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

Bentley, James Michael

Basic at Shaw Field. Advanced at Turner Fld, Ga. S/N: O-792499. Piloted B-24s with the 376th Bomb Grp 514th Bomb Sqdn in the Mediterranean Theater. See www.armyaircorps-376bg.com/bentley_james_crew.html

Dunkirk, N.Y.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Blount, Winton Malcolm Jr.

Basic at Shaw Fld, SC and Advanced at Turner Fld, Albany, Ga. Promoted to 1st LT in July 1943. Was appointed a member of the Advisory Training Board at Turner Field, Albany, GA. [Union Springs Herald (Union Springs, Alabama), 29 Jul 1943, Thu, Page 1]. He seemed to spend most of the War in Albany. He was trained to fly B-29 ("Superfortress") bombers but did not fly in combat.
After the War, he was appointed U.S. Postmaster General in 1968 by President Nixon and served from January 22, 1969, to January 1, 1972. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winton_M._Blount for more details.

First name is officially Wynton on birth certificate but went by Winton for simplicity's sake.
February 1, 1921 – October 24, 2002
Union Springs, AL
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

deLaet, Alberic (a.k.a. Alberic Laet)

Enlisted 19 Jan 1942 in New York City. Basic at Shaw Field. Advanced at Turner Fld, Ga. S/N: O-792820 (2nd LT). He went to Columbia Army Airfield for bomber training on about Nov. 23, 1942. He served 3-1/2 years as a B-25 pilot, flying 50 missions over Sicily and Italy. He was awarded the Silver Star with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart. Upon returning to the U.S. he was attached to the public relations office of the Middletown Air Service Command. In May 1945 he joined the diplomatic service. See an article about his service here.

Of Mamaroneck, NY
Born December 9, 1917
Died November 2, 2002

Married WASP Mary Waters, class of 1944-3, on Jan. 4, 1945 in Middletown, PA.

Read his obituary here
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Denlinger, Carl Martin

Basic at Shaw Fld, SC. As a 2nd LT, he went to Columbia Army Airfield for bomber training on about Nov. 23, 1942. Was a B-25 pilot with the "The Air Apaches" of 345th Bomber Grp 499th Bomber Sqdn flying missions in the South-West Pacific Area. Apparently, he went on to develop equipment for crop dusting aircraft.

2LT
From Dayton, OH
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Devlin, Paul Edward

Advanced at Turner Fld, Ga. S/N: O-792879 (2nd LT). He went to Columbia Army Airfield for bomber training on about Nov. 23, 1942. He was a B-25 pilot with the 12th Bomber Grp 82nd Bomber Sqdn flying missions in the Mediterranean Theater. On his 50th mission, his plane was hit by anti aircraft and went down in the Mediterranean. After 10 hours, he and his crew were rescued. See Devlin newspaper article (opens in a new window). For a fuller account, see the 82nd's Press Release (opens in a new window).
After his 50 missions, he returned to Coronaca Field in Greenwood, SC [Source: The Index-Journal (Greenwood, South Carolina), Sat., 01 Apr 1944, Page 6]. He was mustered out June 1, 1945 from Fort Dix [Source: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York), Fri, 01 Jun 1945, Page 5].
For an interview, see http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/115/755.xml

1st LT
From Elmhurst, N.Y.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Egbert, Howard Deeter

Advanced at Turner Fld, Ga. S/N: O-793214 (2nd LT). He went to Columbia Army Airfield for bomber training on about Nov. 23, 1942. Based on The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio), 04 Jun 1945, Mon, Page 1, Capt. Howard D. Egbert flew 50 missions over 11 months in a B-25 in Europe. He returned to the U.S. in January 1945 and was stationed at Wright Field. See an article about his promotion.

DFC, PH, Air Medal with 7 clusters.

Fariello, Frank N.

Basic at Shaw Fld, SC and Advanced at Turner Fld, Albany, Ga. was a P-39 pilot with the 35th Fighter Grp 41st Fighter Sqdn flying missions in the South-West Pacific Area.

CPT during War. Later Lt. Col.
Originally from  NY. Later of Palo Alto, CA.

Lois Fariello, wife.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Faroe, Edward Ellis

Basic at Shaw Fld, SC. He appears to have graduated at Turner Field, for he was involved in a minor landing accident in a North American BC-1A on September 17, 1942. He became a B-17 pilot with the 385th Bomber Grp 549th Bomber Sqdn flying missions in Europe. He received the DFC: click here for a photo and newspaper article.

Capt.
Flushing, NY

Frear, Robert H.

Fradel was his instructor at Douglas. S/N: O-793604. He was killed Nov. 20, 1942 in a P-39D (S/N: 41-7069).

