Page 6 - Continued 

 

 

 BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING

 

Basic training was completed in the Vultee BT-13 a heavier all metal monoplane. The power plant was a Pratt Whitney 450 hp radial with a two-stage Hamilton Standard prop. This base was all military. Our instructors were Air Corps and we didn't have to share the runways with commercial traffic. These airplanes had electrical systems, which meant we had lights, self-starters, and radios.

Vultee BT-13 Valiant

 

My instructor was a small fellow who would sit in the back seat and sing "Maresie Doates and Doesie Doates, and Little Lambsie Divey." I don't remember any washout threatening incidents during basic flight training. I must have learned quite well in primary. The practice area we used extended southeast almost to Miami, Oklahoma. I would sign up for an hour of practice then call in for an extra hour from down around Chetopa, KS. If my request were approved I would head for Ottawa County OK.

Once after buzzing Fairland Main street from about 500 feet, my instructor called me aside and told me I would get better noise results if I would change the prop which would speed up the engine while buzzing. I knew that but I didn't do it because those props weren't governed and I didn't want to over-rev the engine. Since Coffeyville was even closer to Fairland than Tulsa I was able to get home several times. Near the end of the time there I even brought the Ford truck back to Coffeyville for a few days so I could drive back home the next time I had enough free time.

It was in basic that we first flew at night. Another flight I'll not forget was that first night flight. For safety, the airspace was divided into quadrants NE, SE, SW, and NW, with the north south and east west runways marking the dividing lines. The altitude was assigned in 500-foot levels. One quadrant was worked at a time with the cadet assigned to the top level taking off first then the one assigned to the next lower level until there were five or six airplanes circling in the quadrant each at a different elevation. I was assigned the 5500-foot level on the NE quadrant. I was privileged to circle at 5,500 feet while my quadrant was filled while each of the other quadrants were emptied and filled in turn before it was time to empty my quadrant. I was up there just lazily circling, picking out all the landmarks for miles around. I loved every minute of it. I still would rather fly on a clear night than during the daytime as long as there is runway lighting when it is time to land.

Even though each section of flight training was only two months, we waited after completing the training for the troop train to arrive with the succeeding class. Then we would board and move on to the next training base.

 

Back to Top