2002 Ron Paul 77:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased
to commemorate a unique and magnificent
group of old aviators who have received very
little publicity in the civilian sector. They will
celebrate their 90th and 60th anniversaries in
conjunction with the Commemorative Air Force
(CAF) “Wings Over Houston” Air Show from
October 23–26, 2002, in Houston, Texas.
2002 Ron Paul 77:2
The first Enlisted Pilot, Vernon L. Burge,
earned his wings in the old Signal Corps in
1912. Prior to World War 11, 282 enlisted pilots
served in the Signal Corps, then in the
Army Air Service and later in the Army Air
Corps as rated pilots. Many flew the Air Mail
during the early 1930s of the Roosevelt Administration.
2002 Ron Paul 77:3
With the approach of WWII, aircraft manufacturers
were producing aircraft faster than
the Air Corps could fill with pilots. To qualify
for Flight Training, a cadet was required to
have two years of college. To fill this shortage
of pilots, Congress enacted legislation in 1941
authorizing enlisted men to participate in aerial
flight.
2002 Ron Paul 77:4
To qualify for Pilot Training, the enlisted
men had to meet several stringent requirements.
They had to be enlisted in the regular
Army, not drafted, possess a high-school diploma,
pass a rigid physical exam, and sign a
contract with the Army avowing that upon
completion of Flight Training, they would continue
serving in the Army Air Corps as Staff
Sergeant Pilots for three years, as Technical
Sergeant Pilots for three years, as Master Sergeants
for three years, and end the contract
as Warrant Officer Pilots.
2002 Ron Paul 77:5
The Enlisted Pilots (aviation students) attended
the same ground schools, same flying
schools, had the same flight instructors, same
training airplanes, and successfully completed
the same curriculum as the Aviation Cadets.
2002 Ron Paul 77:6
Almost 2,500 enlisted men graduated as
Enlisted Pilots from Ellington, Kelly, Luke,
Mather, Columbus, Dothan, Lubbock, Moody,
Roswell, Spencer, Turner, Victorville, Williams,
Craig and Stockton Air Bases in Classes 42–C through 42–J, the last class of Enlisted Pilots.
2002 Ron Paul 77:7
Upon graduation, and ordered to participate
in Aerial Flight by General “Hap” Arnold, Chief
of the Army Air Corps, these pilots flew Douglas
A–20s, Curtis P–36s and P–40s, Lockheed
P–38s, North American P–64s, Douglas C–
47s, C–48s, C–49s, C–53s. They flew many of
these aircraft in combat as Staff Sergeant Pilots.
Later, as officers, they flew all of the aircraft
in the Air Force inventory during and
after WWII.
2002 Ron Paul 77:8
The Flight Training of Aviation Students Program
was discontinued in November 1942,
with enlisted men graduating as Flight Officers
in following classes.
2002 Ron Paul 77:9
Charles “Chuck” Yeager, the first pilot to
exceed the speed of sound, completed his
flight training as an enlisted man but graduated
as a Flight Officer in December 1942.
Bob Hoover, the world renowned military and
civilian acrobatic pilot was an Enlisted Pilot.
Walter H. Beech served as an Enlisted Pilot in
1919 and later founded the Beech Aircraft
Company in Wichita, Kansas.
2002 Ron Paul 77:10
The Air Force honors the third Enlisted Pilot,
William C. Ocker, for pioneering instrument flying
by naming the Instrument Flight Center at
Randolph AFB in his memory.
2002 Ron Paul 77:11
Captain Claire Chennault organized a flight
demonstration team at Maxwell Air Field in
1932, called the “Men on the Flying Trapeze”
(the forerunner of the Thunderbirds), which at
one time included two Enlisted Pilots, Sergeant
William C. McDonald and Sergeant
John H. Williamson. Staff Sergeant Ray Clinton
flew solo stunt and backup for the team.
2002 Ron Paul 77:12
The Enlisted Pilots’ accomplishments are
many and their legend is a long one of dedication
and patriotism. Seventeen became Fighter
Pilot Aces and thirteen became General Officers.
They pioneered many air routes throughout
the world. After release from active duty,
they became airline pilots, airline union heads,
corporate executives, bank presidents, teachers,
doctors, manufacturers of racing cars,
corporate aviation department heads, and
much, much more.
2002 Ron Paul 77:13
Of the almost 3,000 American Enlisted Pilots
from 1912 through 1942, approximately
600 remain. They are a terminal organization
— most of them are in their early eighties.
2002 Ron Paul 77:14
According to retired USAF General Edwin F.
Wenglar, chairman of the Grand Muster Reunion,
75 to 100 of these grand Airmen will be
able to attend their reunion, which could very
well be the last gathering of the finest and
most magnificent aviators in the annals of
aviation history.