"LT. ROBERT H. FREAR, 26, former chief announcer of WIBX, Utica, N. Y., was killed last week when his Army P -39 plane crashed as he was about to land at Cross City Field, Fla., after a routine training flight. Lt. Freer, an ex- perienced civilian pilot, had received his Army commission only ten days before the fatal accident. Funeral services were held at Utica last Friday afternoon. At WIBX he had edited the Farm News program and handled the Socony- Vacuum newscast seven times daily." per (http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1942/1942-11-30-BC.pdf).

NY
2nd Lt.
Click here for a group picture.

Ghiselin, Clark Moore

Click here for a group picture. Fradel was his instructor at Douglas. He had Basic at Shaw Field, SC.

Of Dade City, Florida. Born May 13, 1920; Died Mar. 28, 1992.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Gibson, Walter M.

Washed out at Douglas and became a bombardier (S/N: O-734335). He was in the 100th Bomb Gp. and had 13 missions over Germany in B-17's. He also flew in Korea and retired as a Captain in 1965.

Minnie Gibson, wife.
Of Goldsboro, NC

Glasgow, William Clarkson (Bill)

Enlisted as an Aviation Cadet on Jan. 21, 1942. He graduated from Spence Field in Nov. 1942 as a 2nd Lt. [The Buffalo News, Sat, Nov 14, 1942 ·Page 18]. He went overseas in January 1943 with the Western Desert Air Force. He was shot down in 1943 and was a German POW in Italy for only a few days since he escaped, bringing the location of enemy ammunition dumps. For this he was awarded the Silver Star, in addition to a Purple Heart. He was a veteran of 80 combat missions over Germany.

From Niagara Falls, NY.

Captain Glasgow died while flying an experimental XP-55 Curtiss Ascender at a War Bond aviation show in Dayton, OH on May 27, 1945. See newspaper articles here (will open in a new window).

For his picture at Douglas, click here (the picture will open in a new window).

Greever, Edgar Phillip

Basic at Shaw Fld, SC and Advanced at Turner Fld, Albany, Ga (2n LT). He went to Columbia Army Airfield for bomber training on about Nov. 23, 1942. He flew 60 missions over Burma in a B-25. Captain. Click here for his biographical letter (opens as a PDF).

For his picture at Douglas, click here (the picture will open in a new window).

Lucie Greever, wife.
Of Burke's Garden, Va
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Grenier, Walter Jean

Basic at Shaw Fld, SC. S/N: O-793319. He became a pilot in the 100th Bomb Gp. On Sept. 6, 1943, he was flying a mission to Stuttgart, when his B-17F (S/N: 42-30345) with a crew of 10 was shot down by fighters over Colmar France (MACR #687). He became a P.O.W. in Stalag Luft 7A near Nurenburg, Germany. He remained a P.O.W. for 2 years. After the War, he attained the rank of captain in the Army Reserves. He obtained a doctorate in psychology from Loyola University of Chicago and went on to supervise a youth home and perform other public services. See https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=personnel&id=2025&Itemid=122 for more information.

Of Flushing, NY.
Born Oct. 31, 1917, in Bordeaux, France.
Died Feb. 12, 2012, in Ellsworth, Maine.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

3 cadets with only initials known: R. L. G., G. J. H. and W. C. H., based on a lighter gifted to their instructor, John E. Anderson.

Harbin, John H. Jr (also known as James Harbin)

Charles Stanton was his instructor. He had basic at Shaw Fld, SC.

Lived in Atlanta, GA at time of enlistment (Jan. 22, 1942). Born 1922 in South Carolina.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Harkness, Orlo V.

Paul Walker was his instructor. Basic at Shaw Fld, SC and Advanced at Turner Fld, Albany, Ga. He had a 29 year career in The Air Force. This included flying the 'Hump' and also flying Air Force One, for a total of 13,500 hours.

Maxine Harkness, wife.
Of Leesburg, VA
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Haver, John E.

He became a navigator (S/N: O-796998) in the 308th Bomb Gp 373rd Bomb Sqdn. Haver was killed May 28, 1944 when his B-24J, #42-73309 "Trouble Maker," crashed neat Kweilin, China on its way back to a forward base after a sea search mission in the South China Sea. (MACR #05348). Click here for Find-A-Grave information.

1st Lt.
Of New York
Click here for a picture of him at Douglas

Hedin, Charles E.

He was probably at Douglas based on his flying accident on May 23, 1942 in a PT-17 (41-8599) at Douglas. He had Basic at Shaw Field and probably had Advanced at Turner Fld, Albany, Ga. S/N: O-793334.
He was a pilot with the 533rd Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy and was killed when his B-17 (#42-3223) caught on fire and exploded over Rattlesden Air Field, Rattlesden, England.

