To Fly

About the Book

Even though flying was a novelty in the 1930s, it developed into a major weapon in World War II. Building a powerful airforce required the training of skilled pilots and the engineering and protection of high performance aircraft.

“To Fly” documents the experiences of the author’s training as a Naval Aviator and eventually flying with an elite fighter bomber squadron. It tells of the physical and mental preparation for the rigors of flying high performance airplanes from a floating airfield called an aircraft carrier.

Starting with his childhood impressions and dreams of flying, “To Fly” proceeds stepwise through primary, advanced and operational training. It culminates into instructor’s duty (instrument flying) followed by training and duty with Fighter Bomber Squadron VBF152.

Each stage of training brought new experiences. Primary training in the “Yellow Peril” (N3N) brought particularly challenging endeavors. For example, it required changes in a lackadaisical attitude to a rigorous precision type of dedication necessary to achieve navy standards. Amidst all the challenges, he managed to become lost on a foggy day and successfully landed the N3N in a cow pasture. After questioning a farmer about his location, he took off and returned to his base.

Advanced training brought the SNJ plane with its 30 caliber machine guns. Now thoroughly conditioned to precision Navy flying, it went well and he was awarded his “Wings of Gold.”

Operational training with real combat planes (SBD Dauntless Div. Bomber) brought new challenges. Diving straight down from over two miles above the target required a new and at first, difficult maneuver.

Instructor duty (instrument flying in the SNJ) seemed like a breeze. Now, both an officer and an instructor, there were many “yes sir” responses to his desires.

The assignment to Fighter Bomber Squadron VBF152, and the opportunity to fly the hottest Navy plane, the Corsair, padded his ego. Now as a Lieutenant J.G., he assumed some leadership duties in the air and on the ground. While their orders, in the combat, were cancelled at the end of the war, Squadron VBF152 was privileged and honored to perform a special invitational demonstration of their flying skills to their financially supporting congressmen.

The author reports that “Flying became as automatic as walking through a door, the airplane became part of ones system – as if it was wired directly to the brain.”

About the Author

Born into the post World War I era (1922) during the advent of primitive automobiles, airplanes were very much a novelty. The author, in his youth, idolized airplane pilots and welcome the opportunity, at age 20, to enlist in the Navy flying programs. With great anticipation he became a Naval Aviator and found it an interesting and challenging wartime career. Following WWII, he settled into civilian ambitions of college, a degree in Metallurgical Engineering and a career as a supervisor of a Corporate Metallurgical and Chemical Laboratory. His engineering profession has continued into retirement with the writing of several historical documents. Much time and effort has been extended to home, family, wife, children and grandchildren.