The command was established on 8 July 1940 by the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, as part of the expansion of the training department of the Air Corps. After the Fall of France in May 1940, the United States began rapidly expanding its military forces, and with the large numbers of men entering the military, the training requirements of the Air Corps were drastically expanded.[1]
As a result, the centralized training of aircrew was divided into three Training Centers, the Eastern, Gulf Coast (later Central) and Western. Training schools were assigned to the Centers based on the geography of the United States. In July 1943, these Centers were re-designated as Eastern, Central and Western Training Commands.[1]
By 1944, EFTC controlled a large number of training schools in the Southwestern United States, and established several Wings to provide organizational command and control over them, based on both training types and geography. The schools operated by EFTC part of the Aviation Cadet Training Program. These were:[1]
Classification: This was the stage where it would be decided whether the cadet would train as a navigator, bombardier, or pilot
Preflight: Ground training for all air cadets. Successful completion meant being assigned to a flying school for training. "Washouts" were returned to the regular Air Corps ranks for reassignment.
Primary (Phase I): Taught basic flying using two-seater training aircraft. Usually taught by contract flying schools operated by the WFTC
Basic (Phase II): Formation flying, air navigation, cross-country flying skills were taught.
Advanced (Phase II): Single or multi-engine aircraft schools for cadets becoming fighter, bomber or transport pilots. After graduation, the successful Air Cadet received his "wings" and were commissioned Second Lieutenants. In addition, experienced pilots in the field were sent to Training Command "transition schools" to acquire additional single or multi-engine flying ratings.
In addition to the American Air Cadets, Cadets from the British Royal Air Force and Free French Air Force were trained in flying skills. EFTC also operated aircrew schools for Navigators, Bombardiers and flexible aerial gunners. Radio operators were centrally trained at Scott Field, Illinois. Other aircrew positions, such as B-29 flight engineers and RADAR operators were also trained later in the war as training requirements presented themselves. This included the first jet pilots in 1945.[1]
EFTC was inactivated on 15 December 1945, being consolidated into the new Central Flying Training Command at Randolph Field, Texas, as part of the consolidation of the Army Air Forces after World War II ended.[1]
Lineageedit
Established as Southeast Air Corps Training Center on 8 July 1940 and activated
Redesignated Army Air Forces East Coast Training Center on 29 October 1942
Redesignated Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command on 31 July 1943
Air Corps Flying Training Command (later Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, Army Air Forces Training Command), 23 January 1942 – 15 December 1945[1]
Stationsedit
Maxwell Field, Alabama, 8 July 1940 – 15 December 1945[1]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eastern Flying Training Command.
^ abcdefghijklManning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas OCLC 71006954, 29991467
^27th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
^28th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
^29th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document, Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
^30th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
^74th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
^75th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
^7[th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
April 12, 2024
army, forces, eastern, flying, training, command, eftc, unit, united, states, army, forces, assigned, army, forces, training, command, stationed, maxwell, field, alabama, inactivated, december, 1945, locations, airfields, controlled, eastern, flying, training,. The Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command EFTC was a unit of the United States Army Air Forces It was assigned to the Army Air Forces Training Command stationed at Maxwell Field Alabama It was inactivated on 15 December 1945 Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training CommandLocations of airfields controlled by the AAF Eastern Flying Training CommandActive1940 1945Country United StatesBranch United States Army Air ForcesTypeCommand and ControlRoleTrainingPart ofArmy Air Forces Training CommandEngagementsWorld War II World War II American TheaterInsigniaArmy Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command distinctive unit insignia Postcard photo of the Headquarters AAF Eastern Flying Training Command at Maxwell Field Alabama Contents 1 History 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Major Components 3 Major Aircraft 4 ReferencesHistory editThe command was established on 8 July 1940 by the Office of the Chief of Air Corps as part of the expansion of the training department of the Air Corps After the Fall of France in May 1940 the United States began rapidly expanding its military forces and with the large numbers of men entering the military the training requirements of the Air Corps were drastically expanded 1 As a result the centralized training of aircrew was divided into three Training Centers the Eastern Gulf Coast later Central and Western Training schools were assigned to the Centers based on the geography of the United States In July 1943 these Centers were