Southeast Air Corps Training News
Title
Southeast Air Corps Training News
A weekly newspaper from Maxwell Field, Alabama 1941
Description
The front page of Maxwell Field newspaper for November 15th 1941. There is a photograph and mention in an article reporting the arrival of a new batch of trainees, 750 of which were British. On the reverse Geoff has recorded a timetable for a day at the base were he did his basic training, Cochran Field, which started at 6am and ends at 21.45.
Creator
Date
1941-11-15
Temporal Coverage
Language
Format
One newspaper page, one handwritten page
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
SShattockGF1317240v10007, SShattockGF1317240v10008
Transcription
Southeast Asia Air Corps Training Center
[crest]
NEWS
“A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE MEN OF THE SOUTHEAST AIR CORPS TRAINING CENTER”
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 18 MAXWELL FIELD, ALABAMA, NOVEMBER 15, 1941 ONE CENT PER COPY
Hospital Group Nears Completion At Greenville
15 Building Unit Will Provide For Personnel Of 3,192
A modern 111-bed hospital group [indecipherable word] for the medical and dental requirements of the 3,192 officers, [indecipherable word], cadets and enlisted men who will be stationed at the new large flying school at Greenville, [indecipherable word] is rapidly nearing completion it was announced this week.
All [indecipherable word] of the [indecipherable word] building group and of the one storey cantonment type connected by covered walkways. In the group are one administration building, five ward buildings, nurses’ quarters, bachelor officers quarters, sick call building, medical supply building, [indecipherable word] hall, flight surgeon’s building, two enlisted men’s barracks, a recreation hall and a building housing the central heating plant.
Though rated as a 111-bed hospital, it can be expanded to a 160 bed capacity if necessary. It will be staffed with sixteen officers and eighteen civilian employees.
Captain Charles F. Haughey M.C., base surgeon for the hospital, is a graduate of the University of [indecipherable words] with the [indecipherable word] Army [two indecipherable words] attended Army Schools at Washington D C., Carlisle Penn.; School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Field, Tex.; and Wright Field, O Prior to his appointment as base surgeon at Greenville he was the assistant Surgeon, First Air Force, stationed at Mitchell Field, N. Y.
Other officers on duty with the base hospital at present are. Major David K Rich, Dental Corps, in charge of the dental clinic: Captain C.J. Prochaska, medical officer; First Lieutenants C.M. McKatchern and D.L. Hobman, dental officers and First Lieutenant J.A Randle, veterinary officer.
AVERAGE MAN IN ARMY TIPS SCALES AT 144
The average young man, starting service in the United States Army is five feet eight inches tall and has other corresponding body measurements, according to records of the Army Quartermaster who has directed the measuring and [indecipherable word] of more than [indecipherable words] men.
This [indecipherable word] weighs [indecipherable words] measurement of [indecipherable words] waistline [indecipherable words]
To keep the average soldier [indecipherable words] clothing [indecipherable words] equipment and [indecipherable words] barracks equipment. Weapons ammunition, pay and other expenses are not included.
A Production capacity of the Detroit-Tank-Arsenal has been doubled in a supplemental contract negotiated with the Chrysler Corporation of Detroit. Mich.
More of Britain’s Future Fighters Arrive.
[photograph]
SWINGING ALONG WITH THE JAUNTY STRIDE that marks British soldiers from East to West [indecipherable words] RAF [indecipherable words] Training Center. They are shown as they arrived this week at the Air Corps Replacement Center, Maxwell Field, Ala., where they will be [indecipherable word] for several weeks before [indecipherable word] flight training. These [indecipherable words] eagerly await [indecipherable words] flight instruction and [indecipherable] flight for England [indecipherable words]
Lieutenants Report for Pilot Training
36 Officers Arrive At Replacement Center.
Representing nine branches of Army service and coming from army stations throughout the East, 36 lieutenants reported Saturday at the Air Corps Replacement Center at Maxwell Field to begin training as pilots in the Air Corps.
The officers, including seven first lieutenants and 29 second lieutenants, are going through a five-week preparatory course at the Replacement Center with hundreds of Aviation Cadets fresh from civilian life and will be sent out to primary flying schools on either the Southeast or the Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Centers.
They will retain their officer rank but will receive flying pay if they complete the 25-week training course successfully.
