USAF Pilot Training

During the '50s the US Air Force was training a lot of pilots in a one-year program. There were lots of training bases and lots of classes at each base. The Class of 50F was the sixth class to graduate in 1950. For the first six months I was stationed at Perrin AFB, Sherman, Texas, which is about 50 miles north of Dallas, then finished up at Reese AFB, Lubbock, Texas on October 28th.
	Left: Our basic trainer, the T-6 "Mustang." This is the good ol' T-6, used for basic pilot training. We were told, "If you can fly this, you can fly anything." Vicious stall characteristics. Prone to ground loops on landing. Can't see where you're going while taxiing. Also, 650 HP is a bit much for one's first airplane.
	Just for melodrama, here is Miles with high hopes for pilot training - the dawn of a flying career. At our first briefing at the beginning of training, we were in rows of seats and told to look at those sitting on each side of us. "They will both be gone when you finish this course." And that's about the way it was. My first instructor had five students, and I was the only one who graduated. This was in the winter of 1950.
	This was my first instructor, Lt. Littlejohn (left) with one of the original five. He was not harsh or difficult - it was the airplane that was difficult. Early on, I nearly killed both of us while learning to land that thing. I soloed from a grass field at Gainesville, Texas. Later, in the spring, we went back there for some graded landings, and had the beautiful experience of landing in a field of tall waving flowers.
	I'm with some of my friends and fellow students.
	Left: After each flight the pilot has to complete the "Form 1," which is the aircraft flight record. This includes total time, any "weather time" (instrument flight rules) or night time. Also recorded are any conditions needing maintenance. As student pilots, we were not allowed to fly solo IFR, but had to have an instructor with us. During this basic, or primary, training, I got several hours of weather time.
	Left: My friend, E.E. Brown who took most of the pictures. We called him E-Square Brown. Someone told me he was killed when we got to advanced training.
	Barracks antics. My roommate is seen shining his shoes for inspection next day.
	More nonsense. That "club" is actually the rear cockpit control stick, which was removable.
	Pensive. I don't remember why I chose to look so solemn.
	I can't tell for sure, but I think the man flying formation is my second instructor. I had only two.
	Another formation shot. On my first formation flight (with my instructor), we were lead plane for a formation takeoff with three planes. On the second flight the instructors forgot that I had never made a formation takeoff in wing position, so I was a solo wingman. With less weight, my plane became airborne first. I was afraid to reduce power, so I passed the leader -- somewhat embarrassing.
	Here is a picture of our graduation party (1st half of training). Many of us were married. In the afternoon of this day, one of the students said, "Thank God this is the last time I'll have to fly with that Son of a B...!" Evidently they were arguing and fighting in the cockpit, which caused them to stall out in the landing traffic pattern and crash. The power-on stall characteristics of this plane are vicious.