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" .-- -------'---
=~~PRliP
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ASSISTANT CHIEF OF AIR STAFF
INTELLIGENCE
HISTORICAL DI V IS ION
I'
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BY l, ~ .M'-='-It...'..." 'p ". ~.~ -,c,.;.,_
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The original of th1s:'lJlonograph and the I
documents from which it wa.s written are in ;
the USAF HistorJ.cal DiVJ.si(bn, Archives Branoh, I
Bldg. 9J.4, Maxw"ell Air Force Base, Alabama.. I
-'--.-.- ....... - -- ~
" p
PI LOT
TRANSITION
,
TO
COMBAT AIRCRA~~------
" CUS CATION GHANG[D TO
1 -:r: 15C"-H"T"r'
~~.
....,. ri ul.l ".. '.
BY AUTHOR!iY Of ,
ARMY AIR FORCES HISTORICAL STUDIES:No.IB
,-
,
SCANNED BY ISA
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Report Documentation Page
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1. REPORT DATE
SEP 1944 2. REPORT TYPE
3. DATES COVERED
00-00-1944 to 00-00-1944
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Pilot Transition to Combat Aircraft
5a. CONTRACT NUMBER
5b. GRANT NUMBER
5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER
6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER
5e. TASK NUMBER
5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)
Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA),600 Chennault
Circle,Maxwell AFB,AL,36112-6424
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
REPORT NUMBER
9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S)
11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT
NUMBER(S)
12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Approved for public release; distribution unlimited
13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
14. ABSTRACT
15. SUBJECT TERMS
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ABSTRACT
Same as
Report (SAR)
18. NUMBER
OF PAGES
272
19a. NAME OF
RESPONSIBLE PERSON
a. REPORT
unclassified
b. ABSTRACT
unclassified
c. THIS PAGE
unclassified
Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98)
Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18

_~_~ ~ Thi~ Pag~_I;>_ec~assified lAW E012958
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Ul'JCLiSSIFIl3:D
AFIl'iY 1.IR FORCES HISTORICAL STlJ"DIES: lio. 18
PILOT TRtl1'EITIOlT TO aOUBM AIRCRAFT
"i1V-'f.U /!dJ.., '~ 7J1 ct>nr1l,/·J<1.
Prepared by l
Assis~ant Chief or Air St&ff# Intelligence
Historioal Division
September 1944
By Aut orlty
The Commar.ding General
Army Air Foret's
:'?/.~.~y;.~
Date Initials
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, . : I
I _ .1__ ... ~
. I
- ,
I
.....,.........
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,r~!!~~Ju.s.!~~,
Assistant Chief or Air Staff~
Intelligen.ce
FORETlORD
It is the desire 0.1' the President, tha Secretary
of War, and the OOl:U:l!.lndinG General, AtJ', that a aolid
record ot the experiences of the .~y Air Forces be
compiled. This is one of a aerie:;; o:r Dtudios prepared
as "1'irst narrativesfl
in the projeoted over..all history
of the .l'JoJ5'.
I
L..-- ~" ~ ~~~-~-{
The decision to make the inf'oI"".lilation contained
herein available for ctaff and oper~c1onal use uithout
delay 110.3 prevented recourso to some pr:bnary souroes.
Readers i'amiliar lli:bh this SUbject ma.tter are invited
to contribute ndditional :racts~ interpreto.tiona, and
oonstructive SU£sestions.
This studyvdll be handled in strict oomplianoe
.rith JifI. 380-5.
Uote ~ Readers arc roquested to :rOl"l'lO.rd
comnents and oriticiGms~ and to thio end
perforated sheeta~ properly addrossed, are
appended at the back of 'the study.
