preservation course. The first
two hours of the course consist
OF lectures while the remaining
four hours consist of practical
work in the pool.
Among the subjects stressed in
the lectures are:
(a) How to eXtricate ones self
from parachute harness after
landing in the water.
(b) How TO initiate, rig and
handle a rubber life raft. How
to right the raft II overturned,
and how to get In and out Of the
raft. Also how to use the equip
ment that is aboard.
The practical instruction In the
pool is designed to teach the
flight students the following:
(a) Hazard swimming - how to
swim through debris. oil and fire.
(b) How to use shirts. trousers.
6uftel bags. mattress covers. etc.
as fiotation gear.
(c) Life saving and artificial
respiration.
10 addition to the above, all
cadets are required TO pass a one
mile swimming test and a 100
yard tow test prior to being COM
missioned,
The synthetic training division
ried to the former Lauretta Hogg,