WW2 Pilot Training

[JumpBoot]

Hello all,

I'm trying to find out some information on the selection process for potential pilots for the period leading up to and during WW2. Does anyone happen to know where to start? I've not had much luck thus far.

Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.


JB

 

[Stearmen]

I do know one thing, training was more lax at the start of the war. I met several pilots when I flew air shows in the 80s and 90s, one early war pilot cracked up two Stearman's and passed, the instructor just said, "practise makes perfect." Yet I talked to pilots that entered primary flight training in 1944 and 45 who were washed out for the most minor incident!

 

[Edward]

I do know one thing, training was more lax at the start of the war. I met several pilots when I flew air shows in the 80s and 90s, one early war pilot cracked up two Stearman's and passed, the instructor just said, "practise makes perfect." Yet I talked to pilots that entered primary flight training in 1944 and 45 who were washed out for the most minor incident!

Intereting - I'd have assumed that they got more lax as the war dragged on and they needed more fresh troops - similar to how the age limit for conscription was raised in Britain (early war it was 35, later it became 40, if memory serves), and apparently they got less fussy about health conditions...

 

[Spitfire]

My experience is that most first hand accounts written by pilots back then, deals with the selection and the training. So it could be a good place to start.
If you are into RAF - as I am - here are a few titles, straight from the hip. (Which means - I do not guarantee there is chapter after chapter on training) :
Tom Neil: Gunbutton to Fire
Tom Vigors: Life's too short to cry
Brian Lane: Spitfire
Geoffrey Wellum: First light

Best of luck!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Here is a brief excerpt from the book, "The Army of The United States" published in 1940.
"Candidates for appointment as flying cadets must be unmarried male citizens, between 20 and 26 years old. Those who have not satisfactorily completed at least 2 years of standard college work must pass a written, educational examination. The physical standard for flying is high, especially as to vision, hearing, and the nervous system. Vision must be normal without glasses."

 

[1930artdeco]

Don't forget the ENLISTED pilots early in the war.

Mike

 

[Atticus Finch]

There is a pretty good account of the USAAF selection process in the first chapters of this book. I remember the author describing some of the same things my father said he went through to become a fighter pilot in 1944-1945.

AF

 

[Stearmen]

In 1942 pilots were sent to the front with just 200 hours total flying time and less then 5 hours in the fighters they were to fight with, some only had one hour total. They told to learn as they flew to the target! By 1944, that rose to 450 hours to 600 hours with as many as 250 in the aircraft they would be assigned to! A funny side note, the civilian pilots that trained the cadets in primary school were required to have a minium of 220 hours and a commercial pilots license. Some of the old barnstormer pilots had 5000 official hours and probably double that in unwritten hours. They would not log all their hours so they did not have to replace engines. Some of the young pilots probably had less then 220 with the rest being made up in Sheaffer time!

 

[JumpBoot]

Thanks very much for the replies, I appreciate them. I'm going to go ahead and order the books on Amazon.

 

[B-24J]

You might also want to try, "Take 'er Up Alone, Mister !" 1943 by Hibbits, John J.

This follows a new pilot through flight school. He goes from single and double engine trainers to the B-24 at the end.

A wartime info book which is rather good.

A readable copy is not too expensive on amazon.

John

 

[TomS]

There is a pretty good account of the USAAF selection process in the first chapters of this book. I remember the author describing some of the same things my father said he went through to become a fighter pilot in 1944-1945.

AF

Good read...

 

[SHOWSOMECLASS]

The Official Guide To The Army Air Forces copyright 1944 p. 40-42
Basic Physical Requirements
VISION- 20/20 each eye w/o glasses, perfect color vision
HEARING- 20/20 each ear, (whisper voice)
HEIGHT- Min. 64" Max. 76"
WEIGHT- Min. 114 lbs. Max 200lbs.

Educational Requirements
Formal schooling is not required; applicants are given a qualifying exam, short answer, multiple choice.

The following subjects have been found extremely helpful in preparation..........
Science-gases, heat, gravity, energy, forces etc.
Math- fundamentals, formulas, equations
Machine Shop- bench metal work, mechanical drawing, blueprint reading and physical training.

Tests- Applicants are given a series of psychometer and placement tests at Basic Training Center in order to check mental and muscular coordination. Scores made on these tests determine the particular phase of flying- pilot, bombardier or navigator- in which applicants can be best and most quickly trained.
Failing to meet the minimum standards for any of these , applicants are eligible to apply for aerial gunnery training.

 

[SHOWSOMECLASS]

Aeronautical Ratings AAF Guide p. 48

Pilot- rating may be obtained by:
Successful completion of advanced pilot school. This is where the bulk of our pilot personnel are obtained.

On the basis of meeting the following requirements and board approval:
1. Previous aeronautical rating held, or previous instruction passed, flying time, completion of a flight test.
2. A rating as a service pilot currently held; certain requirements of flying time, board approval and readiness for combat duties appropriate for a pilot who has graduated from AAF advanced flying school
3. Graduation from a course of instruction in armed forces of friendly foreign nations.

 

[hatguy1]

Another good title on point is Washout: The Aviation Cadet Story by Charles Watry.

 

[Captain Nemo]

One additional source you may wish to consider is the Air Force Historical Research Agency. they have collected some of the AAF reports and put them online.

You may be especially interested in:

Report 2, (U) Initial Selection of Candidates for Pilot, Bombardier, and Navigator Training, by Robert L. Thompson (1943). 66 pages.

Report 15, (U) Procurement of Aircrew Trainees, Natalie Grow (1944). 151 pages.

Report 48, (U) Preflight Training in the AAF, 1939-1944, by Thomas H. Greer (1946). 276 pages.

Located at the following link:

http://www.afhra.af.mil/studies/numberedusafhistoricalstudies.asp

 

[Guttersnipe]

Here is a brief excerpt from the book, "The Army of The United States" published in 1940.
"Candidates for appointment as flying cadets must be unmarried male citizens, between 20 and 26 years old. Those who have not satisfactorily completed at least 2 years of standard college work must pass a written, educational examination. The physical standard for flying is high, especially as to vision, hearing, and the nervous system. Vision must be normal without glasses."

It's interesting that the 1940 publication states flight cadets must be unmarried. When my Grandpa went to USAAC flight school in 1938-39, he was already married. From his recollections, the pre-war standards were quite high at Randolph Field, TX. I remember him telling me about cadets being washed out for very minor infractions.

Upon graduation, he was posted to a USAAC flight school in California as a basic flight instructor. One of his students was Jimmy Stewart (the actor). However, since Stewart had a civilian pilot's license and a lot of flight hours, he was allowed to skip basic flight after passing the exit exams and flight test, which my Granddad administered.

 

[Metatron]

'The Big Show' for an RAF perspective and 'I flew for the Fuhrer' for a Luftwaffe one. Both contain accounts of training, including some hair-raising accidents.