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COITTElrTS
DJTRODUOrIOU • • • • • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • • • • .. .. .. .. 1
I TRlI.!'13ITI01r~ 1917-1937 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • • • • .. .. • .. • .. S
ffor1d Y;ar I .... .. .. .. • • • • • • • .. .. .. .. • .. • .. .. .. 3
Esta.b1i::;hment of the Pea.cetime Training Program .... 4
Tl"F.i.D.sition Training in the Advanoed Zahools,
1919-1926 4
Tl"~sition at the Tr~ining Center~ 1926-1939 .. .. • • • 7
Transition in the Tactioal Units~ 1919-1937 .. .. • •• 10
Summary • .. .. .. • .. 14
II TEE HEi.VY BOllBER MID ITS IIJFLUIDrcE ON TIWTSITIOrT,
1937-1939 .. ..
. .. .. 16
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The Advent o£ the Heavy Bamber .. • • .. • • .. • • .. • ... 15
Tho Establishnent and Effect of Eligibility
~uali£ications .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. .. .. • • .. • • .. ... 15
Inereased RegUlation and Definition of Transition ."" 20
Transition Instruction in the Tactical Units~
1937-1939 .. .. .. .. .. • .. .. .. • "" 22
Summ~~ "" 31
32
.. .
. .. ..
. - - 'r~'~~.
• .... "lI' ..... a
• r~...{"~..,... _~
L
The Pe:ttern of' Tre.ining under the Expsnsion Program •• 32
liulti-Engine Eligibility Requirements and their Bf£ect
on Transition • .. • • • .. • • • • • • • • .. • • .. ... 34
The 1939 ~roncition Progr~ £or GRq ~ir Force
Perconnel ..... .. .. • • • • • • • .. • • .. .. • • 36
Trsnsition Training 01' the Program Pilots 37
A&nil1i3trative Regulation of Tr8.l13ition .. .. • • 39
l:ulti-Engine Trnnsition Instruotion •• 41
Sin:;le-Eng;ine Trmwition Instruction .. • • .... 45
Trc.nsition under the In:f'luance of' IJr/.ponding IiS'.%" .... •• 46
The Question o£ the Responcibility for Trcnsition
Tl"e.inin$ .. .. • .. • .. • .. • • .. .. .. .. • • .. • .. .. • •• 48
The Est~b1ishlnent of' I"ulti-Engino Transition
Schools 50
Stttmnary .. .. .. .. .. • • • • • • .. • • .. .. .. • • .. 52
TR..tITSITIOlT PROCEDtIm: mIDER THE EXPMJSIOrr mOORAU
(1939 THROUGH 1941) ..
III

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t· , > ~
I ~. ~
l.----~.-', - ,'-. --. ~~ ~~UNrL ~ C' Q.TTJT~
V ..L"'"1....Jo.-'., . .'
IV rlORI,;D ,iAR II AIID TIlE TP..EIlD OF TlUJlSITIOlT FROOEDUPJ!l • • • 54
Tho Pattern of Training in 1<jorld War II ••• • • • 54
The Trt.nsfer o£ Transition Trainin5 from tho
Tactioal Units to the Trainins COJTJnsnd • • • • • • • 58
SU1llIIlary • • • • • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • G4
V TPJl1:TSITIOU TRAIlJIUG IN THE TAOTIC.u. UUITS TIT fiORI.!>
Yl.'R II • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 68
.. . . .
... . .. . . ..
... .. . . .
68
69
72
75
76
63
87
91
92
97
98
99
101
101
103
111
113
117
118
121
. . .
.. . . .
Hec.vy Barn.bsrdment ••• • • • • • • • • • • •
Transition Instruction • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Problema • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Very Heavy BOIDbardment • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Medium Bambardment • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Tr~ining Proeram • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Problems • • • • • • • • • • • • III • • • • • • •
Light Bo.mbardment ••••• • • • • • • • • • • •
Trainins Program • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Problems • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
DiirO BOI!l.bardment • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
TraininG Pro~rom • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Problean.s • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Pursuit •••••• III • • • • • • • •
Trainius Program • • • • • • •
Problems • • • • • • • •
lJiGht Fizhter ••••••••
Troop Carrier • • • • •
TraininG Program •
Prob1em.s • • • • • • •
4.
