| United States Army Air Corps |
Before becoming United States military pilots, fledgling Army aviators underwent the arduous task of attending and
completing Air Corps cadet training. Aviation training consisted of several blocks of training from flight instruction to
advanced flight school. The task of making it successfully through flight school was no easy task and many would-be
recruits found themselves washed out of the training programs and on their way to carrying a rifle as part of an infantry
unit. Below are a number of Army Air Corp. cadet items in my collection. As indicated above, all of these items are
original, WWII or in some cases pre-WWII items.
completing Air Corps cadet training. Aviation training consisted of several blocks of training from flight instruction to
advanced flight school. The task of making it successfully through flight school was no easy task and many would-be
recruits found themselves washed out of the training programs and on their way to carrying a rifle as part of an infantry
unit. Below are a number of Army Air Corp. cadet items in my collection. As indicated above, all of these items are
original, WWII or in some cases pre-WWII items.
Above, left to right: 1) An Army Air Corps Cadet visor cap with original marked cap device. 2) A light blue
Air Corps cadet cap with a royal blue band and Air Corps Cadet device. From all of my research, I believe this is
a rare pre-war cadet visor cap that was worn with a light blue uniform, standard for Air Corps cadets prior to the
start of the war. If anyone has any additional information on this cap, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Air Corps cadet cap with a royal blue band and Air Corps Cadet device. From all of my research, I believe this is
a rare pre-war cadet visor cap that was worn with a light blue uniform, standard for Air Corps cadets prior to the
start of the war. If anyone has any additional information on this cap, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Above/Left: Two original wartime
photographs of the same Army Air Corps
cadet. The cadet is unidentified. The
PT-19A in the photos is identified as aircraft
# 42-33691.
photographs of the same Army Air Corps
cadet. The cadet is unidentified. The
PT-19A in the photos is identified as aircraft
# 42-33691.
Three wartime photographs of the same Army Air Corps cadet, identified on one of the photographs as Del Morrison,
with the photos all dated 1942.
with the photos all dated 1942.
Pre-War and Training Items: Army Air Corps Cadet
Above: A rare, wartime color photograph
of an Army Air Corps cadet.
of an Army Air Corps cadet.
A wartime, 8x10 photograph showing three
graduating classes from the Spartan Flying School in
Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1943. If anyone from this
graduating class comes across this page or if you
have any information about this photograph, I would
enjoy hearing from you.
graduating classes from the Spartan Flying School in
Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1943. If anyone from this
graduating class comes across this page or if you
have any information about this photograph, I would
enjoy hearing from you.
A squadron dance for the 327th School Squadron, Basic Flying
School was held on January 16, 1942. This is most likely
related to Minter Field, one of the largest Army Air Corps
training fields ever established, which was located in Bakersfield,
California. The invitation came in its original envelope.
For more information about Minter Field, see their website at:
www.minterairfieldmuseum.com.
School was held on January 16, 1942. This is most likely
related to Minter Field, one of the largest Army Air Corps
training fields ever established, which was located in Bakersfield,
California. The invitation came in its original envelope.
For more information about Minter Field, see their website at:
www.minterairfieldmuseum.com.
Above: A letter from Life Magazine to Lt. Wynn Dixon Miller, dated July 5, 1941, thanking him for the use of a color
photograph (above) of Lt. Miller in his Air Corps uniform. Life Magazine made a black and white copy of the
photograph and used the photo in an issue of Life Magazine, within an article relating to US military service uniforms.
The letter is in its original Life Magazine envelope and it hand signed by Maragret Byrd Bassett of Life Magazine. I am
interested in finding a copy of this issue of Life magazine with this photo!
photograph (above) of Lt. Miller in his Air Corps uniform. Life Magazine made a black and white copy of the
photograph and used the photo in an issue of Life Magazine, within an article relating to US military service uniforms.
The letter is in its original Life Magazine envelope and it hand signed by Maragret Byrd Bassett of Life Magazine. I am
interested in finding a copy of this issue of Life magazine with this photo!
WWII Era United States Medals:
Below is a small an example of some of the WWII era United States medals in my permanent collection. There
medals are NOT for sale, and this section of this page is being presented to showcase the various US medals issued
during the war. All of the medals shown are original, WWII era medals. None of these medals are postwar or modern
reproductions.
medals are NOT for sale, and this section of this page is being presented to showcase the various US medals issued
during the war. All of the medals shown are original, WWII era medals. None of these medals are postwar or modern
reproductions.
| Distinguished Service Medal United States Army |
3 Classes of the Legion of Merit (L to r) Officer,
Commander and Legionnaire.
Commander and Legionnaire.
Soldier's Medal
(L tor R): Army Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished
Flying Cross, Silver Star, Air Medal, WWII Victory Medal.
Flying Cross, Silver Star, Air Medal, WWII Victory Medal.
Bronze Star, Distinguished Service Cross
and Silver Star.
and Silver Star.
(L to R) Top Row: WWII Victory Medal, American
Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal,
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Bottom Row: Army of Occupation Medal, Army
Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal and
American Defense Medal.
Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal,
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Bottom Row: Army of Occupation Medal, Army
Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal and
American Defense Medal.
| Page still under construction: More to be added |
Above: Three wartime photographs of United States Army Air Corps cadets wearing their visor caps. It's interesting
to note that the manner of wear differs from one cadet to another.
to note that the manner of wear differs from one cadet to another.
A set of four photographs showing a
civilian flight instructor, as denoted by
the insignia on his visor cap. During
WWII, a large number of civilian flights
instructors were utilized to train military
pilots, in order to free up military
instructors for combat tours and other
training assignments.
civilian flight instructor, as denoted by
the insignia on his visor cap. During
WWII, a large number of civilian flights
instructors were utilized to train military
pilots, in order to free up military
instructors for combat tours and other
training assignments.
At an unknown airfield, civilian flight instructors
stand-by awaiting assignments to trainees hoping to
become military aviators.
stand-by awaiting assignments to trainees hoping to
become military aviators.
A wartime, 8x10 photograph showing a civilian
instructor with five aviation cadets. The cadet on the
lower left signed his name as "Douglas E. Caldwell,
Seffner, Florida." The cadet in the upper left signed his
name as "Bill Chandler, Tulsa, Okla." The instructor
also signed the photograph as "John L. Fisher, Salisbury,
Conn."
instructor with five aviation cadets. The cadet on the
lower left signed his name as "Douglas E. Caldwell,
Seffner, Florida." The cadet in the upper left signed his
name as "Bill Chandler, Tulsa, Okla." The instructor
also signed the photograph as "John L. Fisher, Salisbury,
Conn."
The C.E. Daniel Collection
An Air Corps cadet and his girl.
Above: A wartime photograph of television game show host Gene Rayburn
(far right) with his wife and another couple. Rayburn's Air Corps pilot wings
are clearly seen on his left breast.
(far right) with his wife and another couple. Rayburn's Air Corps pilot wings
are clearly seen on his left breast.
(L to R): WWII Navy Good Conduct medal, WWII USMC Good
Conduct medal, and Women's Army Corps Service medal.
Conduct medal, and Women's Army Corps Service medal.
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