The group arriving here last Saturday includes 16 Infantry Officers, four Coast Artillery officers, six from the Field Artillery branch, two members of the Corps of Engineers, three Air Cadet officers, two Cavalry officers and one each from the [indecipherable words] and Chemical Warfare Service.
The officers and their [indecipherable words] Charles S [indecipherable word] Jackson Air Base, Mich.
Second Lieutenants George P. Avol, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Clement F. Burr. Fort Jackson, S.C.; John B. Campbell. Fort Dix, N.J.; Keith Del Cloe, Fort Benning. Ga; John L. Covey, Cha-
(See LIEUTENANTS. Page 3.)
Huge Cadet Class Swarms Into Replacement Center.
[indecipherable words] last week end.
The latest class to flood this instruction station in the Southwest Air Corps Training Center, was designated 11-F and consists of 750 British pilot trainees from England, 1,113 American pilot trainees, and 187 American navigators and bombardiers.
The 750 Britishers arrived at the Replacement Center by two special trains Thursday. Like the [indecipherable word] which preceded them at the Replacement Center several weeks ago, these men are being processed and trained before being sent through the regular 36-week pilot course prescribed for American student pilots. At the conclusion of the course they will return to Britain [indecipherable words] the R.A.F.
The American Aviation Cadets come from all parts of the country but mainly from the eastern section.
The Aviation Cadets receive intensive training in the school of the soldier, military discipline, and other general subjects which will better equip them to enter elementary flying schools in the [indecipherable words].
[indecipherable words] Britain. [indecipherable words] flying schools [indecipherable words]
[indecipherable word] American Cadets [indecipherable words] 120 [indecipherable words] 55 for Helens Ark; 30 for Orangeburg, S.C.; 32 for Douglas, GA. and 52 for Avon Park, Fla. Two hundred British cadets departed for elementary schools at Arcadia, Fla.; 120 for Tuscaloosa Ala.; 115 for Lakeland, Fla.; 272 for Americus, Ca. and 40 for Camden, S.C.
Cadets Lead Parade On Armistice Day
Montgomerians See Bared Bayonets
Wave on wave of bared steel flooded downtown. Montgomery Ala., Armistice Day. when several thousand Aviation Cadets from the Replacement Center at Maxwell Field marched with fixed bayonets to observe the end of one war within the shadow of another.
Two thousand five hundred men and 77 officers from the Replacement Center composed the first section of the eight-section parade, which began at 11 a.m. at the capitol and swung down Dexter Avenue past the reviewing [undecipherable word] at the Jefferson Travis [indecipherable word].
[indecipherable words] Air Force Band [indecipherable words] navigator [indecipherable words] and 770 British cadets.
Approximately [indecipherable number] British Aviation Cadets from the [indecipherable word] flying school at Ganter Field, with their own band, constituted the second section.
Following them in the order named were the Lanier High School ROTC unit, Starke University students, Alabama National Guard, the Red Cross, the Mont-
(See ARMISTICE Page 2)
Barksdale Field Is Turned Over To Combat Command
Bombardier Facilities Advanced School Sent Elsewhere
The transfer of bombardier training facilities from Barksdale Field, Louisiana, to Army Air Corps schools in the Gulf Coast and West Coast Air Corps Training Centers where weather conditions are generally more favourable for such instruction has been announced by the War Department.
The decision to shift the bombardier training because of low ceilings and prevailing rainy weather at present location; also will affect bombardier training activities at Valdosta, Georgia, an advanced flying school [indecipherable word] under construction and Ellington Field, Houston, Texas.
High ceilings and good weather conditions for the maximum possible number of days a year are necessities for the proper accomplishment of bombardier training. In announcing the change in stations. Air Corps officials took [indecipherable word] to praise the personnel of the schools for the high standard of [indecipherable words] over to the Commanding General of the Air Force Combat Command who will designate it as an Air Force Base to replace Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is to become one of the new stations for the training of bombardiers.
Bombardier training also will be designated for Higley, Arizona, and Roswell, New Mexico, in addition to Midland, Texas and Victorville, California, where bombardier training originally had been planned. All four of [indecipherable word] schools are under construction.
Twin-engined advanced flying instruction heretofore given at Barksdale Field will be distributed among other twin-engined schools in the Southeast and Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Centers Ellington Field; Valdosta Columbus, Miss: and Kelly Field, Texas, will
(See BARKSDALE. Page 5)
GENERAL TINKER HEADS 3 RD I. C.
