CAA/WTS/CPT/Flight Schools

[B-17Guy]

Blackinton pattern Instructor's wing badge.

Wing appears to be gilted brass, with the pin replaced at some point.

 

John

[Bob Hudson]

 

During WWII, the A.H. Dondero Company made these Chinese Pilot wings in both pin-back and clutch-back. The pin-back is part of a Chinese Pilot grouping. I bought the clutch-back variation on ebay about seven or eight years ago. Here's a couple of images of both.

 

 

Someone I know recently got a pair of the Chinese wings with the Dondero hallmark. They came with a pair of wings made in China by NDC: these though are stewardess wings for the Chinese airlines CATC - Central Air Transport Corporation. I know that even through Vietnsm War there were "civilian" airlines that fronted for military operations and CNAC did that in China, but did CATC do that?

 

 

[rustywings]

Bob, thanks for posting the two interesting wings.

 

It's my understanding the Chinese wings by Dondero were made for presentation to Chinese Flying Cadets upon graduation from one of several Contract Flight Schools here in the United States.

 

Regarding the CATC badge: In February 1931, "Eurasia Airlines" was established as a joint venture between the Chinese National Government and Germany's Lufthansa Airlines. After the start of WWII, Germany forfeited its share of Eurasia Airlines.

 

In March 1943, Eurasia Airlines was reorganized as CATC (Central Aviation Transport Corporation) and the Chinese National Government actively recruited AVG, AAF and ATC Pilots to fill their need for trained flight personnel as they had with CNAC (Chinese National Aviation Corporation).

 

Many American Pilots continued to fly for CATC and CNAC well after the end of the war. However, on November 9, 1949, during the Communist Revolt, the general managers of both CATC and CNAC threw their support behind Communist ideals which effectively ended US Pilot involvement in both organizations.

 

Here's a full size WWII era CATC Pilot wing and cap badge made by the "Russell Uniform Company, New York, N.Y."

[rustywings]

Hallmarked CATC Pilot wing.

 

[rustywings]

WWII era CATC (Central Aviation Transport Corporation) and CNAC (Chinese National Aviation Corporation) Pilot badges worn by recruited American Pilots.

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

Another one from CAL- AERO with a certificate:

 

 

 

 

[Red Devil]

Here is my humble contribution to an amazing and very educational thread: a small group to a Civilian Instructor at Helena Aero Tech, stationed at Thompson-Robbins Airfield. The program was operated 1941-1944.

[gap]

Pretty sure this is a WTS/CPT school. Got it with a group of WW2 insignia/patches. Thoughts?

 

[MikeCoke]

REF POST 284: Polaris Flight Academy, War Eagle Field, Squadron 14, 5" Flight Jacket Insignia

Here is my Dads Class Photo that your Patch goes to. It is hard to see but the Photo says "Squadron 14 Class 44-G Polaris Flight Academy War Eagle Field Lancaster, California." I do not know when the photo was taken or when my Dad was there. I never had the chance to talk to him about his time in the Service.

[rustywings]

Hello Mike and welcome to the Forum.

 

I have a near-complete set of class books from Polaris Flight Academy, including Class 44-G, Squadron 14. I don't see the last name "Coke" listed in the book, but I do see some of the others identified in your photo. If you'd forward your Father's name, I'd be happy to post an image of his individual flying cadet photo.

 

Russ

 

 

 

[MikeCoke]

Hello Mike and welcome to the Forum.

 

I have a near-complete set of class books from Polaris Flight Academy, including Class 44-G, Squadron 14. I don't see the last name "Coke" listed in the book, but I do see some of the others identified in your photo. If you'd forward your Father's name, I'd be happy to post an image of his individual flying cadet photo.

 

Russ

 

 

 

My Dad's name is Edgar J Lawrence. Thx that would be great My Mom and Dad divorced when I was almost 6 and I had very little contact with him. When I was 6 weeks old Mom and I went to Japan to where he was stationed and lived there almost 2 years. Then Selfridge AFB Michigan, then Mitchell AFB Long Island New York and that is when Mom Left him.

Here is the Plane he flew at Selfridge with the 49th Air Rescue Squadron and their Patch.

