World War II Flight Training Museum and
63rd AAF Flying Training Detachment

Douglas, Georgia

Class 1942-I

Class 1942-I – World War II Flight Training Museum and the Douglas 63rd Preservation Society, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
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(Scheduled to graduate from Advanced as officers Oct. 8, 1942)
Adams, Stephen S.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Anderson, Luther B.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. This may be him on FindAGrave.
Banks, John Wilbur  "Billy"
Paul Schlundt was his instructor. He had Basic at Cochran Field, GA and graduated from Moody Field, GA, S/N O-791845. He was in the 8th A.F., 459th Bomb Group, 734th Bomb Sqdn. While flying a B-24 over Germany on May 8, 1944, he went down. According to MACR # 4591, he was pilot of a B-24-H (S/N: 42-50278) on an operational mission to Brunswick Germany on May 8 1944. There were 10 crew members on board. Eyewitness accounts reported that 2 B-24's (Capt. Banks' and Lt. Hart's) collided and one exploded, with 2 chutes being seen. However, handwritten on the MACR is "Wrong did not collide." Banks survived and was in Stalag #3 until released by our troops.
In Canton OH in 1941

His parents received an air medal and four oak leaf clusters while he was in prison.

Captain
Benson, Bertil W.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. He remained in the air force for 23 years, according to his wife's obituary. See FindAGrave
Married Margaret Shepard in 1942.
Retired as Lt. Col.

Born 14 Sep 1919. Died 7 Nov 1992.

Brooks, Dudley Wilder
Graduated from Moody Fld, GA.  S/N  O-791932. Initially assigned to Air Transport Command, Wilmington, Del. According to unverified burial records of Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, CA, he was 1ST LT, 1252 Army AF Unit Air Transport Command AC, and is buried in Plot: 2B 2594.
From Columbus OH

b. 07/05/1918, d. 09/24/1964

Brown, John H.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Campion, Stanley Freeman
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA and graduated from Moody, GA. S/N O-792046. Initially assigned to Air Transport Command, Wilmington, Del.
Ridgewood, NY in 1942
Carlson, Harold L.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N O-792007. He was in the 17th Bomber Grp 34th Bomber Sqdn flying B-26s. He was killed in action on July 20, 1944 near the town of Bosco DI Corniglia, Italy (MACR 6682). He was flying as co-pilot of a B-26 (S/N: 42-96021) when his plane was hit by flak. 5 of the 7 crew members stayed on the plane and were killed when it crashed.
From OH
Capt.
Carnes, James L.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. This may be him on FindaGrave.
Carrol, James L. Jr.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Carter, Jack
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-792518. He was a B-24 pilot with the 485th Bomber Grp 831st Bomber Sqdn. He was pilot of B-24H (#42-52601) on a mission on September 13, 1944 to Poland from Venosa AAF Italy. His plane was hit by flak and he died when he bailed out of the plane and hit his head on a cliff when hitting the ground (MACR 08346). The rest of the crew bailed out and survived. He was buried nearby in a partisan cemetery.
1LT
From Tupelo, MS
Casey, James F.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-792959 was a P-47 pilot with the 78th Fighter Grp 84th Fighter Sqdn based at Duxford in England. On June 10, 1944 he was flying a P-47 (S/N: 42-26149) on a mission to Rennes France when his squadron was attacked by Me 109s (MACR #05579). He became a POW in Luft Stalag 7A after being shot down.
1LT
From MA
Cook, Coleman Bertram Jr.
He had Basic at Macon, GA, Advanced at Moody, GA. Graduated Oct. 7, 1942, S/N: O-792524. He went to the Ferry Command at Newcastle Army Air Base, Wilmington, Del. Later he flew 101 round trips over the “Hump”. After the war he joined the Ohio National Guard. He retired as a Major and Senior Pilot.
Born July 11, 1919, Baltimore, MD.
Of  Grove City, Ohio
Major.

Click here for pictures and more info. (will open in new window)