Brigadier General Clarence L Tinker has been designated head of the Third Interceptor Command, Third Air Force, at Drew Field, Fla. the War Department has announced.
General Tinker [indecipherable words] of the Third [indecipherable words] at the same [indecipherable words] assignment [indecipherable words] Major General [indecipherable words] recently [indecipherable words] Third Air Force [indecipherable words] headquarters at Mitchell Field, Fla.
General Tinker has graduated from the Air Service Pilot School, the Air Service Observation School, the Air Corps Tactical School and the Command and General Staff School. He is rated as a Command Pilot and a Combat Observer.
LLOYDS BANK PLC Account Number 7131737 YOUR REG’N Number is _____________
[page break]
[Crest]
U.S. AIR CORPS
COCHRAN FIELD, GEORGIA
6-0 R.
6-5 2nd BELL, ASSEMBLEY (sic)
6-10 PARADE.
6-15 } DISMISSAL
6-0 } DISMISSAL
6-40 CALL FOR BREAKFAST.
6-45 PARADE FOR BREAKFAST.
7-15 DISSMISSAL (sic) FROM BEAKFAST (sic)
7-15 CALL FOR DRILL
7-20 PARADE FOR DRILL
7-45 DISMISSAL FROM DRILL
7-45 CALL FOR FLYING.
7-50 PARADE FOR FLYING
12-50 END OF FLYING
13-00 CALL FOR LUNCH
13-05 LUNCHEON PARADE
13-35 END OF LUNCH
13-40 PARADE FOR ACADEMICS
15-40 DISMISSAL FROM ACADEMICS
16-05 CALL FOR CALESTHENICS (sic)
16-10 PARADE FOR CALESTHENICS (sic)
17-15 END OF CALESHENICS (sic)
17-15 SHOWERS.
18.00 CALL FOR FLAG
18.05 PARADE FOR FLAG
18:20 END OF PARADE
18-20 TEA FORMATION
18:45. DISMISSAL FROM TEA.
19:15 CALL TO QUARTERS.
21:15 END OF CALL TO QUARTERS.
21:45 LIGHTS OUT.
[inserted] One day’s schedule at Basic Training School. [/inserted]
This third stage of U.S. training was a severe test on mind and body. The simple schedule fails to illustrate the trying pressures of the system which evoked near-riot. For very many the terms “Prison” and Concentration Camp were justified, for the De-Merits system disallowed them from even an hour’s absence from Camp, their time being directed to “Fatigues.”
LLOYDS BANK PLC Account Number 7131737 YOUR REG’N Number is ___________
[crest]
NEWS
“A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE MEN OF THE SOUTHEAST AIR CORPS TRAINING CENTER”
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 18 MAXWELL FIELD, ALABAMA, NOVEMBER 15, 1941 ONE CENT PER COPY
Hospital Group Nears Completion At Greenville
15 Building Unit Will Provide For Personnel Of 3,192
A modern 111-bed hospital group [indecipherable word] for the medical and dental requirements of the 3,192 officers, [indecipherable word], cadets and enlisted men who will be stationed at the new large flying school at Greenville, [indecipherable word] is rapidly nearing completion it was announced this week.
All [indecipherable word] of the [indecipherable word] building group and of the one storey cantonment type connected by covered walkways. In the group are one administration building, five ward buildings, nurses’ quarters, bachelor officers quarters, sick call building, medical supply building, [indecipherable word] hall, flight surgeon’s building, two enlisted men’s barracks, a recreation hall and a building housing the central heating plant.
Though rated as a 111-bed hospital, it can be expanded to a 160 bed capacity if necessary. It will be staffed with sixteen officers and eighteen civilian employees.
Captain Charles F. Haughey M.C., base surgeon for the hospital, is a graduate of the University of [indecipherable words] with the [indecipherable word] Army [two indecipherable words] attended Army Schools at Washington D C., Carlisle Penn.; School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Field, Tex.; and Wright Field, O Prior to his appointment as base surgeon at Greenville he was the assistant Surgeon, First Air Force, stationed at Mitchell Field, N. Y.
Other officers on duty with the base hospital at present are. Major David K Rich, Dental Corps, in charge of the dental clinic: Captain C.J. Prochaska, medical officer; First Lieutenants C.M. McKatchern and D.L. Hobman, dental officers and First Lieutenant J.A Randle, veterinary officer.