re designated as Eastern Central and Western Training Commands 1 By 1944 EFTC controlled a large number of training schools in the Southwestern United States and established several Wings to provide organizational command and control over them based on both training types and geography The schools operated by EFTC part of the Aviation Cadet Training Program These were 1 Classification This was the stage where it would be decided whether the cadet would train as a navigator bombardier or pilot Preflight Ground training for all air cadets Successful completion meant being assigned to a flying school for training Washouts were returned to the regular Air Corps ranks for reassignment Primary Phase I Taught basic flying using two seater training aircraft Usually taught by contract flying schools operated by the WFTC Basic Phase II Formation flying air navigation cross country flying skills were taught Advanced Phase II Single or multi engine aircraft schools for cadets becoming fighter bomber or transport pilots After graduation the successful Air Cadet received his wings and were commissioned Second Lieutenants In addition experienced pilots in the field were sent to Training Command transition schools to acquire additional single or multi engine flying ratings In addition to the American Air Cadets Cadets from the British Royal Air Force and Free French Air Force were trained in flying skills EFTC also operated aircrew schools for Navigators Bombardiers and flexible aerial gunners Radio operators were centrally trained at Scott Field Illinois Other aircrew positions such as B 29 flight engineers and RADAR operators were also trained later in the war as training requirements presented themselves This included the first jet pilots in 1945 1 EFTC was inactivated on 15 December 1945 being consolidated into the new Central Flying Training Command at Randolph Field Texas as part of the consolidation of the Army Air Forces after World War II ended 1 Lineage editEstablished as Southeast Air Corps Training Center on 8 July 1940 and activatedRedesignated Army Air Forces East Coast Training Center on 29 October 1942 Redesignated Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command on 31 July 1943 Inactivated on 15 December 1945 1 Assignments edit Office of the Chief of Air Corps 8 July 1940 Air Corps Flying Training Command later Army Air Forces Flying Training Command Army Air Forces Training Command 23 January 1942 15 December 1945 1 Stations edit Maxwell Field Alabama 8 July 1940 15 December 1945 1 Major Components edit 27th Flying Training Wing World War II Basic Flight TrainingHeadquarters Cochran Army Airfield Georgia 17 December 1942 15 December 1945 Randolph Field Texas 16 December 1945 16 June 1946 2 dd 28th Flying Training Wing World War II Advanced Flight Training Single EngineHeadquarters George Army Airfield Illinois 26 December 1942 Craig Field Alabama 15 August 1943 30 December 1945 3 dd 29th Flying Training Wing Primary Flight TrainingHeadquarters Moody Field Georgia 26 December 1942 Napier Field Alabama 1 April 1945 16 June 1946 4 dd 30th Flying Training Wing World War II Advanced Flight Training Two EngineHeadquarters Jackson Army Airbase Mississippi 26 December 1942 Columbus Army Airfield Mississippi 15 September 1943 Turner Army Airfield Georgia 13 September 1944 Randolph Field Texas 31 Jul 13 Oct 1946 5 dd 74th Flying Training Wing World War II Classification Preflight Specialized NavigationHeadquarters Maxwell Field Alabama 16 September 1943 30 December 1945 6 dd 75th Flying Training Wing World War II GunneryHeadquarters Buckingham Army Airfield Florida 25 August 1943 16 June 1946 7 dd 76th Flying Training Wing World War II Specialized Four Engine TrainingHeadquarters Smyrna Army Airfield Tennessee 25 August 1943 16 June 1946 8 dd Major Aircraft editPrimary flight trainingBoeing Stearman PT 17 Fairchild PT 19 and Ryan PT 22 twin seat single engine trainers 1 dd Basic flight trainingVultee BT 13 and Vultee BT 15 1 dd Advanced flight trainingNorth American AT 6 single engine Cessna AT 17 two engine 1 dd Specialized schools Curtiss Wright AT 9s were used for high performance two engine training in perpetration for Lockheed P 38 Lightning training Beechcraft AT 10s were used for pilots in training for two engine bombers B 25s and B 26s Beechcraft AT 11s were used for pilots in training for C 47 transports along with bombardier training Beechcraft AT 7s were used for two engine pilot training and also navigator training Boeing B 17s and Consolidated B 24s were used for four engine pilot training L 2 L 3 L 4 TG 5 and TG 6s were used for glider and liaison pilot training Gunnery training schools flew A 33 AT 6s AT 1s B 34s B 10s and RP 63s for air to air flexible gunnery training 1 dd References edit nbsp Aviation portal nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eastern Flying Training Command a b c d e f g h i j k l Manning Thomas A 2005 History of Air Education and Training Command 1942 2002 Office of History and Research Headquarters AETC Randolph AFB Texas OCLC 71006954 29991467 27th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 28th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 29th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 30th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 74th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 75th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama 7 th Flying Training Wing lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency Maxwell AFB Alabama Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command amp oldid 1205727492, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
