The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, May 11, 1945, Image 22
rAOE tittrr
Air Theater
Operation Chief
THE WMmmn CMwatiiCLif CAiiDEiik:tiiOTW caeouwa, rmoAv,
SOUTHERNAIRE PAYS TRIBUTE
Jm4;OUTHEI»^^iATI0N^Sefle0fc
After suecejisfal raid on Japen,
Blajor General James H. DooUtUe
was transferred to the Elfhth Air
feree command in Great Britain and
promoted to rank* of lieutenant f cn>
eraL
Admiral Ernest Joseph King
served as chief of naval operations.
He had formerly served as com
mander of the AOantie and of the
U. 8. fleet. - - ,
Our hats come ofF and ot>r heads bow in tribute
to those courageous men and women on the fighting
fronts ... and to those on the production front •..
Working together they have brought Victory to the
United Nations and peace to a part of the troubled
world ..« A first step, yes . • • But, total victory now
is in sight
DeKAUB PHARMACY
The banners of the United Nations wave victoriously
wer Euroj^ . . and a new era for part of the world’
begins with this first step in the overthrowing of power-
greedy nations ^ . Americans may be justly proud of
their ^rt in speeding the day when Liberty will shim
again from sea to sea.
CITY BARBER SHOP
Purdy Lee
Oscar Branham
Johnnie Owens
ViaORY'S
LIGHT
The symbol of Liberty for all who call America^
home, is the symbol of liberty for all people and
• all nations . . . Her torch lights the way with a
' radiance so bright it can be seen wherever our men
are fighting with the United Natioiis to set their
people free.
And shining, the torch of Liberty has lighted
the road to freedom with Victory ... A Vic
tory for die Uijited Nations diat we are proud to
.proclaim.
CITY LAUNDRY & CAMDEN
MtY CLEANERS
August Issue of Aviation Mag
azine Reviews Achievements
of Local PosL
• The August Issue of the Southern-
aire, official organ of Southern Air
ways, carries an interesting and com
prehensive word and pictorial history
of the Southern Aviation school, from
Us inception in November, 1940, to Us
closing August 4. 1,944. '
The story, together with the many
interesting views pertaining to the
physical as well as personnel features,
is one- that should be of interest to
every Camden resident. It is a story
of an achievement that will gp down.
In South Carolina histor]^ a»- being
outstanding.
Through permission of the South-
ernaire, the Chronicle is able to bring
to its readers the story. It Is a mat
ter of regrej that we cannot bring to
our readers the pictures.
“It's a long way from Camden to
the far-flung battlefronts of the world
toda/," starts the word picture. “The
folks around the dreamy little South
Carolina town can go abhut their daily
.business of living in an atmosphere of
peace and calmness, undisturbed by
the roar of big euns and screaming
shells. Yet, foiP almogt four years
now, Camden has been an integral
part in the fight the Allied armies
are putting up pn those faraway for-
elgn shores.
“Southern Aviation school at Cam
den, the home of the 64th Army Air
Forces Flight Tralplng Detachment,
has given many a young cadet his
start on the road to Berlin. Normandy
and any where else in the battle zones
where the men of the United States
Army' Air Forces are flying today.
Southern Aviation school has had a
big hand in building the formidable
air force that is driving terror into
the hearts of the'tBlen of the German
I'.Hiftwaffe, and our enemies on all
fronts. Not many of Uncle Sam’s
flyers will forget the days when they
first learned to fly a plane, and Sentb-
ern Aviation school will live forever
in the memories of many a pilot who
flew for .the first time at the Primary
Training school in the heart of Sc^tb
Carolina’s sandhills and pines.
The roar of the motors of the little
Stearman PT’s has quieted down now
and the last class of cadets has been
processed and graduated with flying
colors, for the Army has closed the
primary training base here. But the
memory of the 64Ui AAFFTD will lln
ger on, for more reasons than one.