AVERAGE MAN IN ARMY TIPS SCALES AT 144
The average young man, starting service in the United States Army is five feet eight inches tall and has other corresponding body measurements, according to records of the Army Quartermaster who has directed the measuring and [indecipherable word] of more than [indecipherable words] men.
This [indecipherable word] weighs [indecipherable words] measurement of [indecipherable words] waistline [indecipherable words]
To keep the average soldier [indecipherable words] clothing [indecipherable words] equipment and [indecipherable words] barracks equipment. Weapons ammunition, pay and other expenses are not included.
A Production capacity of the Detroit-Tank-Arsenal has been doubled in a supplemental contract negotiated with the Chrysler Corporation of Detroit. Mich.
More of Britain’s Future Fighters Arrive.
[photograph]
SWINGING ALONG WITH THE JAUNTY STRIDE that marks British soldiers from East to West [indecipherable words] RAF [indecipherable words] Training Center. They are shown as they arrived this week at the Air Corps Replacement Center, Maxwell Field, Ala., where they will be [indecipherable word] for several weeks before [indecipherable word] flight training. These [indecipherable words] eagerly await [indecipherable words] flight instruction and [indecipherable] flight for England [indecipherable words]
Lieutenants Report for Pilot Training
36 Officers Arrive At Replacement Center.
Representing nine branches of Army service and coming from army stations throughout the East, 36 lieutenants reported Saturday at the Air Corps Replacement Center at Maxwell Field to begin training as pilots in the Air Corps.
The officers, including seven first lieutenants and 29 second lieutenants, are going through a five-week preparatory course at the Replacement Center with hundreds of Aviation Cadets fresh from civilian life and will be sent out to primary flying schools on either the Southeast or the Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Centers.
They will retain their officer rank but will receive flying pay if they complete the 25-week training course successfully.
The group arriving here last Saturday includes 16 Infantry Officers, four Coast Artillery officers, six from the Field Artillery branch, two members of the Corps of Engineers, three Air Cadet officers, two Cavalry officers and one each from the [indecipherable words] and Chemical Warfare Service.
The officers and their [indecipherable words] Charles S [indecipherable word] Jackson Air Base, Mich.
Second Lieutenants George P. Avol, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Clement F. Burr. Fort Jackson, S.C.; John B. Campbell. Fort Dix, N.J.; Keith Del Cloe, Fort Benning. Ga; John L. Covey, Cha-
(See LIEUTENANTS. Page 3.)
Huge Cadet Class Swarms Into Replacement Center.
[indecipherable words] last week end.
The latest class to flood this instruction station in the Southwest Air Corps Training Center, was designated 11-F and consists of 750 British pilot trainees from England, 1,113 American pilot trainees, and 187 American navigators and bombardiers.
The 750 Britishers arrived at the Replacement Center by two special trains Thursday. Like the [indecipherable word] which preceded them at the Replacement Center several weeks ago, these men are being processed and trained before being sent through the regular 36-week pilot course prescribed for American student pilots. At the conclusion of the course they will return to Britain [indecipherable words] the R.A.F.
The American Aviation Cadets come from all parts of the country but mainly from the eastern section.
The Aviation Cadets receive intensive training in the school of the soldier, military discipline, and other general subjects which will better equip them to enter elementary flying schools in the [indecipherable words].
[indecipherable words] Britain. [indecipherable words] flying schools [indecipherable words]
[indecipherable word] American Cadets [indecipherable words] 120 [indecipherable words] 55 for Helens Ark; 30 for Orangeburg, S.C.; 32 for Douglas, GA. and 52 for Avon Park, Fla. Two hundred British cadets departed for elementary schools at Arcadia, Fla.; 120 for Tuscaloosa Ala.; 115 for Lakeland, Fla.; 272 for Americus, Ca. and 40 for Camden, S.C.
Cadets Lead Parade On Armistice Day
Montgomerians See Bared Bayonets
Wave on wave of bared steel flooded downtown. Montgomery Ala., Armistice Day. when several thousand Aviation Cadets from the Replacement Center at Maxwell Field marched with fixed bayonets to observe the end of one war within the shadow of another.
Two thousand five hundred men and 77 officers from the Replacement Center composed the first section of the eight-section parade, which began at 11 a.m. at the capitol and swung down Dexter Avenue past the reviewing [undecipherable word] at the Jefferson Travis [indecipherable word].
[indecipherable words] Air Force Band [indecipherable words] navigator [indecipherable words] and 770 British cadets.
