Old Photo.......

Just came across this. Graduation photo from Aviation Prep school in Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, May 1954. I'm the tall one with my cap touching the "80" on the aircraft number. I have the names of everyone written on the back of the original photo.

As part of the school, we had to crawl into the cockpit of that airplane and fire up the engines.

Great picture. I took the same training 14 years later, but in Millington Tennessee. You must be old.

Is that a Marauder?

Anybody else from Nebraska in the photo?

I prefer to be called "Chronologically accomplished".

Marauder sounds familiar.

I don't think so. The only one I recall for sure is the guy kneeling in front of my left arm was from Flagstaff, AZ.

Chuck, I was there in 64 to attend air craft engine school. Were the Douglas Sky Raider's still there when you were there? I heard they put them back in operation for the Vietnam war. As part of the school we had to start the engine also. Kind of exciting for a farm boy. Stan

Shoulda mentioned, I went from NAS Jax to Millington for AT"A" School. Then in 1960 went back to Millington for AQ"B" School.

What's interesting is I read a book written by a Marine pilot who had gone through part of his flight training at Millington in WWII. The way he described the base, barracks, etc. fit exactly the way it was when I was there. Actually, I thought the guy was what we would have called "sh**bird" when I was in the Corps. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, and went through the entire Second World War without getting beyond Second Lieutenant.

He did relate one time at Millington when they were training in dual open cockpit biplanes. One day a student forgot to buckle his lap belt. The instructor pulled the plane into a loop, and at the top of the loop with the airplane inverted the student fell out. All the way back to the base, the instructor was trying to figure out how he was going to admit to the CO that a student had fallen out of his airplane.

About the time the instructor taxied up to the flight line, the student came walking up from a different direction dragging a deployed parachute. The student forgot to buckle his lab belt, but at least he had presence of mind enough to use his parachute when he needed it.

DAMN, that's a COOL picture/experience!

That airplane is a Grumman F7F Tigercat.

Came out right at the end of WWII but didn't see action. Was used in Korea though.

great picture

Correct

Cool picture. I attended Aviation School in Millington, TN. in 1971. Ended up an ADJ in a helicopter squadron at NAS Ellyson Field Pensacola, FL. moved to NAS Whiting Field Milton, FL.one year later. Goose, I live in Flagstaff, AZ. What is the gentleman's name, would be crazy if I knew of him or his family?

I went through Millington in 1980-81 (AMS "A"), then came back for another school in 1984. Spent close to 8 years on USMC CH-53 Helicopters....I have a similar photo of my class (only 7 Marines, about 18 Navy). Ours had an A-4 behind us. Don't think they wanted us to start THAT engine....

Chuck Forehand.

Thanks for jogging my memory.

F7 Tigercat.Under 400 built and only a few remaining.A beautiful aircraft.

I went to Instructor school at Millington, woulda been September of 1979. I remember because I was stationed in Pensacola and had to leave the wife and kiddies in housing aboard NAS while I hauled butt to Millington before Frederic hit.

I was Born on NATTC Millington TN jan 65. returned there 18yrs later for training. Didnt learn enough the first time. I hear they closed it down now and use it for civillians.