 

[rustywings]

My Dad's name is Edgar J Lawrence. Thx that would be great My Mom and Dad divorced when I was almost 6 and I had very little contact with him. When I was 6 weeks old Mom and I went to Japan to where he was stationed and lived there almost 2 years. Then Selfridge AFB Michigan, then Mitchell AFB Long Island New York and that is when Mom Left him.

Here is the Plane he flew at Selfridge with the 49th Air Rescue Squadron and their Patch.

 

 

Hello Mike,

 

For your own reference, here's what your Father's class book looks like. I've run across a number of these same books in the recent past...and I see them listed on ebay now and then. I might be able to help you locate one for your own use.

 

 

[rustywings]

Flying Cadet Edgar J. Lawrence:

 

[pfrost]

How cool is that!

[MikeCoke]

Flying Cadet Edgar J. Lawrence:

 

Thank very much I had never seen a pic of my Dad from that time period.

Does the Book have a date when the class started and finished?

Mike Lawrence

[rustywings]

Thank very much I had never seen a pic of my Dad from that time period.

Does the Book have a date when the class started and finished?

Mike Lawrence

 

Mike,

 

Unfortunately, there are no dates listed in the class book...not even a print date. The book does mention that a new class starts training at Polaris Flight Academy once every 4 1/2 weeks. Since your Father was assigned to class 44-G, he would have likely arrived at this school in early July,1944.

 

If you find out your Father attended "Primary" Flight School in the Southern California area, I have several class books for Cal Aero, Mira Loma, Twenty-nine Palms, Ryan and Rankin. Who knows, maybe we can locate an even earlier photo?

 

Russ

 

[B-17Guy]

Picked up this interesting Danecraft WTS wing at last weekend's Baltimore Show.

It is defiantly not a modified CPT wing and I don't believe I have seen one before.

 

John

[B-17Guy]

Better pic of the back of the wing.

[ocsfollowme]

Hawthorne Primary Pilot Training

 

[rustywings]

I'd like to re-address an old post in this thread with some freshly discovered information. Back in October 2010, images of a wing were shared in post #409 & #410 which many of us (myself included) identified as representing "Hawthorne Field" near Los Angeles.

 

Beautifully made and hallmarked by J.A. Meyers & Co. of Los Angeles, this full-size wing was thought to be worn by Civilian Contract Flight Instructors at that school overseen by the Northrop Company.

 

Coincidentally, I believe the uniform posted above by ocsfollowme represents the "Hawthorne School of Aeronautics" in South Carolina and has no direct association with Hawthorne Field in California or the "HF" wing illustrated back on post #409.

[rustywings]

I recently purchased a 1943 dated soft-cover publication entitled "Hancock College of Aeronautics - America's Air Academy." The publication offers a brief history about the establishment of the flight school in October 1928 near Santa Maria, California (about 100 miles north of L.A.). When Captain Allan Hancock first established this school in the late 1920's, he initially named it the "Hancock Foundation College of Aeronautics." (Hence the initials "HF" correlation).

 

The publication also included a May 1930 dated graduation photo of a small class of aviation cadets, as well as an example of their graduation certificate. Check out the wing design printed on the certificate...

[rustywings]

What's also revealing in this early class photograph is every graduate appears to be wearing that same "HF" wing... and a large "Hancock College" cap piece similar in design to the school logo seen on this WWII era certificate. (Also included is a wallet size solo card.)

[rustywings]

I think we need to keep in mind that in 1930, even though these early flight schools were heavily influenced by both the US Army and Navy, they weren't under the same stringent control seen later in 1940 when they were under supervision of the military and the CAA War Training Service.

 

Copied from the same publication, here's a picture of USAAF Flying Training Command General Barton Yount with seven of the original eight Contract Flight School owners:

[rustywings]

Closer image of General Barton Yount and flight school owners Captain Allan Hancock and Major C.C. Moseley (Cal Aero Flight Academy, Mira Loma Flight Academy & Polaris Flight Academy).

[rustywings]

Another image from the same 1943 publication depicts a war period CAA/WTS wing and cap piece being worn by Captain Allan Hancock: