USAF Pilot Training Classes

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When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will always long to return. - Leonardo DaVinci (500 years ago)

Classes 52-F, 52-G and 52-H

70th ANNIVERSARY

It is hard to believe, but 2022 marks 70 years after receiving our silver wings! In 1952, I could look into the future perhaps 6 months, certainly not decades.

This website was created two decades ago.

Flight Handbooks for some of the aircraft we have flown are now available online. The Handbooks and Safety of Flight information for the C-119G, C-119B, and C-119C have been added to the website.

BACKGROUND

The Aviation Cadets and Student Officers who graduated from United States Air Force pilot training in 1952 and early 1953 received their wings near the end of the Korean War, and many graduates served in the war. In addition to American pilots, these classes included NATO pilots from Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway. We welcomed the participation of NATO pilots at reunions. A more detailed history is available.

ROSTERS

Three rosters are online, one for each class - 52-F   52-G   52-H.

Class members are listed alphabetically. To maneuver around the spreadsheet, you may use the arrows and the Page Up / Page Down keys on your keyboard, or use your mouse on the scroll bars that appear on the right-hand edge and the bottom edge.

The rosters are current as of 20 March 2014.

AERONAUTICAL CHARTS

The chart below is a portion of the Jacksonville Sectional from 1950 (courtesy of the Library of Congress archives), showing the low-frequency four-course ranges that were our primary navigation aids during training. Note that Jacksonville had an early VOR, but the airways were still based on low-frequency navaids, such as ranges and beacons (NDBs) - Amber 7 to the north of JAX and Red 30 to the west. Although fan markers and outer markers might cause a lamp on our panel to flash, most training aircraft did not have ILS or VOR installed. Light beacons and AM broadcast stations are also included on the chart to aid navigation. We have come a long way since 1952!

Jacksonville Sectional