Primary Flight Training Albany, Georgia
In 1940 the United States Army Air Corps was establishing civilian pilot
training schools at airports in the southeast, with its moderate weather.
Previously Albany Airport
was rejected as an advanced training base, Turner Army Airfield was built north
of Albany instead), but approved Albany
Airport for a primary contract
school in June. The City agreed to provide $500,000 for further improvements to
the landing field, the completion of the passenger terminal, the cost of
constructing two hangars and half the cost of a third hangar. An additional
investment of over $400,000 was made by Hal S. Darr, owner of the contract
flying school for the construction of the cantonment area and one half the cost
of one hangar. Ground was broken in July 1940. The Army Air Corps named the
school the 52nd Army Air Force Fight Training Detachment. Thus Darr Aero Tech
became the first Army Air Corps activity constructed in Georgia
during the buildup to World War II.
On 15 August 1940, the
first class of 45 cadets began training. The cadets were initially housed in
the Georgia Hotel
until the barracks reached completion on 20 August. Flight training commenced
with 15 PT-13 Stearmans and 11 flight instructors. Seven classes of American
cadets were trained until July 1941. On June
8, 1941, the school received the first British RAF cadets. For the
next 14 months, Darr's classes were exclusively British. A conflict existed
between Turner and Darr over airspace. Generally, Turner's airspace was located
north of Albany and Darr's south of
Albany. Where the areas overlapped,
Turner's aircraft flew above 5,000 ft. and Darr's below 5,000. Darr's
three auxiliary fields were located south of Albany.
