CAA/WTS/CPT/Flight Schools - Reference Thread

[ocsfollowme]

Darr-Aero-Tech Albany, Georgia patch. 52nd AAF Flight Training Detachment Army Air Forces Southeast Training Center. 

[ocsfollowme]

What does this AU stand for this AAF Training Detachment? 

 

 

[Ray42]

On 4/4/2010 at 10:54 PM, rustywings said:

Corresponding "Instructors" patch for Air University. I believe the initials "AAFTD" stand for Army Air Forces Training Detachment.

 

2 hours ago, ocsfollowme said:

What does this AU stand for this AAF Training Detachment? 

 

 

It would seem to stand for "Army Air Forces Training Detachment".

[COOKIEMAN]

A couple of clarifications.  AAFTD does stand for Army Air Forces Training Detachment (AAFTD).  AAF Technical Training Command (AAFTTC) schools were AAF Technical School (AAFTS).  Civilian schools under contract to AAFTTC had AAF Training Detachments.  

 

AU is THE Aeronautical University, Chicago, Illinois.  They were contracted to train aircraft and engine mechanics.

 

Hope this clarifies things for you.

 

As a note, I need one of these patches for my personal  collection.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

I purchased these unfortunately unnamed portraits of a Civilian Instructor in both his daily summer tans and his OD service uniform. Nothing features any particular field though the photographer was based in Macon GA and Tampa FL. Standard CAA insignia on both uniforms. The photo is such the collar device is absolutely undecipherable with any magnification.  

 

[bschwartz]

Ok Tod, this is freaky.  What are the chances of this being a guy who is on my site?  http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/heroes/lewislane/lewislane.shtml

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Same guy. I have some of those patches too. Bought these in 2014.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

I thought i would post some of my civilian instructor and contract school wings. Let's start with this gold plated Beverlycraft pilot wing for a civilian instructor.

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Next is a very common graduation wing style that seems literally painted with gold. Very thin and easily chipped.

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

A nice bullion style gold embroidered wing for a civilian instructor.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Another beautiful, custom embroidered bullion civilian pilot wing. This is actually a biographical wing and belonged to Carlton Ford James. The first picture shows him wearing the wing at 23 years old. The second is Carlton at 87.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

This is a really handsome wing that starts with a base of an American Emblem & Co standard pilot and adding this custom made flight instructor banner. This wing was originally part of the Warren Carroll collection. This is the wing that is illustrated in Jon Maguire's book "More Silver Wings, Pinks & Greens", page #333 and is similar to Russ' wing.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

One of my favorites, a Desert Aero school wing based on a Noble pilot wing base. Because of the time period when these Noble wings were made, this wing is probably late 30s-pre-WWII. Desert Aero was a contract school out in Inyokern, CA,  located in the Mojave desert. The small field was called Harvey Field at the time and now is part of the China Lake Weapons Testing facilities. There is not a lot of information about the field or its owners. They tried to build a bigger school and bigger facilities but came up against funding issues and lack of support from town councils. 

 

 

 

 

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Part of the enamel field series of wings, these two feature Shaw Field and Robbins Field.

Shaw field is located in Sumter, SC and was activated on 30 August, 1941. It was named for a Sumter native, 1st Lieutenant Ervin David Shaw, who was one of the first Americans to fly combat missions in WWI. It was both a primary and advanced school.

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

The second wing is from Robins Field. Robins was NE of Jackson, MS and was run by Mississippi Institute of Aeronautics, Inc. It is now Bruce Campbell Field.

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

An SSA wing related to a patch Russ showed earlier. Spartan School of Aeronautics? Not sure.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

An early NS Meyer wing, late 30s style, but not sure what it is for. A school? A club? A flight company?

 

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

A series  of colorful wing patches in various colors and designs. For jackets, shirts.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

A cap and collar set. Not sure which school. 

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

A nice CAA cap and collar and wing set on original Danecraft card.

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

A nice custom metal shop job. Turning a standard instructor badge also into a name tag.

 

[cwnorma]

Tod,

 

Some really amazing items!  Thank you for sharing.

 

Chris

[rustywings]

 Hey Tod, those are some very nice additions to the thread!  Thank you for your efforts. 

I wonder if your matching pair of "T.P." collar brass might represent the "Twenty-nine Palms" school?      

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Don't know Russ. Would take a photo, no? But a good lead...

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Russ,

 

From this booklet posted online about Twentynine Palms Air Academy, who ran the school and the field, their wings and nomenclature had them using TAA. Take a look: https://www.yumpu.com/xx/document/read/56460726/6010-f-clampout-condor-field