News Letter 1941 Jul-Dec - Air Force Historical Studies Office

Wanted: More Pilots
RESERVE OFFICERS GET FLIGHT TRAINING
~
GEN. BRETT VISITING WAR ZONa
TO STUDY R.A.F. MAINTENANCE
Almost at the same time as the new officertraining
policy went into effect is was announced
that another group of potential pilots, the first
class of enlisted aviation students, had begun
training to win warrants as Staff Sergeant Pilots.
Although applications for pilot training are being
accepted from reserve officers at present, no
definite plans have yet been announced concerning
the form the training will take, where it will be
given or the number of officers to be accepted.
In order to quali fy for flying training in grade,
applicants must be physically qualified, must be
recommended by their military superiors for such
duty, must have anefficiency rating of "excellent"
or better, must not have passed their 27th birthday
and must have been cit izens of the United States
for not less than 10 years.
Officers accepted for flight training must agree
to serve three years on extended active duty with
the Air Corpa after successful completion of their
course of instruction. If they have ever been
eliminated from a service flying school for failure
in flying, or if they have ever completed the
course of instruction of a service flying school
they will not be considered eligible.
Enlisted men receiving pilot training at present
number 188. Of these, 125 are in training at the
Spartan School of Aeronautics, Muskogee, Okla.,
a'nd 63 at the Brayton Flying School, Cuero, Texas.
Two other War Department decisions affecting reserve
officers of the Air Corps were made during
the past month. One of these held that the recent
announcement that reserve officers would not be required
to remain on active duty upon the completion
of one year's service did not apply to the Air
Corps.
The other provided that, due to the emergency,
reserve officers who have served on extended active
duty since January 1, 1940, or who were on extended
active duty on or after August 15, 1941, are relieved
of the Army Extension Courses requirement
for a certificate of capacity for promotion.
In response to requests being made for the security
cartoons on the inside back cover, steps now
are being taken to obtain poster -size reproduct ions
in sufficient quantities to meet the demand.
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A close-hand survey of Royal Air Force materiel
problems on the various war fronts is being made
personally by Maj. Gen. George H. Brett, Chief of
the Air Corps, and a group of assistants who are
touring the war zone in an army airplane.
General Brett's tour of the African, Near East,
Mediterranean and Atlantic war fronts is being
made for two principal purposes. First, it will
give him and his special staff a first-hand opportunity
to determine the needs of the British
for air equipment manufactured by the Uni ted States.
Second, he will be able to study two particularly
pressing problems--the maintenance and repair of
air equipment and the question of supply.
General Brett is accompanied by Col. R.A. Dunn,
Air Corps; Col. J.B. Newman, Jr., Corps of Engineers;
Lieut. Jack W. Perry, Air Corps, and Mr.
Harry C. Short, of the Middletown Air Depot. Col.
Caleb V. Haynes, Air Corps, has command of the
airplane crew. Lieut. Col. E.M. Powers, Maj. James
H. Doolittle and Lieut. Col. X.G. Boyd are on a
similar tour and will meet the other party at various
places in the war zone.
The supply and maintenance of American aircraft
in the war zones has been made more difficult be.
cause of personnel familiar with these aircraft
and American equipment. One of the important features
of General Brett's studies will be that of
the maintenance personnel problem. Spare parts
and supplies must be provided in the proper proportions.
Provisions must be made for supplying and training
the necessary personnel in the maintenance and
use of ~rican equipment. Different procedures
must be set up for each zone due to local conditions.
Which method or combination of methods is
to be adopted must be determined.
General Brett is.making his personal survey of
the situation with the assistance of a staff selected
from personnel familiar with all phases of the
production, delivery, maintenance, supply and t ra Ining
problems involved. Additional staff assistants
will meet him en route during the trip for special
studies at particular points.
From the personal knowledge of the subject gained
by General Brett and members of his special staffs
during the present tour, it will be possible for
the Air Corps and allied military and industrial
organizations toplan efficiently and intelligently
for the future.