For instance,' the brilliant record
tblit now Is history will hardly be
toesed aside without recognition. The
fact that over k period of almost four
years Southern Aviation school’s
planes have flown a total of 367,653
hours! which is equivalent to 31,260,-
600 miles, which is equivalent to 1,302
times around the earth’s surface, or
4,464 times to T^kyo from Camden,
la nothing to be sneezed at.
“Southern Aviation school was org
anised back in the month of Novem-
bei*. 1940, with Frank W. Hulse, presi
dent; Ike F. Jones, vice president, and
H^nry Savage, Jr., secretary, as the
men behind the ropes. Woodward air
port was leased in December as tbe
home field for the primary achool and
plans were drawn for a complete set
up. In January, 1941, actual work was
started on She construction of bar
racks, hangars and improvements to
the field. In February the first Army
personnel arrived with Capt. Roy T.
Wright reporting as the first com
manding officer. In short Order, the
first airplanes were ferried in and
the training of. instructors got under
way. The school’s first director of
flying, Fred Leslie, and Antone ’’Snoo.
kie” Hunter, director of flying at the
time the school closed, were the first
two Instructors to be checked by tbe
Army.
“The first class of cadets, totaling
approximately 40, arrived in March.
1941, and the school was underway In
full force. The first class starting
actual flight training March 22, was
a far cry from what was to come, and
as the now of students increased the
school grew and expanded to become
one of tbe top schools in the training
center.
“Woodward Field became the main
base for operations covering 200 acres
with three hangars for matntenanre of
a flock of more than 100 training
plane^, a complete ground school, five
barracks buildings, mess hall and
recreation hall in a beautiful setting
amid a native long-leaf pine grove
that bordered the southeast corner i)f
the field. From the main base the
school exposed to take in three satel
lite bases as auxiliary fields. In J941
auxiliary field No. 1, Bateman Field,
was opened. A 382 acre site was lo
cated five miles from the main base,
equipped with canteen, students’ ready
room and lifstnictors’ room, and was
operated since the opening of tbe
school. In 1942 Tyotter field, located
ten miles from the main base, was
opened as auxiliary field No. 2. Em
bracing 231 acres It was enlarged to
1943 to contain* canteen, operations
building, link trainers, students’ ready
room and Instructors’ room. In 1943
Stevens Field was added to become
the third auxiliary field, covering 258
acres and located 14 miles from the
main base.
“pianes were flown to the auxiliary
bases by instructors and soloing stu
dents. Tbe remainder of the class
was taken to the auxiliary fields in
special buses. Each auxiliary base,
in addition to dispatching equipment
had repair shops, mechanical crew and
ready room for cadefs awaiting their
turn in the air.
“The Satellite system was developed
when the AAF called for a speedup
after Pearl HarboV. Woodward,Field
was too small to care for mass ^pan-
slon without being ^ hazardous. The
far sections of the ft’eld were bounded
by gullies that would have cost much
valuable time and thousands of dol
lars to cover.
“In addition to training thousands
of pilots for the United States Army
Air forces. Southern Avlqtlon school
had a direct contribution to the Alllfed
Air forces when the school was se
lected to train British cadets coming
directly from England. 'The first
group arrived June 7, 1941, and for
six months the school aided in ex
panding the blltz-rlddle Royal ~ Ah*
force, with several hundred taught to
fly before th^ British training pro
gram was returned to England."
Tbe balance of the story is given
.oyer to a tribute to JJie persons who
have contributed to the outstanding
success of the institute. It is inter
esting to note that tbe entire person
nel. from President Prank Hulse,
down through the various units, to the
chief of the auxiliary military police
staff are given personal mention.
In the concluding paragraph the
Southemaire says: ‘*Yea, there are
many who gave Southern Aviation
school Us prominent role of great dis
tinction. Already the people of the
sleepy little town of Camden are miaa-
ing the blasts from the motors of tbe
PT’s, and already they’re missing all
the people who made the school a suc
cess, and the familiar sight of tke
cadets enjoying time off on the streets
of Camden.’’