Cooper, Royal G.
Paul Schlundt gave him some of his instruction. He had Basic at Cochran Field and graduated in Multi-Engine. Soon he was instructing in BT-13’s, at least at one known location of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas AAFd. He was with the A.T.C. going the southern route to Africa, on to India and China, and over the “Hump”. He carried supplies over and patients back to the U.S.A.
Endicott, N.Y.
Captain
Corrie, Wirt H.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. He was a B-25 pilot with the 69th Bomber Sqdn in both the 38th Bomber Grp and the 42nd Bomber Grp. He was awarded the Silver Star and after WW2 became a Regular Air Force officer and made a career in the USAF.
TN
2LT
Davis, G. S.
Paul Schlundt was his instructor. He washed out on April 13, 1942.
Dobkowski, Joseph T. "Dob"
He was transferred to Paul Schlundt on May 8, 1942. He graduated from Primary. He had Basic at Cochran Field, GA but washed out while there. He went on to graduate as a navigator with the Class of 43-06 Selman Field at Monroe, LA on May 1, 1943 (S/N: O-800997). He reported to the 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron as a navigator on February 16, 1945 and departed the ETO in October of '45. He was assigned to the Gordon Dobbs crew. Click here for his picture with the crew (a PDF).
Hamtramck, MI.
1LT
Dolan, Paul J.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-792970. He served with the 50th Fighter Grp 10th Fighter Sqdn (P-40E) and Died Not in Battle afterwards.
NJ
CPT
Farrar, Isaiah R.
Had basic at Cochran Field, but washed out while there.
Furey, William J.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Gardner, Frederick
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Geyer, Charles Francis Jr.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-793406. He was a B-17 pilot and served with the 96th Bomber Grp 413th Bomber Sqdn and became a POW in Luft Stalag 1 after being shot down on October 20, 1943 (MACR #01018).
IN
2LT
Girard, Paul W.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. He graduated from the Officer Candidate School at Miami Beach, Florida with the Class of 42F, which graduated on December 9, 1942.
was from Hudson,Ohio
Paul W. Girard
Glenand
Had basic at Cochran Field, but washed out while there.
Hansen A. A.
Harkins, Francis X.
He washed out while at Douglas. He graduated as a bombardier in the Class of 43-01 at Roswell AAFd in New Mexico on January 7, 1943, S/N: O-735310. He served with the 390th Bomber Grp 569th Bomber Sqdn and managed to evade capture by the Germans after being shot down on August 15, 1943 (MACR #00258).
NY
1LT
Harvey, Elliott B.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Hepler, Charles D.
Paul Schlundt was his instructor. He had Basic at Cochran, GA and graduated Twin Engine. He then instructed in B-26’s. He was a B-26 pilot serving with the 323rd Bomber Grp 453rd Bomber Sqdn and flew 35 missions with the 9th A F in Europe. Died May 24, 1993, age 74.
Sally Hepler, wife. Of Santa Fe, NM
Major Click here for his obituary (will open in new window)
Herrmann, Robert H.
Hilton, Harry Brooks
He graduated (S/N: O-792539) and was sent to Wilmington, DE. From that base he was in the Ferry Command and was delivering planes of all types to most of the States, Iceland, England, and Africa. He then flew C-54s at Homestead, FL. From there he went to the Pacific where he was flying from New Guinea to Japan, ferrying passengers and cargo in and wounded out. At the end of the War, he flew the "Hump” for 20 some missions and was then sent home.
Rosa Hilton, wife Of Rock Hill, S.C.
Captain
Hoelzer, Kenneth William
Paul Schlundt was his instructor. Basic at Macon, GA and Advanced at Moody Fld, GA. S/N: O-792540. Initially assigned to Air Transport Command, Wilmington, Del. ferrying planes throughout the country and the world. His later assignment was on a base in India, where he ferried cargo over the Himalayan Mountains into China.
De Land, FL. Born May 14, 1917, in Trenton, N.J. Died Jan. 24, 2009. Married Florence Parker in 1942.
Obituary: DeLand-Deltona Beacon, The (FL) - Thursday, January 29, 2009.
Hogan, David H. Jr.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Holstein, Elmer M.
S/N: O-792992 He was a C-47 pilot serving with the 374th Troop Carrier Group in the Southwest Pacific Area.
CPT
Hooper, James Anderson
Graduated at Valdosta, GA, Oct. 9, 1942, S/N: O-792541. Initially assigned to Air Transport Command, Newcastle Army Air Base, Wilmington, Del. Killed in a plane accident while assigned there. He was killed on Feb. 10, 1943 om a single-seater aircraft near China Grove, NC, per his obituary.
Of Toone, TN
Houser, Aubrey A. Jr.
Paul Schlundt was his Instructor. He went to Cochran for Basic and Moody for Advanced. He was a 2nd Lt. and assigned as Basic Instructor at Cochran. He was transferred to the Central Instructors School at Randolph Field. He stayed there for the duration. In Dec. 1946 he was studying medicine and joined the Air Reserves.
Mary Ann Houser, wife Of Richmond, Va. Died March 20, 2003 age 85.
From his obituary [Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - Saturday, March 22, 2003]: "Houser, Dr. Aubrey A. Jr., 85, of Richmond, a retired physician, a World War II Army Air Forces veteran, husband of Mary Ann Huffman Houser."
Huffman, Robert W.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Kelley, William A.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-792995. He was a B-29 Superfortress pilot serving with the 497th Bomber Grp 870th Bomber Sqdn and was Killed In a Flying Accident and Missing on June 6, 1945 after ditching his plane near Kwajalein Island in the Central Pacific.
GA
CPT
Kern, Norman A.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Kernodle, Harold Lee
S/N: O-792544. Initially assigned to Air Transport Command, Wilmington, Del.
Of Hampden-Sydney, VA.