5.
7.
8.
1.
2.
3.
6.
• • 122
1. Combat Crew Training • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 122
The Eotablisbment ot Schools • • • • • • • • • • 122
Operc.tions at the TriA School, December 1941-
JUly 1942 •••••••• • • • • • • • • • • 123
OpGrations a:t the Flying; Trdning Comuand
Schools ••••••••••••••••••• 126
Progr&!ll of Instruotion, CombC'.;; CrOtr Sohools •• 127
2. Administration of Four-Engine First-Pilot Trnn-
sition • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • 129
Establishment of Pirst-Filot Transition •• 129
Production Roquirements and :d:3to.blishment
of !Jore Schooln ••• • • • • • • • • • 130
S. Four-En0ine Progrom of Ins-cruetion • • • • • • 136
Course of Instruc-cion, Sept;enibor 1942-April
1943 . • • • • • • • • 131
143
• • • •
Second Air Forc()-Flying Training CQllml"'-nd
Con:tercnce.. February 1943 ••••••
~
u.... Jr-q' f, ~(" r-'-·--
1,..._L'1' .
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...
Conference on B-24 Prog;rew. of Inz-truc-tion,
narch 1943 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 141
Progrm of' IIlGtruction, April 1945-February
194..4 • • • • .. .. • .. • .. .. .. .. • • • • • •• 149
Increased Colla.bora:t:ion lith the Second Air
Foroe • • • • • • • • • •• 151
Tr~ininz Conference, Color~do Springs, September
1943--Reoarr~endations and ~ction • • • • •• 152
Proeram of Inotruotion, February 1944 •• 154-
4.. Problems, Four-Engina Tr£'ncition • • • • • • •• 158
~ircr~rt • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 158
Interruptions Joo the Tre..inins Sched.ule • • •• 159
norule • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 160
Inntructors ••••••••••••••••• 162
5. Co-pilot Trainin~ and Problems • • • • • • 165
The Co-pilot Problem • • • • • • • • • • • •• 165
The Establisrwwnt of Co-pilot Transition. •• 168
VII H8DlillI BOHBARDliBNT TRlI.NSITIOJ:l nr THE TRA.IlITUG
COIir;:AlID •••••••••••••• • • • • • ·... . 170
171
171
• • • •
• • • •
Administration • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Tho Eotablishoont of B-26 Transition.
The Bstabliohment or E-25 Advancod
Training. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 172
Raorgnniz~tion and t~e Es~ablishm0nt of
Comparable B-25 end B-26 Specialized
Schools ••••••••••••••• 174
ReorGanization of B-25 Transition; the
Instittrcion of bT-24 Ldv~n00d Truining • •• 179
B-26 Tronsition, Juno 1943-~pri1 1944 •••• 182
2. Progrmn of Instruction • • • • • • • • • • • •• 184
The Daveloprnent of the First B-2a Program ...
of Instruction • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 134
B-25 Advanced Instruction •• • • • • • • •• 189
B-25~ B-26 TrWlsi-cion Pro~re.m of InstrLlo-
tion • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 190
HeTl Eino-:;eak Prograul of Instruction • • • •• 192
3. Transition Problems •••••••••••••• 194
B-26 Tr~sition ••• • • • • • • • •• 194
B-25 T~ition • • • • • • • • • • • •• 199
4. B-26 Co-pilot Transition • • • • • • • • • • •• 200
AT-24 JI.dvrmoed Progr~ of Instrtl.ction • • •• 201
irIn FIGHTER TRA1~SITIOU IN TEE TR..UlTlr:G COr:.:rI1ID • • • • •• 204
1. p-~~ Trannition •••• • • • • • • • • • • •• 204
Ep~ly Plans for Sin31e-Engine Fighter
Transi tian •••••••••••••••• 204
Dstablishmont and lrlminictration of P-40
Trnn3ition ProGr~ • • • • • • • •• 205
Progrum of Instruction • • • • • • • • • • •• 208
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UNCLiSSIFJEJ~--~
t
ProblO!as .. • • • • • • til • • • • • • • • • .. • • 212
2. P-38 Tr~nsitlon • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 213
Da.rly Ttlin-Ena;lne Fi)!htcr Transition • • • • • • 213
Administration of P-322 Transition • • • • • • • 215
P-38 Progrgm of Instruotion • • • • • • • • 218
Problemll .. • • • • .. • • • • • • • • 225
3. P...39 Trrolsition • • • • .. • • • • • • • • •• 226
. . . .. .. . .
