The C.E. Daniel Collection
Curtis Army Air Field
McCulloch County, Texas in WWII
       This page shows a small grouping of wartime era photographs in my collection that were taken at Curtis Field
during WWII.  Curtis Field served as an airfield for primary flight training during the war for the United States Army
Air Corps.  
       Between 1941 and 1945, approximately 10,000 aviation cadets came and went from the school.  Approximately 85%
of those who attended the school as cadets and those who served at the school as instructors were Texans.  During
WWII, 21 men would lose their lives while serving at Curtis Field, three of those 21 men were flight instructors.  This
page is dedicated to the aviation cadets and flight instructors who served at Curtis Field and small airfields like it
around the country throughout the war.  If anyone has any additional information about any of the men shown on this
page, I would be interested to hear from you.
Additional links related to Curtis Field and the men who served there:
1)  heartoftexashistoricalmuseum.com/index.htm
2)  www.airforcebase.net/aaf/cfs_list.html
3)  www.bradycurtisfield.com/default.htm
Probably the most iconic feature of Curtis Field was the unique
control tower.  The above above is a close-up of the photo to the left,
showing several cadets sitting in front of the control tower, most
likely awaiting training flights.  The control tower was added to an
already standing building, with construction starting in 1940, and the
control tower being operational in 1941.  The original building the
control tower was added to and a replica of the control tower are
preserved in Brady, Texas.  (See below for additional information.)
Off to the flight-line.  Cadets march casually to the
Curtis Field flight-line, each wearing the basic Air
Corps issued flight clothing.  Of interest in the photo is
the various types of headgear being displayed by the
cadets on their way to another training flight.
The photo above on the left shows several aviation cadets in front of Barracks B.  The cadets are identified as (L to R):  
Petersen, Anderson, Bunch, Colletti and Creselinos.  Although hard to read in the photo, the small sign on the door reads:  
"No animals are allowed in this building."  
The photo to the right shows a cadet identified as "M. Seagraves" passing in front of the Curtis Field Canteen or PX.  
The small sign on the electrical pole reads:  "Danger 2300 V." while the small sign on the door of the canteen reads:  
"No dogs allowed inside this building."
Above:  An aviation cadet identified as "J.L. Natho "Johnny" posing with a Curtis Field BT-13.  Of interest in the
photo is the CPTP patch clearly worn on the left should of the cadet's uniform.  Close examination of the BT-13 reveals
the lettering "Curtis Field" on the black portion of the upper cowling, just ahead of the windscreen.  The BT-13 is
serial #41-11404.
A favorite past time of the cadets during their down
time was riding horses in the Texas countryside.  In the
upper left photo, the two men are identified only as
"Heinlien and Hess."  The upper right photo is identified
only "Richard Dye."  In the photograph on the left, the
two are identified as "Richard and Herbert Dye."  It is
not known if these men are cadets or instructors.
C.J. Harlin
Left:  An unknown aviation cadet strikes
several poses along with one of the
Curtis Field BT-13A trainers.  As with
the aircraft shown below, the BT-13 is
serial #41-11404.
This photograph is identified as having been taken in September of 1943 at Curtis Field.  The only other notation on
the photograph indicates "primary flight training."
In conjunction with the photograph above this one, this photograph gives a little more insight into the identities of a
few of the men in both photographs.  This photograph has a notation indicating "Primary-Last day."  From left to
right, the men in the lower photograph are identified as:  Marion W. Dennis, myself (unknown), Instructor Mr.
Wilson, and Amillio J. DeMeo.  A further notation identified these men as "the three of the original five."  After
comparing the lower photograph to the one above it, Marion Dennis is seen second from the right in the above photo
with Amillio DeMeo seen second from the left in the above photo.  The cadet identified as "myself" is seen on the far
left in the above photo.  It is assumed that the other two cadets shown in the top photograph did not finish primary
flight training.  As with all of the photographs on this page, if anyone has any additional information about any of
these men, I would be interested to hear from you.
Counter
webmaster@danielsww2.com
Above:  A photo of advanced flight training Class 43-E, 6th Fighter Unit, 2nd Training Group Foster Field, Texas, May
24th, 1943.  These men, all fighter pilots, are named on the back of the photo.  The names (R to L) are:
Bottom Row:  Kirkland, Kuhener, Molnar, May, Mentzer, Robinson, Ratliff, Lee, Carson, Jahnke, Hughes and Hoskins.
Row 2:  Murray, Jouret, Kovalenko, Mathis, McMahon L.P., Maddelena, Jernipan, Kyle, Howard, Murphy, Kingry,
Hope, Hoover, Host and Moore.
Row 3: Orgish, Ruetter, Piat, Phelps, Lt. Brokaw, Lt. Vogt, Lt. Aldrich, Capt. Skudina, Lt. Ott, Lt. Ticton, Lt.
Churchville, Lt. Mead, Murdy, Patterson and Johnston
Top Row:  Mast, Marquis, McFarland, McMahon R.C., Proctor, Prater, Meyer, Rosenblum, Johnston, Miller, Leonard
C.W., Otero and Richard.  

    If anyone has any additional information concerning the men of Class 43-E, Foster Field, Texas, I would enjoy
hearing from you.