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Morgenthau was the United States Secretary of Treasury during a large part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency. Along with being partially responsible for the creation of the Royal Air Force training schools in the United States, he designed and found financing for the New Deal.
An excerpt from the flight instructions pack given to the Royal Air Force cadets at the Darr School of Aeronautics. Notice the map at the bottom right explaining the "A to B" road between Ponca City and Pawhuska. The map explains where to fly and what sections were off limits.
In 1976, then Governor, David Lyle Boren, sent out a proclamation thanking the people of Oklahoma. Specifically thanking the residents of Ponca City, Miami and the Royal Air Force cadets during WWII. His gratitude extended to the residents that welcomed the RAF cadets into their homes and communities. Boren also expressed condolences for the cadets that lost their lives while training at Darr and Spartan.
This magazine cover depicts a CONOCO employee working in a factory. The Continental Oil Company opened a refinery in Ponca City. Many women took over the more male dominated fields when the war began. Not only were women flight instructors, they worked at the refinery to produce aviation fuel.
The HMS Queen Elizabeth was used as a troop transport during World War II. Along with a few other vessels, the Royal Air Force cadets were placed on this ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean to the United States.
Carl Spaatz received a temporary promotion to Colonel in November of 1939 after the Battle of Britain. He was sent over to Britain to be a special military observer. This is where Spaatz saw the need to have flying schools in the United States away from the bombings. After he returned, Spaatz was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, then promoted to assistant of the Chief of Air Corps. In November of 1940, Spaatz was named Chief of the Air Staff at Army Air Force Headquarters.
This emblem was the official patch for the Spartan School of Aeronautics.
Maxwell Balfour was responsible for building and financing the Spartan School of Aeronautics.
Introduced in 1939 as the BC-3, it was considered too powerful for cadets. The model also had retractable landing gear which also posed too difficult for flight students. Vultee then created the V-74. This model had fixed landing gear, two-position propeller and a smaller engine. The V-74 became the BT-13 used by both flying schools.
Yeager was a flight instructor for the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Miami, OK.
Built and financed Darr School of Aeronautics.
Balfour was the 1st Baron of Inchrye, MC and Bar. A Conservative party politician in the United Kingdom, he was also a flying ace during the first World War. Along with partially being responsible for the creating the Royal Air Force training schools in the United States, Balfour was instrumental in the creation of London Heathrow Airport.
The Boeing Stearman bi-planes were produced out of Wichita, Kansas. Beginning in the 1930s and 40s, the Boeing Stearman was the standard trainer for the US Army, US Navy and Royal Air Force cadets. The solidly built frame of the bi-plane could take 12 Gs positive and 9 Gs negative.
The official emblem of the No. 6 British flying troop at the
Darr School of Aeronautics in Ponca City, OK.
These individuals were crucial to created pilots out of cadets.
Lillian Bowles Taylor is on the second row, second from the right.
Both schools played soccer (football). They even had teams and played matches.
Both schools used the public pool for leisure and friendly competition.
The Link Machine was a flight simulator used at both Darr and Spartan Schools of Aeronautics.
Royal Air Force cadets with their winterized flying suites. The suites were made of heavy and thick leather with an inner lining of wool.
An inexpensive British made bomb shelter. These were issued to
residents of London, England during the blitz.
The University of Central Oklahoma recognizes the university's main campus is located on the traditional lands of the Caddo and Wichita people.
View the full Land Acknowledgement.