Approximately [indecipherable number] British Aviation Cadets from the [indecipherable word] flying school at Ganter Field, with their own band, constituted the second section.
Following them in the order named were the Lanier High School ROTC unit, Starke University students, Alabama National Guard, the Red Cross, the Mont-
(See ARMISTICE Page 2)
Barksdale Field Is Turned Over To Combat Command
Bombardier Facilities Advanced School Sent Elsewhere
The transfer of bombardier training facilities from Barksdale Field, Louisiana, to Army Air Corps schools in the Gulf Coast and West Coast Air Corps Training Centers where weather conditions are generally more favourable for such instruction has been announced by the War Department.
The decision to shift the bombardier training because of low ceilings and prevailing rainy weather at present location; also will affect bombardier training activities at Valdosta, Georgia, an advanced flying school [indecipherable word] under construction and Ellington Field, Houston, Texas.
High ceilings and good weather conditions for the maximum possible number of days a year are necessities for the proper accomplishment of bombardier training. In announcing the change in stations. Air Corps officials took [indecipherable word] to praise the personnel of the schools for the high standard of [indecipherable words] over to the Commanding General of the Air Force Combat Command who will designate it as an Air Force Base to replace Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is to become one of the new stations for the training of bombardiers.
Bombardier training also will be designated for Higley, Arizona, and Roswell, New Mexico, in addition to Midland, Texas and Victorville, California, where bombardier training originally had been planned. All four of [indecipherable word] schools are under construction.
Twin-engined advanced flying instruction heretofore given at Barksdale Field will be distributed among other twin-engined schools in the Southeast and Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Centers Ellington Field; Valdosta Columbus, Miss: and Kelly Field, Texas, will
(See BARKSDALE. Page 5)
GENERAL TINKER HEADS 3 RD I. C.
Brigadier General Clarence L Tinker has been designated head of the Third Interceptor Command, Third Air Force, at Drew Field, Fla. the War Department has announced.
General Tinker [indecipherable words] of the Third [indecipherable words] at the same [indecipherable words] assignment [indecipherable words] Major General [indecipherable words] recently [indecipherable words] Third Air Force [indecipherable words] headquarters at Mitchell Field, Fla.
General Tinker has graduated from the Air Service Pilot School, the Air Service Observation School, the Air Corps Tactical School and the Command and General Staff School. He is rated as a Command Pilot and a Combat Observer.
LLOYDS BANK PLC Account Number 7131737 YOUR REG’N Number is _____________
[page break]
[Crest]
U.S. AIR CORPS
COCHRAN FIELD, GEORGIA
6-0 R.
6-5 2nd BELL, ASSEMBLEY (sic)
6-10 PARADE.
6-15 } DISMISSAL
6-0 } DISMISSAL
6-40 CALL FOR BREAKFAST.
6-45 PARADE FOR BREAKFAST.
7-15 DISSMISSAL (sic) FROM BEAKFAST (sic)
7-15 CALL FOR DRILL
7-20 PARADE FOR DRILL
7-45 DISMISSAL FROM DRILL
7-45 CALL FOR FLYING.
7-50 PARADE FOR FLYING
12-50 END OF FLYING
13-00 CALL FOR LUNCH
13-05 LUNCHEON PARADE
13-35 END OF LUNCH
13-40 PARADE FOR ACADEMICS
15-40 DISMISSAL FROM ACADEMICS
16-05 CALL FOR CALESTHENICS (sic)
16-10 PARADE FOR CALESTHENICS (sic)
17-15 END OF CALESHENICS (sic)
17-15 SHOWERS.
18.00 CALL FOR FLAG
18.05 PARADE FOR FLAG
18:20 END OF PARADE
18-20 TEA FORMATION
18:45. DISMISSAL FROM TEA.
19:15 CALL TO QUARTERS.
21:15 END OF CALL TO QUARTERS.
21:45 LIGHTS OUT.
[inserted] One day’s schedule at Basic Training School. [/inserted]
This third stage of U.S. training was a severe test on mind and body. The simple schedule fails to illustrate the trying pressures of the system which evoked near-riot. For very many the terms “Prison” and Concentration Camp were justified, for the De-Merits system disallowed them from even an hour’s absence from Camp, their time being directed to “Fatigues.”
LLOYDS BANK PLC Account Number 7131737 YOUR REG’N Number is ___________
Collection
Citation
Geoff Shattock, “Southeast Air Corps Training News,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed June 14, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/40963.