WWII Navy Victory Carry Question

[bullmack]

If there are any WWII Navy pilots or AMM's on the the forum (or someone with knowledge) I have a question. My dad was a WWII Navy AMM (Aviation Machinists Mate). It is my understanding that he sometimes flew on sub patrols. Would he have been issued a Victory for those flights?

 

[opoefc]

Bullmack, My old gun store partner, John Beckwith, now deceased, was an AMM, 2nd class, and flew as a gunner on PBYs doing Air-Sea rescue missions picking up downed B-29 crews in Tokyo Bay during WW2. He was a Colt collector, so he carried a Colt SAA in .45ACP caliber, however he said most of the aircrew carried the Victory Models in the usual shoulder holsters with the modified shoulder strap to hold extra ammo. John was a civilian pilot before the war and was older than most of the other aircrew members, so the pilots liked to sleep to and from Tokyo Bay, while John flew the plane, although he was too old to get Navy aviator's wings. John knew guns and airplanes, so they made him a AMM when he enlisted on Dec 8, 1941, at age 39. Ed #15

 

[Texas Star]

Gee whiz! How old would they accept an enlistment then?

Pity that he couldn't get a commission in some tech or PR role. Did Navy officers have to have a college degree then? I've read that the Army would take two years of college.

When they got desperate, they took men with less college, but never used enlisted pilots, as some nations did. They did have some flight officers, but eliminated that category and finally commissioned them.

BTW, Jeff Cooper carried a Colt SAA with custom sights in WW II. He wrote to me that he killed a Jap with it, and that it was very effective. But I think it was in .45 Colt caliber.He pictured it in some of his books over the years.

Bill Jordan told me that he wore a S&W M-1917 .45 as a Marine officer. Both he and Cooper were infantry, not aviation. Jordan preferred revolvers for reliability. He already had considerable experience with the USBP. (I didn't ask about their holsters. Wish now that I had.)

T-Star

 

[Chubbs103]

"Did Navy officers have to have a college degree then? I've read that the Army would take two years of college."

In 1935 the Navy established the NAVCAD (Naval Aviation Cadet) program that allowed someone with either an associate's degree or two years of college to enter flight school. Assuming completion, they would be commissioned an Ensign. They agreed at that time not to marry and to complete at least three years of active service. A NAVCAD (or more typically just AVCAD) was required to complete a college degree within 6 years if they intended to keep their commission as an officer. The program was discontinued in 1968 and re-established briefly in the late 1980s.

I have a friend that had been commissioned via the NAVCAD route and wound up flying Vigilantes in Viet Nam. More recently, I have a friend from the Tomcat community that received his commission this way.

Hope this answers some questions.

Chubbs

 

[diamonback68]

In 1935 the Navy established the NAVCAD (Naval Aviation Cadet) program that allowed someone with either an associate's degree or two years of college to enter flight school. Assuming completion, they would be commissioned an Ensign. They agreed at that time not to marry and to complete at least three years of active service. A NAVCAD (or more typically just AVCAD) was required to complete a college degree within 6 years if they intended to keep their commission as an officer. The program was discontinued in 1968 and re-established briefly in the late 1980s.
Chubbs

Chubbs, I was offered the same thing in 1952 after bootcamp. But, being enlisted, they would send me to college for 2 years then flight school in Pensacola and I would have to sign up for six years to get it. Second part was be on the Naval Reserve roster for life. I turned it down, dummy me. I was just too young at the time to make such an important decision.

 

[The Wizard]

Texas Star,

Never say never. I had a great-uncle that was a sergeant pilot in the U. S. Army Air Corps in the late 1920's or early 1930's. I have a picture somewhere of him and his sister (my grandmother) showing off his wings. He was too old for WW2 but was at Dutch Habor when it got bombed.