Enlisted from New York on January 21, 1942.
Born Delaware Aug. 18, 1918. Died Jul. 14, 1943.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Heinold, Raymond C.

He enlisted 21 Jan 1942. Charles Stanton was his instructor. He had basic at Shaw Fld, SC. and Advanced at Turner Fld, Albany, Ga. S/N: O-793336

From Erie, New York.
Born 14 Nov 1919 Buffalo, New York. Died 29 Jul 2004
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Highhouse, Elwood L.

John Fradel was his instructor at Douglas. He had Basic at Shaw Field, SC. He graduated: S/N: O-793338. He died from non combat in a P-39N (S/N: #42-9305) on Mar. 26, 1943. Click here for a group picture.

2nd Lt.
Jamestown, Chautauqua County, NY
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Homa, John

He was probably at Douglas based on his flying accident on May 23, 1942 in a PT-17 (41-25299) at Douglas.
He enlisted Jan 21 1942 in Binghamton, NY. He had Basic at Shaw Field, SC.
He may be the John Homa who was a pilot with the 439th Troop Carrier Group and flew C-47s, which delivered supplies during the Rhine crossing of March 24, 1945.

LT
Of Binghamton, NY
Born 1920.
Married Irene M. Fedor.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Johnson, Albert C.

Washed out at Douglas and became a bombardier in B-17's in the 379th Bomber Grp 524th Bomber Sqdn. S/N: O-733315. He was shot down over Germany on July 7, 1943 and became a POW in Luft Stalag 3 (MACR #01766).

Nell Johnson, wife.
2LT
Originally of FL, later of LaGrange, GA

McGlaughlin, James J.

Buddy Hasell was his instructor. He had Basic at Macon, GA and Advanced at Napier Fld, Al. He served in the Middle East and Africa with the A.T.C. flying C-47's. 1st. Lt.

St. Louis, MO

Nice, Robert Andrew

Fradel was his instructor at Douglas. He had Basic at Shaw Field, SC. As a 2nd LT, he went to Columbia Army Airfield for bomber training on about Nov. 23, 1942. He was in the 14th A.F. 341st Bomb Gp, 11th Bomb Sqdn flying B-25's in the China-India-Burma Theater. (He is a witness in MACR #1631 for crash of B-25 S/N: 41-30457.) Click here for a group picture.

Born April 13, 1920, in Queens, N.Y.
See his May 10, 2010 obit for much more information.
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Pearson, Rowland

Basic at Shaw Fld, SC and Advanced at Turner Fld, Albany, Ga. He spent nine months in India flying the cargo version of the B-24 servicing the 20th A.F. in China. He flew 68 round trips over the "Hump", most of it on instruments. Retired from the reserves as a Major. Click here for his bio as a PDF (opens in a new window).

Beverly Pearson, wife

Of Zellwood, Fl

Simpson, William Monroe, Jr.

Basic at Shaw Fld, SC and Advanced at Turner Fld, Albany, Ga., S/N: O-793384. On Apr. 12, 1944 he was killed in a flying accident in Georgia.

Pittsburg, PA
Picture from Shaw Field yearbook.

Sparks, Herbert Paul

Enlisted Jan. 3, 1942. He died at age 23 in an accident while ferrying aircraft. The single engine army aircraft he was piloting crashed mid-air with another plane near Greeneville, TN. on Dec. 17, 1942.

Swedesboro, NJ

Summers, Harold F. (Hal)

Enlisted Jan. 19, 1942. Went to Maxwell Field for Preflight. After Douglas, he went to Shaw Field, Sumter, SC for Basic, followed by Advanced at Moody Field, Valdosta, GA, graduating Nov. 10, 1942 as 2nd LT. From Mar 10-Jun 4, 1943, he was trained as a Replacement 1st pilot, Overseas Duty, Homestead Field, Homestead, FL. He then served in the Air Transport Command, Africa Middle East Wing and was promoted to 1 LT on Nov.4, 1943. In 1944, he was in the ATC, North Africa Sector in Marrakesh and Cairo, and was relieved of overseas active duty on Aug. 24, 1944. On Sept 8, 1944 he was promoted to captain and was assigned to the ATC, Ferry Division, Nashville/Memphis.
After the War, he served in the Air Force Reserves.

Capt.
Borrn Sept 4, 1920, Hardinsburg, Indiana. On Mar 15, 1946 he was hired by Chicago & Southern (C&S) Airlines, which merged with Delta Air Lines in 1953. On Dec 31, 1979, he flew his first international flight as L-1011 Captain. On Sept 4, 1980, he retired from Delta.
Died April 4, 1999 in Brooks, GA.

For his picture at Douglas, click here (the picture will open in a new window).