Keesler Technical Training Center - Yearbook (Biloxi, MS)

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History of Keesler Air Force Bose .l ., . ' :gf sr- f ' 31.5, N-fr , V , , K . f :W . ' U, Z -Y-ali--it .1 ,gg-v, , f lf ' , R J.. , Q .leg ,Lf- t it 4.u s-.2 -as Above. top: This was the flight line of Keesler Air Force Base on September 7, 1946 when one of the largest military ceremonies of that time took place. Visitors witness review on the airdrorne apron held in their honor, March 19, 1943. Lett to right: Col Wm I. Hanlon. Commanding Officer Basic Training Center: Mr. Eden, Prime Minister of England: General Marshall, Col Gooh-ich, Field Marshal Sir Iohn Dill. British Chief of Staff. Keesler Air Force Base has been in continuous operation since it was activated Iune 12, 1941. The Base was chosen as the site of an Air Corps Technical School, althou h the mission has changed several times since then. During World glliar ll, the Airplane and Engine Mechanics School, the Air Force Emergency Rescue School, and a basic training center were at Keesler, After the War mechanics training was combined with radar and other types of electronics training. Presently Keesler is an electronics center, training more than 25,000 students annually. Keesler is named after Lieutenant Samuel Reeves Keesler, Ir., of Greenwood, Mississippi. An aerial observer, Lt. Keesler was killed in combat near Verdun, France, in October 1918. The Air lane and Engine Mechanics School was started on Septem- ber 29, 19311, with a first class ot approximately 800 students. During and after World War II, approximately 141,000 men received specialized training as aircraft mechanics on the A-26, B-24, B-17, B-29, C-46, and ot er aircraft. To prepare recruits for entrance into the Airplane and Engine Mechanics School, a basic training center was started September 20, 1941. The Center trained 336,000 recruits before its deactivation after the war. Later, in April 1944, the Air Force Emergency Rescue School was organized to train pilots, navigators, mechanics, and other Lt Keesler personnel for air-sea rescue duty. Graduates, assigned primarily to areas, helped save over 5,500 lives. year was 1946 when the basic training center was separation center was activated, and the Emergency was discontinued. lt was the same year the Supply Pacific combat A significant deactivated, a Rescue School Officers School was moved to the field as well as the Army-Air Forces Chemical Warfare School and the Military Police School. Electronics training first appeared at Keesler in 1947, when the Radar School moved to Keesler from Boca Raton, Florida. The follow- ing year Keesler went on a wing basis of operations and in 1949 the Radio Operator and Control Operator Courses were transferred lrom Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Base strength rose to 30,000 during the Korean War period, which also marked the beginning of a major construction program. Dedicated in September 1951, Dolan Hall is named after Colonel William C. Dolan, who helped to adapt new radar techniques to high altitude bombing during World War ll. Dolan Hall is one of four modern, academic halls at Keesler named after military leaders in the elec- tronics field. The Triangle Area, which houses airmen, was completed in 1953 along with a new Wing Headquarters and in 1954 Vandenberg Hall, a modern service club, was completed. .