Merced Army Flying School - Yearbook (Merced, CA)

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. an sv W. if I3 gl ' -I 1 lu 6 Q dh ' --A7 ui 'l' 'NF J :N M -Sift-' T -I ' fig Q ,MIM lllllll lllllllllli utr The tirst halt hour is the easiest when a young American reports tor training in the Army Air Forces. l-laving been examined, passed and signed up in his home town, he is then sent to the cadet Classitication Center tor actual induction Above: THE COMPLETE CHANGE takes place in one large building. In the tirst room the aviation cadet is as- signed to a squadron. On the next counter he will check in his luggage. Signs make ques- tions unnecessary, and arrows on the floor lead cadets through the transition process from start to finish. WHAT NEXT? is the cheer- ful altitude ot a typical aviation cadet as he plunges into a new life at the receiving building at one of the Classification Centers. ln less than half an hour he will be fully transformed from a civilian to a completely outfitted cadet. s,ZSi?R,qf3 -the tirst step on the tough but exciting road to his Army Air Forces Wings. What happens to him immediately on arrival is shown on this page. l-lav- ing gone through the tirst halt hour shown here, the cadet will soon be classitied by aptitude tests tor bombardier, navigator, or pilot training, and Left: BLOCKING THE WAY ON THE MAIN LINE through the building is the shower room where the aviation cadets are required to give themselves a good scrubbing and to put civilian clothes in one of two barracks bags handed them. Second bag is for military clothes to be issued them. Below: In footprints painted on the floor, the aviation cadet stands while experts size him up as to physical development. Expert alligns his backbone with two strings to see if it is perfectly straight. Physical records are kept on cadets throughout the train- ing period with a view toward correcting minor ailments by specialized exercises.

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lllHSSIllEHlIHN Fully equipped and proud of his new uniform an avialion cadel leaves lime receiving building. a new man. ir

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,QQIM-, Ziff ,rf - r k L9 , V V A 'Ll' sent to a specialized school in one oi the training centers. Less than a year later he will emerge as one oi the best llying oilicers in the worlcl, ready toiohwllncb Sanfs nnghty an awnada m actualconnbah l' Above: Gone for the duration are civilian clothes. This aviation cadet tries on one of two pair of neat Army oxfords issued him. Civies are laid away in duffel bag, aa A 'fp ii if: i . P A R A D E ,WMM Below, Top Picture: High-flying Army Air Forces fight low-crawling athlete's foot effectively simply by preventing if. Each cadet wears paper sandals from the shower until the time he puts on his shoes. Bottom Picture: Snappy coat and cap are issued cadets at the end of the long clothing line. To transform this outfit to that of an officer if he is commissioned Second Lieutenant at the end of the course, cadet has only to put on Regular Air Forces insignia and remove blue band from his cap. CAPjMN,5 by 5 A OVERCGAI-mrfl i