no fatalities, but 2 of the 53 were ‘held over’, 1 was eliminated for ‘non-flying’
(a euphemism for desertion) and 20 were ‘washed out’ for flying deficiency,
39
but 30—including John Augustin—graduated successfully.
40 On 15 August
1941, these trainees moved on to the Basic Flying School at Cochran Field,
Macon, Georgia, and joined 114 others who had graduated from Tuscaloosa,
Albany, Lakeland and Arcadia. Training at Cochran lasted until 03
November, when a further 138 successful graduates moved on to Advanced
Flying Schools at Craig, Napier and Maxwell Field in Alabama (single
engine), and Turner and Moody in Georgia (twin engine).
41
—RAF
Disclosures
35 showing that John Augustin did his advanced training at
Maxwell. During the second week of December, after the bombing of Pearl
harbour and the declaration of war by both Britain and the USA, John
Augustin and the final 119 members of SE-42-A were posted to Florida for
the fixed gunnery training course. These young men established an outstanding record, the instructors being impressed by both their accuracy and
aggression, and on the 01 January 1942 the 30-year-old airman—by now
Sgt., 1288222, Le Rossignol J.A.—became Pilot Officer 120555, the first
commissioned rank in the RAF.
42 But more importantly … he had his
‘wings’.
Plate 17.7 1941 (Boeing) PT-17 Stearman biplanes, the leading American trainer of
WW II, at Souther Field maintenance hangar. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia
Commons, https://www.commons.wikimedia.org
424
D. Sheppard
(a euphemism for desertion) and 20 were ‘washed out’ for flying deficiency,
39
but 30—including John Augustin—graduated successfully.
40 On 15 August
1941, these trainees moved on to the Basic Flying School at Cochran Field,
Macon, Georgia, and joined 114 others who had graduated from Tuscaloosa,
Albany, Lakeland and Arcadia. Training at Cochran lasted until 03
November, when a further 138 successful graduates moved on to Advanced
Flying Schools at Craig, Napier and Maxwell Field in Alabama (single
engine), and Turner and Moody in Georgia (twin engine).
41
—RAF
Disclosures
35 showing that John Augustin did his advanced training at
Maxwell. During the second week of December, after the bombing of Pearl
harbour and the declaration of war by both Britain and the USA, John
Augustin and the final 119 members of SE-42-A were posted to Florida for
the fixed gunnery training course. These young men established an outstanding record, the instructors being impressed by both their accuracy and
aggression, and on the 01 January 1942 the 30-year-old airman—by now
Sgt., 1288222, Le Rossignol J.A.—became Pilot Officer 120555, the first
commissioned rank in the RAF.
42 But more importantly … he had his
‘wings’.
Plate 17.7 1941 (Boeing) PT-17 Stearman biplanes, the leading American trainer of
WW II, at Souther Field maintenance hangar. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia
Commons, https://www.commons.wikimedia.org
424
D. Sheppard