The above photo courtesy National Archives, photo no. 342-FH-3B-46621.

GREENVILLE IN WORLD WAR II

Greenville Army Airfield, Greenville, Mississippi.

In a little more than a years time, George "Jug" Metcalf's cotton field was transformed into one of the nation's larger flying training bases.  Greenville Army Airfield was established in December 1941 and served as a Basic Flying Training school within the Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command ​for nearly the entire duration of WWII.

Please visit www.greenvilleflyers.com/greenville-flyers.html to view the complete list of Greenville pilots identified thus far.

The above photo from "The Greenville Army Flying School".  Courtesy of the Public Relations Office and Photographic Section of the Greenville Army Flying School.

Basic Flying Training in World War II

Basic Flying Training was the second of three phases of flying training conducted by the Army Air Corps/Air Forces during World War II.

During this ten week phase, students learned to fly by instrument, fly at night, fly in formation, and fly cross-country in the Vultee BT-13/BT-15*.

*Although the Vultee basic trainer was the most prevalent, other basic trainers used during the war included the North American BT-9/BT-14.

Eight of Greenville's Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs)

Eight WASP pilots assigned to Greenville AAF, Greenville, Mississippi, United States, Aug 1944.  
Standing: Mary Louise Prine, Eileen A. (Kealy) Worden, Betty Morton, Marilyn (Miller) Saunders.  Sitting: Frances "Frankie" (Lovvorn) Bretherick, Marcella M. (Fried) Lucier, M. Odean "Deanie" (Bishop) Parrish, Unknown.

Photo courtesy of World War II Database ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=24185