His Separation Qualification Record indicates that he spent two and one half months in preflight training at Santa Ana, CA.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
June to September 1944 - Preflight Training - Santa Ana CA
Roger completed all required preflight training on September 9, 1944 according to the following certificate. Preflight training was conducted at one of three places: Santa Ana Army Air Base, Randolph Field in San Antonio TX, and Maxwell Field in Montgomery AL. All three were classification centers where cadets were classified as pilots, bombardiers or navigators.
His Separation Qualification Record indicates that he spent two and one half months in preflight training at Santa Ana, CA.
His Separation Qualification Record indicates that he spent two and one half months in preflight training at Santa Ana, CA.
September to December 1944 - Primary Flight Training - Lancaster CA
Roger began Primary Flight training on September 11, 1944 at War Eagle Field in Lancaster CA. His training was conducted by the Mira Loma Flight Academy (a civilian flight school) and he was assigned to the 3043rd Army Air Force Base Unit. Here is a copy of his orders to flight status, cropped to emphasize his name.
Primary training lasted nine to ten weeks and consisted of a minimum 60 to 70 hours of flight instruction. Roger's flight records indicate that he received 90 hours of primary flight instruction. The following photo was taken at War Eagle Field. The plane is either a PT-13 or PT-17 Kaydet. Flight records indicate that at least part of his primary flight training was conducted in a PT-13B.
The following photo in old weather flying gear is undated but is most likely from Primary Training as the plane is a Kaydet.
The following photo was take in October 1944 in Hollywood CA.
Here is his Certificate of Completion - Primary Training dated December 28, 1944.
Primary training lasted nine to ten weeks and consisted of a minimum 60 to 70 hours of flight instruction. Roger's flight records indicate that he received 90 hours of primary flight instruction. The following photo was taken at War Eagle Field. The plane is either a PT-13 or PT-17 Kaydet. Flight records indicate that at least part of his primary flight training was conducted in a PT-13B.
The following photo in old weather flying gear is undated but is most likely from Primary Training as the plane is a Kaydet.
The following photo was take in October 1944 in Hollywood CA.
Here is his Certificate of Completion - Primary Training dated December 28, 1944.
Engagement to Georgia Whalley
Roger became engaged to marry Georgia M. Whalley in late December 1944 in Denver CO when he was enroute between assignments, per Georgia's recollection. His Army records indicate that he completed Primary Flight Training on December 28, 1944 and began Basic Flight Training on December 31, 1944 so it is most likely that they became engaged during this short period at the end of 1944.
January to March 1945 - Basic Flight Training - Bakersfield CA
Roger began Basic Flight Training on December 31, 1944 at Minter Field in Bakersfield CA. He was assigned to the 2nd Training Squadron, Class 45-C.
Per the U.S. Air Force Museum History:
"During basic flight training, a cadet received approximately 70 hours in the air during a nine-week period. The basic course made military pilots of those who had learned only the fundamentals in primary school. In addition to operating an airplane of greater weight, horsepower and speed, such as the BT-9 or BT-13, the cadet was taught how to fly at night, by instruments in formation, and on cross-country from one point to another. Also, for the fist time, he was operating an airplane equipped with a two-way radio and a two-pitch propeller. This was the point in his career where it was decided whether he would go to single-engine or twin-engine advanced flying school".
Below is a photo of the BT-13 aircraft that was taken at Minter Field.
The following photo is of Merwyn Bogue and Roger, taken at Minter Field on January 9, 1945. Merwyn, who was Roger's uncle, played trumpet in the Kay Kyser Orchestra under the stage name Ish Kabibble.
The following photo was taken on January 25, 1945 at Minter Field. On the back of the photo are listed the names of all of the students in Class 45-C.
Here is an additional photo of Class 45-C, Squadron 2, followed by the names of the members of the squadron.
Roger completed basic Flight Training on March 11, 1945 and was awarded the following certificate.
Per the U.S. Air Force Museum History:
"During basic flight training, a cadet received approximately 70 hours in the air during a nine-week period. The basic course made military pilots of those who had learned only the fundamentals in primary school. In addition to operating an airplane of greater weight, horsepower and speed, such as the BT-9 or BT-13, the cadet was taught how to fly at night, by instruments in formation, and on cross-country from one point to another. Also, for the fist time, he was operating an airplane equipped with a two-way radio and a two-pitch propeller. This was the point in his career where it was decided whether he would go to single-engine or twin-engine advanced flying school".
Below is a photo of the BT-13 aircraft that was taken at Minter Field.
The following photo was taken on January 25, 1945 at Minter Field. On the back of the photo are listed the names of all of the students in Class 45-C.
Here is an additional photo of Class 45-C, Squadron 2, followed by the names of the members of the squadron.
Roger completed basic Flight Training on March 11, 1945 and was awarded the following certificate.
March to May 1945 - Advanced Training - Luke Field AZ
Roger began Advanced Flight Training at Luke Field AZ, single engine (fighters). Advanced training lasted approximately 10 weeks and 70 hours and was conducted in a 600 horsepower AT-6 aircraft.
Per the U.S. Air Force Museum website: "Advanced flying school was to prepare a cadet for the kind of airplane he was to fly in combat, either single or multi-engine. Those who went to single engine school flew AT-6s for the first 70 hours during a nine-week period, learning aerial gunnery and combat maneuvers and increasing their skills in navigation, formation and instrument flying".
The following photos are of Roger at Luke Field. The aircraft is an AT-6.
In April 1945 Roger took instrument flight instruction and on April 24, 1945 he successfully completed his instrument flight check ride. His Instrument Certificate and Flight Check Form is shown below.
Per the U.S. Air Force Museum website: "Advanced flying school was to prepare a cadet for the kind of airplane he was to fly in combat, either single or multi-engine. Those who went to single engine school flew AT-6s for the first 70 hours during a nine-week period, learning aerial gunnery and combat maneuvers and increasing their skills in navigation, formation and instrument flying".
The following photos are of Roger at Luke Field. The aircraft is an AT-6.
In April 1945 Roger took instrument flight instruction and on April 24, 1945 he successfully completed his instrument flight check ride. His Instrument Certificate and Flight Check Form is shown below.
April and May 1945 - WWII ends in Europe
On April 27, 1945 Italian dictator benito Mussolini was captured by Italian partisans and he was executed the next day. On April 29, 1945 all Italian fascist forces surrendered.
On April 30, 1945 as the Battle of Berlin raged on, German dictator Adolph Hitler committed suicide.
Beginning on April 29, 1945 German forces began surrendering piecemeal. The official end of the war in Europe was declared on May 8, 1945 but some isolated pockets of German soldiers continued to resist until mid-May 1945.
On April 30, 1945 as the Battle of Berlin raged on, German dictator Adolph Hitler committed suicide.
Beginning on April 29, 1945 German forces began surrendering piecemeal. The official end of the war in Europe was declared on May 8, 1945 but some isolated pockets of German soldiers continued to resist until mid-May 1945.
May 5, 1945 - Marriage to Georgia M. Whalley
Roger C. Ellis and Georgia M. Whalley were married on May 5, 1945 at the Base Chapel at Luke Field, AZ.
The following photos were taken at Luke Field on the occasion of their wedding:
Georgia and Roger
Georgia and Roger
Roger, Georgia, Ena Shingle, Robert C. Butler
Georgia. Mrs. Robert Butler, Ena Shingle
Georgia, Roger, Hazel Whalley
The following photos were taken at Luke Field on the occasion of their wedding:
Georgia and Roger
Georgia and Roger
Ena "Tootie" Shingle, Georgia, Roger, George "Jack" Shingle
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