Page 51 - Volume 15 Number 7

The basic trainer for U.S. Naval and Army Air Corps pilot hopefuls wasthe Stearman biplane.aircraft by the hundreds, just 40 miles away at Wichita.Building U.S. Air StrengthAs authorized by the Naval Reserve Act of 1939 and an executive order by President Roosevelt early in 1942, the Navy was to establishnew training bases throughout thePhoto by Paul BowenIn order to establish the Hutchinson NAS, the Navy immedi- ately proceeded to acquire the needed land, predominately owned by young Bontrager’s Amish neighbors. Just as Ira dismissed his conscientious objector status and enlisted into active service, the Amish landowners were surprisingly willing sellers. After receiving federal government payment andoits air strength to 27,000 planes. As of June 1941, however, there were scarcely more than 2,200 Navy aircraft based on 31 naval airfields. When the war ended in August, 1945, there were 168 Naval Air Stations and 325 outlying fields in operation across the country.ccouunnttrryyaannddwwas tasked to buildJULY 2011TWIN & TURBINE • 49