US Naval Air Training Center - Yearbook (Corpus Christi, TX)

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if ir -9 iiirlmgif -i gnupg Commander John L. Chittenson, USN, Commanding Officer, Rodd Auxiliary Naval Air Station Rllllll FIELD , Rodd Auxiliary Naval Air Station, commissioned on June 7, l94l, is the home of the land-based Bomber Squadron l8C, The syllabus is designed to give the cadets specialized training in bombing tactics while flying multi-engine Beech-Crafts . Rodd Field is named in honor of that distinguished Aviator, Lieutenant Commander Herbert C. Rodd, USN. lt is a splendid monument commemorative of the pioneering work he did in the progress of Naval Aviation. He was awarded the Navy Cross for Distinguished Service in the line of his profession , the Air Force Cross from Great Britain, and the Order of the Tower and Sword from Portugal for his part in the first successful trans-Atlantic flight as a member of the crew of the seaplane NC-4. Lieutenant Commander Rodd was killed in a plane crash at East Camp Flying Field, Hampton Roads, Virginia, June l5, l932. Commander John L. Chittenden, USN, assumed command of Rodd Field in November l943, following a tour of active duty in the Aleutiansf After graduating from the U. S. Naval Academy in i932 he served on board the USS Colorado as Communication Watch Officer. ln l935 he was ordered to Pensacola, Florida for flight training, winning his wings in l936. Other tours of duty included service on board Cruiser Quincy, Patrol Squadron at Pearl Harbor on December 7, l94l, Commander of a squadron in Aleutians. Action in the Aleutians gained for him the Air Medal for his courageous launch- ing of. a lone dive-bombing attack against enemy installations in Kiska Harbor, completing the mission despite the fact that his craft was heavily iced . Page 40 'A' 'A'

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rt pi f 1 . T - ei is t l f , 'il N i i, l , , 3 i i i 2 i ' ' i I . l 1 i ' i i , i ' i i I ' l 4 4 l it Y T 1 i i XX it i l N i ill T lj fih ill u it li i, if I it it it li Y .. PA., Through the facilities of the Cadet Mess, the thousands of Aviation Cadets reporting ahoard the Naval Air Training Center are served the finest food: available. All meals are prepared in the galleys, hy Chefs and are served family-style, so that cadets are afforded an opportunity to satisfy their huge appe- tites. The excellent food and fine service at the Cadet Mess has been a great help in maintaining good morale. lr if if M, Q, Chefs inspect and prepare food for those hungry cadets.

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X --wc - f 4 f,. ---N Y--. .Y H, M Qt Vi l l i-il I lg l, -l c Ll Coboniss Field, o seporote cmd complete unit of the lslovol Air lrciining Center, Corpus Christi, hos focilities for ine structing the oviotion codets through their Bosic stoge of Flight Trciining. Squcidron l2C ond IQD initiote the fledgling flyer into the intricocies of heovier oirplones ond formotion flying. Nomed in honor of Commonder Robert Vifright Cciboniss, USN, the lxlcivcil Aviotor who so obly served with the U. S. Novy in Centrol ond South Arnerico. It hos fcicilities for not only the instruction of codets, but for their cmdministrotion ond recrecition. During Commonder Cobciniss' tour of duty, he wos instrumentczl in promoting the progress of Novol Avio- tion through vorious experiments. For exceptionol ond outstonding work in the Coribbeon Areo, he wos oworded the Order of the Bust of Bolivcir , by the Republic of Venezuelci, He lost his life in ci crosh on Ncivosso Islond in the West Indies. At one time Coboniss Field gcive Prirnory instruction to coders, but now operciting under the new syllobus, it functions only os on lntermediote troining stcition. Commonder S. P, Weller, USN, reported oboord the Novol Air Troining Center in September l943. After o tour of duty os on officer in chorge of Aviotion Troining, Commonder Weller wcis oppointed Commonding Officer of Coboniss Field in December l943. Commonder Weller wos groduotecl from the Ncivcil Acoclerny in l93O cind lctter served in the USS Oklohomo ond severol yeors on Destroyers. In 1934 he wcis ordered to Penscicolci, Florido for flight trciining. He received his wings in l935. Commonder Weller's record includes service cts Aviotion Observer in Austrolio, Stoll Commonder ol Allied Novol Forces in Austrolio, Pcitrol Squodrons in Aleutions, Potrol Squciclrons in Ponomci Areo, He come to the Novo! Air Troining Center ofter hoving served in the South Pocific Areo since the wor begon. 's19Cx i . T F Commander S. P. Weller, USN, Commanding Offi- cen Ccbonks Auxmary Naval Air Station I Page 4l