Probably one of the most interesting
features of the Southern Aviation edi
tion of Southemaire is the listing of
decorations presented to former atu-
dents of the school. ’This record shows
that 39 received the Silver Star, 353
the Air Medal, 139 the Distinguished
Flying Cross. 6 tbe Distinguished
Service Cross, 191 the Purple Heart,
2 the Soldiers Medal, 77 Presidential
Citation. 1 the Order of Flying Boot
(English), 1 Order of Flying Fish
(English). 1 Distinguished Flying
Cross (English),2 Distinguished Berv.
ice Order, (English). 1 Order of Red
Star, (Russian), and 1.28T Oak Leaf
Clusters. ’This gives a total of 2,199
decorations presented to Southern
Aviation graduates, a most outstand
ing record.
Not the least of the interesting
pages in the Southernaire is that in
the middle, which is a reproduction of
the Certificate of Servile Award given
to -the Southern Aviation school on
July 1, of this year by the Army Air
Forces Trsininc^ command of the Unit-
ed States Army, In recognition of the
meritorious service rendered during
World War 2.
Noval Cement
Remarkable performance Is’ re
ported for a new cement that stick*
layers of^ material together—rub
ber to metal, rubber to wood, metal
to metal, plastic to plastic, and so
on in practically endless combina
tion. The cement is sprayed or
bruahed on—it may be applied at
tape between metal pieces — and
*Velded’' With mild squeezing and
heating. The bond is said to be
excellent from far below zero to a
ten^rature above that of boiling
water, and highly resistant to cor-
roaion.
ICTORV
The eagle is symbol
of s militant America'*^. •
When his rights arc vtoU^
he fights ferociously yith
every ounce of his tl^emea-
dous strength . •. The sym
bol has been justified in the
light of our Victory pver an
unscrupulous foe-.
Protector of Liberty • • • The American Mgie
wUhes Uberty for all people ... H* has fought
and will continue to fight until the la|t foe of d*»j
ccncy has been removed.
J. THORNWHX HAY
Cotton Broker
Tanks landing anti-tank batteries at Fedala, Freneh Moroem ■.
tt ttie saeeessfnl eampaign which estabUshad the supremuyu^i
forces. The root of the Nasls in Africa was the beginning
It ehaiigeil war praettees, resnittiif in mauufaetPi of bigger g^
artillery ind development of air support.
VrCTORy SPEAKS
The Amencah eagle spreads his winp aniTcries
in Victory.. . . TLe proud bird knows he is the
protector of everything that is American ... He
is a proud bird . . . because he, togedier with die
United Nations, has liberated the enslaved peoples
of Europe.'
Proud of his fighting men and women . « .
Proud of his home front fightm as well .. for
he knows that together Americans will continue
the fight until the last'taint of hafharic greed is
wiped from the face of the earth.
OUTLOOK SHOP
♦ ‘
♦
Lincoln Said It...
us strive fo £nish the
work we are in—to do all '-e
which auty ech'/eve sad ^
cherish e just and lasting
peace among ourselves and
all nations . ..
AS Victory comes in Europe we can
more than ever call for the practice of
the principles of Abe Lincoln . - •
With these word! **let us strive.. in
our hearts, we can do nothing less thin
our utmost to push forward with every
fibre of our being, to the end that the ^
blessing of world peace may speedily
become a fact. >
C. B. Blythor, Msuuif^
Phone 657
Buy War Brada end Stamapa as
IN VICTORy.
"Let tu impart all the - ;
we poiaeae, or aek for oa-p-h*]
to the whole family of
kind."—-Waihinston. -
,N
' Irhe Victory which ttow m ours slie#
years of scruff to preserv# our libe^
t/es and die ri^it to live our lives •*
we see it, brings a strong sense of our
responsibilities, not only, to ourf^«*i'
but to thosf peoples we have helped ta
once again enjoy the rights of hetdow
of thought and action.
We may be proud of our Ameri^
tradition . . . Proud that we stand itc
individual freedom for evcfyooa
now and forever.
M.L Wl