ENLISTED PILOTSENLISTED PILOTS

SrA WeedSrA Weed

ALS 09-2ALS 09-2

Enlisted HeritageEnlisted Heritage

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Greeting:Greeting: SrA Weed, ALS 09-2SrA Weed, ALS 09-2

Purpose:Purpose: Today I have come here to better inform Today I have come here to better inform you about a rare job within the serviceyou about a rare job within the service

Overview:Overview: Go over the details about enlisted pilots Go over the details about enlisted pilots their history and impact they havetheir history and impact they have

Transitions:Transitions: When you think of pilots you generally When you think of pilots you generally think of the air force or navy and more specifically think of the air force or navy and more specifically officers in those services, but this wasn't always the officers in those services, but this wasn't always the

case. case.

BODYBODY BackgroundBackground A. first enlisted pilotA. first enlisted pilot B. Time LineB. Time Line C. Last enlisted pilotC. Last enlisted pilot DescriptionDescription A. authority to flyA. authority to fly B. typical expected B. typical expected

MissionsMissions C. void filledC. void filled

SignificanceSignificance A. enlisted, officer, A. enlisted, officer,

flight officerflight officer B. distinguished B. distinguished

individuals individuals C. potential futureC. potential future

FIRST ENLISTED PILOTFIRST ENLISTED PILOT

Cpl Vernon BurgeCpl Vernon Burge 19121912

TIME LINETIME LINE 1912 FIRST PILOT1912 FIRST PILOT 1912-1916 1912-1916

By April 1917, 28 BECAME PILOTSBy April 1917, 28 BECAME PILOTS

During World War I, 60 enlisted mechanics earned During World War I, 60 enlisted mechanics earned wings wings

1920-1939 BETWEEN THE WARS1920-1939 BETWEEN THE WARS Air Corps Act of 1926 20% ENLISTEDAir Corps Act of 1926 20% ENLISTED

Depression caused enlisted pilot training ceased in June Depression caused enlisted pilot training ceased in June 19331933

1941-1945: WORLD WAR II1941-1945: WORLD WAR II

1941 Congress authorized an enlisted pilot training 1941 Congress authorized an enlisted pilot training programprogram

2,576 enlisted men are known to have graduated as 2,576 enlisted men are known to have graduated as sergeant pilots under this programsergeant pilots under this program

18 became aces / 4 became gen officers (7 more pre 18 became aces / 4 became gen officers (7 more pre WW2)WW2)

LAST ENLISTED PILOTLAST ENLISTED PILOT

Msgt George Msgt George HolmesHolmes

19571957

AUTHORITY TO FLYAUTHORITY TO FLY

AIR CORP ACT of 1926AIR CORP ACT of 1926

PUBLIC LAW 99PUBLIC LAW 99

Enacted June 3, 1941Enacted June 3, 1941

TYPICAL MISSIONSTYPICAL MISSIONS

VOIDVOID

ENLISTEDENLISTED

FLIGHT OFFICERFLIGHT OFFICER WARRANT OFFICERWARRANT OFFICER

OFFICEROFFICER

Distigushed IndividualsDistigushed Individuals

UAVUAV

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Summary:Summary: Today we have shortly gone over what Today we have shortly gone over what enlisted pilots were their brief history and the impact they enlisted pilots were their brief history and the impact they have had on the service. have had on the service.

Purpose:Purpose: Today I have come here to better inform Today I have come here to better inform you about a rare job within the serviceyou about a rare job within the service

Closure:Closure: After hearing all of this doesn't it give you After hearing all of this doesn't it give you possibly the hope of one day piloting a UAVpossibly the hope of one day piloting a UAV