King, Joseph Hoffman
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-792545 He served at some point at the Avon Park AAFd as a pilot and retired disabled from the Air Force on February 16, 1945.
CPT
Lee, Raymond C. Jr.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
MacGowan, David H.
He started in class 44G. Paul Schlundt was his instructor. S/N: O-792342. He was a B-24 pilot training with the 453rd Bomber Grp 732nd Bomber Sqdn in the United States and was Killed In a Flying Accident in Wyoming on August 14, 1943.
NY
2LT
McAdams, William B.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
McGloughlin, James J. Jr.
Mifflin, James Edward
S/N: O-792548. Initially assigned to Air Transport Command, Newcastle Army Air Base, Wilmington, Del. Married while there, and settled in Wilmington.
Of Herrin, IL.
Moore, Herbert Holbrook Jr.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-792549. He was a B-26 pilot serving with the 344th Bomber Grp 495th Bomber Sqdn and  became a POW after being shot down on October 6, 1944. He died back in the States from an accidental gunshot wound on April 5, 1946. (see Find A Grave). He received the Purple Heart with one cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Combat Medal with one cluster.
KY
1LT
Nicoll, Courtlandt
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. According to the New York Daily News, Dec. 10, 1957, p. 39, he was a pilot during WWII. He was also a graduate of Columbia Law School and at one time was secretary to Mayor LaGuardia.
Born 13 Mar 1916, Manhattan, New York County, New York. See FindAGrave
North, Edward M.
He washed out while at Douglas
Rand, Gordon T.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Rock, James F.  "Rocky"
Rocky stayed in the military for a full career, S/N: O-793019. He went to the Pacific where he flew B-24’s, serving with the 22nd Bomber Grp 33rd Bomber Sqdn in the Southwest Pacific Area. He was discharged In 1946. He was recalled to go to Korea. Then spent 4 years in Europe. His last station was 7 years at Wright Patterson A.F.B., OH, where he retired as a Colonel
Lee Rock, wife Of Fairborn, OH
LT, later a Colonel
Root, Francis H.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. He was a B-25 pilot with the 340th Bomb Group 486th Bomb Squadron flying his missions from Corsica. From Wednesday, November 11, 1942 newspaper: Springfield Republican (Springfield, MA) Page: 3: Francis H. Root commissioned a 2nd Lt at Moody Field. He received all of his flight training at army fields in Georgia.
From the Springfield [MA] Daily Republican - Jan. 27, 1944: "LIEUT. F. H. ROOT HOME ON LEAVE Veteran of 50 Air Combat Missions Decorated With Air Medal, Seven Oak Leaf Clusters Westfield, Jan. 26 - Lieut Francis H. Root, 26, army air corps pilot, son of Mrs. Hattie (sic - possibly Haddie) Root of 12 Ellsworth Ave, who recently was returned to this country after completing 50 combat missions over Italy and North Africa, is at his mother's home on a 20-day leave. ...No details of his combat service are revealed. Lieut. Root will report to duty at Atlantic City, NJ upon completion of his leave. He entered cadetship on Jan. 7, 1942 and was commissioned at Moody Field, GA Nov. 10, 1942. He went overseas in May 1943. ... He went into service one month after Pearl Harbor."
From Massachusetts originally. Of East Point, GA in 1978 when his mother died.
Shafer, Herbert M.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. He appears to have graduated with the Class of 42K. S/N: O-794363. He was a P-40 pilot serving with the 18th Fighter Grp 70th Fighter Sqdn in the Southwest Pacific Area and was KIA on November 8, 1943 over New Guinea. (MACR #01090). Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart.
NJ
1LT
Shaw, Douglas W.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Smith, Robert D.  "Snuffy"
Paul Schlundt was his instructor. He soloed Apr. 16th, 1942. He had Basic at Cochran, Ga Field and graduated from Moody Field, GA.
Wellesley Hills, MA.
Sykes, WIlliam J.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-793027. He was a P-51 pilot serving with the 361st Fighter Grp 375th Fighter Sqdn in the Eighth Air Force and became a POW after being shot down on December 12, 1944 (MACR #11173).
1LT
Taylor, Laddie W.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-792554. He was a B-24 pilot serving with the 90th Bomber Grp 319th Bomber Sqdn in the Southwest Pacific Area and went MIA on January 16, 1944. (MACR #02084)
NC
1LT
Tosi, Jerome Richard
He started in class 42H. Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. He was a B-26 pilot serving with the 394th Bomber Grp 585th Bomber Sqdn with the Ninth Air Force in Europe and was WIA on April 22, 1944.
MA
Major
Waldron, Arthur S.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-792556 He was a reconnaissance pilot serving with the 7th Photo Recon Group 13th PRS with the Eighth Air Force and was Killed In a Flying Accident on February 5, 1944 in England.
OH
1LT
White, John S.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. S/N: O-793032. He was an instructor pilot at Newport Army Air Field in Arkansas.
John S. White
1LT
Willett, Paul A.
Was an alumni of U of Louisville when he became an aviation cadet in 1942. Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Of Bardstown, KY.

See FindAGrave

Williams, Thomas A.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA.
Witter, Dale J.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. He was an instructor pilot at Newport Army Air Field in Arkansas.
Dale J. Witter
1LT
Woodroofe, Philip B.
Had basic at Cochran Field, GA. "Spent 4 years in the Army Air Force flying training command" per The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania), 03 Jun 1947, Tue, Page 4.
Probably from Allentown, Pennsylvania
1st LT

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