In 1999 Don and I celebrated two very important events.

The first event was the 50^th anniversary of his graduation from Air Force flying training. With some very good friends, we organized a reunion that was held March 26 and 27 in San Angelo TX. Don was a member of Aviation Cadet Class 49A and received his primary flight training at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo. This was a pivotal experience in the lives of these young men.

The Aviation Cadet program has a proud history that goes back before Charles Lindbergh (Flying Cadet, Class 4-A), probably back to the first military flight school in 1909. On 2 July 1926, Congress passed H. R. 10827, known as the "Air Corps Act". On June 20 1941 the "Flying Cadet" officially became the "Aviation Cadet".

The Cadet program of the United States Army Air Corps trained airmen to be pilots even though they had not earned bachelor's degrees. The Air Force took charge of the program after that service was created in 1947 and continued it until 1961. From 1917 until the mid-fifties, the Flying/Aviation Cadet Corps trained almost all rated officers who wore wings. The last Cadet pilot graduated in Class 62-B on 11 October 1961. And, the last Aviation Cadet retired from active duty in the Air Force on 5 March 1998. In all, the Cadet program had trained 225,000 men.

On February 19 1948, two hundred seventy one (271) young men came to Goodfellow from almost every state in the union and from every walk of life. Their common goal was to become a pilot. Thirty percent of these men had previous flying experience and the large majority of them were veterans from all branches of the service. Some were decorated veterans. One had received three Purple Hearts won in the Pacific serving with the Marines. Another had been a prisoner of war after the Battle of the Bulge.

As early as 1945, long before the Air Force became an independent service, its leaders were looking at the possibility of obtaining a distinctive new uniform. By 1946 it was clear that it would be some shade of blue. In January 1948, President Truman approved a new uniform for the Air Force but Congress would not approve the funding. In January 1949, the Air Force and the Army addressed the issue again. It was decided that the blue uniform would be introduced as a normal replacement procurement, at no extra cost, in 1950.

Don modeling the new uniform

 After four months of intensive training, over two hundred men remained - the first class in many years to complete Phase I with more than two hundred men. On 7 October 1948, one hundred and ninety seven (197) of them completed the entire program of flight training and received their certificates of proficiency.

Of these men, one hundred and thirty one (131) were assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base LA for four months of multi-engine training in the North American B-25 twin-engine bomber. Sixty-eight (68) cadets were sent for single-engine training at Williams Air Force Base AZ.

Flight B-2B, Don third from left 

 Some of the Cadets sent to Barksdale, including Don, were reassigned to Enid Air Force Base OK in January 1949 when that newly designated field was reopened. Within two months, fifty men had left the program for a variety of reasons. Those who completed the required course of instructions were rated "Pilot" effective 25 February 1949. Class 49A had enlisted as part of the Army Air Corps and so the day before they were to graduate, they were discharged from the Army. The next day they were commissioned as 2^nd Lieutenants in the Air Force. Becoming, by an Act of Congress, officers and gentlemen.

Some of Class 49A pursued military careers. One of them distinguished himself by becoming the Korean War second "Jet Ace". Some left the service to become commercial pilots or pursue other endeavors. No matter what their choices or life experiences, Aviation Cadet training made a profound impact on their lives.

Don in the cockpit of a B-25 at Enid AFB OK

 

 

. We met, wrote letters, saw one another about eight times and were married in August.