3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Leaves something to be desired, May 4, 2008
This review is from: They Flew Proud (Hardcover)
They Flew Proud purports to be a history of the Civilian Pilot Training Program, and in a very real sense it is. The problem I have, and I think a lot of readers will have, with this book, is that it attempts to tell the story of the CPTP through one airport in Grove City, PA. In the hands of the right person, this "localized" approach can work, and be interesting, evocative and (most important) definitive. Before doing an exploration, however, an author would want to conduct some research and find out what constitutes the "most appropriate" example. In this case however, the author for sentimental reasons chose Grove City, mainly because her father managed that airport. The result is disappointing and far from definitive. That does not mean you would not enjoy it, especially if you are from Grove City. But, I have to agree with one of the other reviewers on Amazon, who felt the title and subtitle of the book were misleading. It's true! The book's title, "They Flew Proud: The small town and airport training of cadets and civilians during WWII" should really have been something like, "Grove City and the Civilian Pilot Training Program: a small town and airport training of cadets and civilians during WWII". I have to question in fact why this book does not have this as a title!
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A misnomer..., February 7, 2008
This review is from: They Flew Proud (Hardcover)
If you are thinking about purchasing this book as an education tool, or as a historical reference to WWII Aviation Cadet training I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT. The subtitle "The small town and the airport training of cadets and civilians during World War II" is a misnomer.
As a serious WWI, and WWII Aviation Historian, I obtained this book in the hopes of learning more about the Civilian Pilot Training Program and CAA WTS. Especially from a small town point of view. However, there is very little reference Civilian Pilot Training Program / CAA-WTS as far as information goes...such as uniforms, protocol, insignia, and badges. And less historical information about the CPTP CAA-WTS from a historical standpoint.
You can learn more information about the Civilian Pilot Training Program, CAA-WTS at Wikipedia, or the USAF historical Archives.
[...]
The book loses focus on the CPTP / CAA-WTS about a fourth of the way through the book, and then becomes somewhat of a personal memoir of the cadets that could be found, and ultimately becomes the history of the Grove City Airport, from prior to WWI, until the present time.
Not to take anything away from this book, as there are several characters in the Book, the main person is Gardner R. Birch, this is partially his story, and from what I read, he was one excellent Flight Instructor, and a man I would truly love to have had the honor to meet.
Also, there are several true success stories of the cadets themselves, and those who learned to fly after the war, and there experiences post WWII.
Overall, the book truly is a history about the Grove City Airport, some of the local business, and Grove City itself...pre-WWII, and post WII.
If you would like to learn more about the CPTP, WCAA-WTS I recommend the follow books.
"United States Army & Navy Directory of Airfields, Continental United States, 1944", by U. S. Civil Aeronautics Administration
"Two hundred thousand flyers,: The story of the civilian AAF pilot training program", by Willard Wiener
"To Fill the Skies With Pilots: The Civilian Pilot Training Program, 1939-46", by Dominick Pisano
"U.S. Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Aviation, Volume I, 1916-1942", by Wayne H. Heiser - 2006
"THE PUTT-PUTT AIR FORCE: THE STORY OF THE CIVILIAN PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM AND THE WAR TRAINING SERVICE (1939-1944)", by Patricia Strickland
"The Fayetteville experience: The story of the Fayetteville, Arkansas Civilian Pilot Training Program, War Training Service, and the 305th College Training Detachment (1939-1944)", by Mike Eckels
CPTP, CAA-WTS historical information is not limited to these above-mentioned books alone.
Excellent reference can be found with the historical books of the Women Air Service Pilots "WASP's" of WWII, and the Tuskegee Airman.
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