They Flew Proud: The Small Town and Airport Training of Cadets and Civilians During World War II - Hardcover

Birch, Jane Gardner

9781933858258: They Flew Proud: The Small Town and Airport Training of Cadets and Civilians During World War II

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1933858257 ISBN 13: 9781933858258

Publisher: Evangel Author Services, 2007

They Flew Proud crisply tells the story of the Civilian Pilot Training Program through the Army Air Force Cadets at Grove City College (PA.) and the Grove City Airport where the flight instructors (including Gardner Birch) trained the cadets to solo. Across the U.S., more than 435,000 men and women were taught to fly under the CPTP in pre and post WWII. In Grove City, the 8th Detachment’s 486 students received almost 5,000 hours of instruction, and then went forward to serve their nation in WWII.In Part 2 Gardner Birch, manager/instructor refocused the airport to teach civilians to fly after the CPTP was abruptly cancelled. He created five boards to record the 127 students and their solo dates (’44-’48). Narratives from these men and women retell of learning basic flying skills through many wonderful and humorous aviation stories. Those lessons learned in aviation’s early days prepared them for a smoother flight through life and created friendships and passions for flying and airplanes. Numerous photos and visuals add depth, feeling, and understanding to the expressive text and draw us into the special time when some of the greatest generation learned to fly proud.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Jane Gardner Birch was born and raised in Hermitage, Pa., and received a bachelor of science degree in education from Kent State University. She has had careers in teaching, real estate, financial service, and mortgage lending. She has three sons and six grandchildren and lives outside of Annapolis, Md. Jane is available for speaking at meetings or aviation events, for book signings, or to answer questions and can be reached at jane@theyflewproud.com. For more information about They Flew Proud, to obtain purchasing choices, or to register your own CPTP story, visit the website, www.theyflewproud.com.

From the Inside Flap:

Part 1 of They Flew Proud tells the story of a national Civilian Pilot’s Training Program through the local program at Grove City College and Airport. Briefly detailing the CTPT’s founding in pre WWII, the story moves to Western PA where the college contracts to teach Army Air Force Cadets their academic studies. And at the Airport flight instructors (including Gardner Birch) train the cadets in the required basics, enough for each to solo. Across the U.S. over 435,000 men and women learned to fly under the CPTP. In Grove City the 8th Detachment had 486 cadets receive almost 5000 hours of instruction, then go forward to serve their nation at war.Part 2 tells the story of the Airport from the summer of ’44 –’48 through the Solo Board students. Manager/instructor Gardner Birch refocuses the Airport to teach civilians to fly after the CPTP is abruptly cancelled, and creates 5 boards to record the 127 students and their solo dates. Now 60+ years later, a number of these men and women retell of learning basic flying skills and their solo, and remember many wonderful and humorous aviation stories. Many reflect on how those lessons learned in aviation’s early days prepared them for a smoother flight through life, and created strong bonds with people with similar passions for aviation and airplanes.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.