BIBLIOGRAPHY ••
. . . . .. .
234
232
228
. .
. ...
.. . . . " .
.. .
.. .
... .. .
• ,. • iIIII •
. .
. .
GLOSSARY •
IX. Sm.mARY
251
249
241
244
24:5
. .
. . ..
Outlino of: Day Transi-cion Training Flight::: for
P-40 Type Aircraft at Advanced Flying Sehools
(Sin~le-nn~ine, Fighter) ••••••••••••
5.
4.
2. Tre~sition Instruction for A-20 • • •
3. TrOOloition Inatruation, P-47 Aircraft
Troop Carrier Transition Progrom of Instruc-
tion .. • • ., . • . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
l..PF'BlillU
1. B-17 Transition Progran of 1m.truotion, 2d
Boobardmont Group, GRQ. Air Foree, Je..nu9.1'y
1939 ill' • • • • • • • .. • • • .. .. • • • • • •
nIDEX. ... • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • lit • • • .. 256
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r~ ~~~~~.~ < • ,
............~~=--...-...-..- -- - __ I
Pilot Tre.nsition to Combat Airoraft
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V.. f I t , ... ~ ~t;. ~ <.. ._ ,
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v·
Ili'rRODUOIJ!Ion
UNCLA ('c-,--
Trensition tra.ining. a. stage in the development of a. pilotI a
skill. begins .;hen he first faces the controls ot an unf1?JUiliar air-
plE'.ne. It reoccura ao the first sta.ge of -pTogrension to each neu e.nd
more complex plane. !l:h"a.s D, pilot P:l.OIl8S through a period. of transition
esch time he learns to fly ~ speoific t~"pe of aircraft. The necessity
for transition to operational aircre£t has existed since the time of
the first employment of combat typef.. :But as the airplane has
incrensed in complexity and bas become more specialized in use, the
differences bot~een the performance chara.cteristics of training planes
and tho~e of the many different types designed for combat neve become
increa.sinsly marked. ~o brid,se theEo ""idenin~ ga:9s, the period of
tre.nsition training has becoce more prolonged. Transition training
ha13 also been influenC$d by e>ther factors: the ~E)rience of the
tre.inee. the press of time. the relc,tive fin~..ncial value ot equipm.ent
in :peace ~.nd lIar. and the administrative regul~tion pl'ovided 'by the
governing agency.
Transition to comb~,t ty-pec of' -pl:;;.Jleo has talten place either in
specialized schools for the individue~ training of pilots or in
te..ctiCE',l 'Wlita. ~he majority of' ./IiI' Oorps uilots ha.ve received their
first transition to combat nlanes in specialized schools either for
trainiDf; in a specific cless of aviation or solelj,T for tre.nsition to
en individual type of pll:'.ne. 'there have been times. hO'll:~ver. uhen
first transition bss taken ~l~ce in the tactical units--both training
- - -- ~ ,~"" ~~-' ..-.'" - --' ~ ,,. ..............-~ ~~, _. .... ~ .~ ~- .-.........- -~ .
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f'nd. opor(d;;ional. A::. the ne·.los-t typos of aircrd't hav0 r,l•.l(I.ys rClBohed
·t:;he toc-Ucal units i'irst~ the burden of the develop:nent of neu
transi tion nethods hEl.s fdlon to the t8ctio~.1 units. Thu:;:; the function
of transition trr.inin2; ha.s cut aoross nll units--thoso primerily con-
cerned ...r.i.th ;he training i'unctionll individual and oporu.tiona13 and
those ~,jo uhich the t1'o inin[; funotion is only preparE tory to the per;('Gr.t1-
ance 0;(' their pruanrymission.
::from tme to til'l.e, b6oause of shirtj.n~ truininc requirement~ c.nd
the nirr. and type of pro0re.m of the conductin::; a:;encYI tho scops o:f
crE.Il,Sition has cllfmsod.. It has been an inf'orno.l step to further
tactical traininG or a production-line prozrem nith the transition
process 'i;he primc.ry end. In it::. ruost rofined definition, transition
is fanliliarization 1:ith the planets oper~tion, but often accual
ferlilinrizntion ~~d more advcnced operntin~ tecl1Diquac are ~~reed
under the name of' tre-.nsition. It mc.y be sa.id J,;;hat {iransiti(m ce.n be of'
t>;o typall: it 111t-y be only eler;J.(;mtc..ry f?Dilitt.rization ...1.th the operutin;;
characteristics of a plane, or it may include ~11 individual truinin;;
j.n Do pfl..rticular COl'lbut type.
UNCLASSIFIIl~D
2
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Chapter I
Tn.-~nSI'i'IOl1, 1917-1957
Qu"c of' "ilorld '~Jnr I came the first COIllba.t airor/;',ft and the first
concepts of the e:m.plo~'1ll8nt of the D0v0re.l ~~rpes of &:v1.ation, b1
.:tt the
task of i;heir development ,;cs that of o'cher pouers ro,ther -l;han of the
United states. Tha contribution of J~leric~~ aviation TI~S mess pro-
duction o:f pilots Hnd proven tYlJec of pllmes. Ti:m.e did not exist :ro1'
aeronautical exper:iJnentation. Until the lEi.st months of the "lar
l.I;leric£t3l pilots f1el; f'orci:;n ~irorl:o.ft. ldi the date of' the f..rIllistioo-,
the De IIavilE.nd obsorVD.tion plane and. da.y bomber, s;.n ad&pte.tion fron
the British, had been in ~ction but l? shori.:; time, ,;hile the !1artin
1
hlin-ensine bomber vas just goinS into production.
Smi1e..rly, in 1917 thEl United Statoe vue l.:ithout nde:;tuo.te
facilities for tho m~ss tr~inin~ of pilot~, but ~ uystem of flying
schools ,,.0.13 soon esto.bliohed. After f'.l:;tendin:; :;ro'.lnd school !?.nd
receivin3 primary trainin~ on traininG typo nirplnnes p pilots pro-
gressed -Co edvanced schoola uhere they 1rero given trt'ining on tactiCCl1
€lCJ.uipnsnt" SpGCif'lizin3 in one of thr~e l."inds of' twiQ.tion, pursuit"
1. l1E1j. F. P. L€hm, ttHistorj? &nd DevelopmenG of the lloir Servicett
(U-Stencil 370 ,A. S.), 11; :,""nnU£l.1 Report of ~ Director 2.f. ~
Service (1919), 9.
3
, ........
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bombardment.. or observation. Jl.lthotl&h advanced sohools existed in the
United StaoGes, it .,.'8.:; not until the last months of the Uf:.r tha·c a 'fe"'l
combat aircrd't becmne available ;for trfl.inin~ purposes. Consequently..
the najority of pr:iJlll:'.ry gradua.l:;es TJere shipped oversea::; ~d received
their vdvruuced traininG in opecialized schoo13 in Fr~nce# BnCls~d, or
rte.ly. It ,JUS in the l'tdvanced schools that the first tran3ition to
2
combat type alI"craft occurred.
Dsto.blisl1.i116nt or 1;;116 Pec.cetina Trdm.n'1; Pro::,.r8m
liith the cegs~tion of hostilities ~~d the return to a peacetime
be.sis .. air training chane;ed ·:::0 the p~ttern it 1Tas to f'ollo'fl "Until the
mobilization of America for another Tmr. This system entailed the
corrw1etion of individu~l trainine on sorvice types or airoraft in the
pilot 30hoo1s f.t.nd .further ta'JtiM.l i:;rninin~ in the operetional units.
But as neuer type p18~es alrtays reeched the t~otioal units first,
nece~sarily pilots learned to fly them in ~ho tnctical units. Thus
trensition to sorvice type e.ircrai't oco1.1.rred both in the individual
€'.nd opert.tional tr£Linin,; a:;encies.
Tre.nsition Trfiinin-;, !£. ~ Advenced Schools .. 1919-1926
On 11 lrov6nber 1918 orders nere issued to all flying schools to
~be.ndon trl:'.inin3. lievertheless, limited instruc·cion. althouc;h undefined
2. Annual Ropor-t 01' ~ Director of ~ Cornea (1919), 46. A dotdled
discussion of trainins f~C one of the schools in Fr~ce is Given in
Hir~n Bin3ho.lll, 11-11 L:xnlorer in the lur fiervice.
'V"""':, -I '~'1r r ~ -'. - ~-~........" J - ~{
U
,.. .., ~ I
J. r"--,_".__-.."_,0 ~L' .l..l-....L-'
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nJ
and uncoordirwted# continued trtI'ouzhout 1919. Based on methods evolved
durini; the 'I'!s.r ~ t.dv&.D.ced training ,laS conaentrs..tod at three specialized
schools on ? Januar~T 1920. BC!i'barmflGnt tre.inin~ ,·ro.s given at Ellinston
Field# Tex.. # pursuit at 1tocl:uell I'iold# CE1.1if., rend obserV'f..tion &.t Post
Field, Okla.. i,ith fur-cher retrenCll.Tilent and curtl::.iJ..n.ont of' expendittros,
on 28 Juna 1922 all trainins T."£'.S centralized in t;he Se.n 1J.ntonio# Tex.,
:5
5
e.re!:.. LdV&nced t:r(.ininC lIas ziven at Kelly Field .,here pr:imary
~radu~tes speci~lized in bomb~rdm0nt, pur3uit, s..ttack, or observation
4,
o.viation.
During this postl"ier period Air Sorvice oquipment 'l"lith a fat'!
erceptions 1!OS of ~iorld Hc.r I vinta.ge. The traininz prosrem ,tas a
refinoment and expansion of tilat developed under the pressure of 'Imr-
tme training. necossarily.. the first phrse of e.dvanccd tre.inin~ ..ms
"hransi-cion, or transfoI'lnRtion as it 1ms ::lCmetiIrles oe11ed, to servioe
'l;~rpe airoraf't. In rd1 types of o:viction the step i'rom training to
operutional fdrcro.l't Yn~s relatively simple, but some diffarentio.tion
in tran.3ition to tho various typos is reflocted in reprs3sntative
progr~s o~ instruobion of the period.
In pursuit~ 8 to 12 hours nare devoted to trnncition.
5
One pro-
3. Oui;lino of Uec:vier-tih!:'.n-Air Trr inin~, :dr Corps Traininz Center,
23 June 1937 1 in J.i.JJ' Library.
4. l.JlUuul Report .?f. ~ ~ 01' l~ir Service (1922), 13. In 1922 "hha
desi2;naCion 11attro1:lt ''ro.S of'i'ioia11y ndopted as a. alas;;:; of aviation.
History of III Bo.mb~r Coarnl~d, 1932-1941.
5. Course of' Instruotion end ~reinin: for Pursuit PIlots, 1st ktlrsuit
Group, 24 Oct. 1921, in ;~~G 352.11 C.. Couree of Inctru~Gion.
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