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Aug. 14, 2015 NEWS Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
10 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
This week in history
Aug. 8, 1940: FDR orders 12,000 pilots a year
6HYHQW\ÀYH\HDUVDJR6DWXUGD\3UHVL It would be safe behind its big oceans and Courtesy photo
GHQW)UDQNOLQ5RRVHYHOWRUGHUHGWKH$UP\ by not getting involved in world affairs.
to train 12,000 pilots a year. Training, like that featured in this photo, ended at Luke Field 75 years ago today.
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2QWKHVDPHGD\$XJ*HUPDQ largest and most powerful Navy in the the Czeck portion of Czechoslovakia. Six were recruiting and training people as
bombers began raids in what became ZRUOG 2XU RZQ 1DY\ ZDV QRW DV ODUJH ZHHNVODWHUWKH)DVFLVWVZRQWKH6SDQLVK ZHOODVEX\LQJDQGEXLOGLQJDLUÀHOGVDQG
known as the Battle of Britain. The presi but added to the defense provided by the Civil War. In May and August, Germany bases. In the spring of 1939, the Army Air
dent’s order was in response to a series of British. A common cry from the U.S. was signed an alliance with Italy and then a Corps came up with a plan for 24 groups.
hostile acts by a number of nations. The freedom of the seas, which meant free ac QRQDJJUHVVLRQSDFWZLWKWKH6RYLHWV2Q A year later, its vision expanded to 41
“moderate” German daylight attacks on cess to all international waters. Sept. 1 Germany invaded Poland and won groups, then 54 groups two months later.
shipping and Britain’s southern ports LQÀYHZHHNV In the fall, it went to 84 groups. We still
were just the latest. However, that order However, the world was a dangerous were not ready.
UHVXOWHGLQWKHFUHDWLRQRI/LWFKÀHOG3DUN place. In 1927, the Chinese Civil War be 2Q -DQ )'5 DVNV IRU
)LHOGZKLFKEHFDPH/XNH)LHOGLQ JDQ:LWKLQÀYH\HDUV-DSDQWRRNFRQWURO million for Army aircraft. That appropria Courtesy of Rick Griset
of Manchuria. Three years later, Italy tion doubled the Army Air Corps’ size. The
)LYH\HDUVDQGRQHZHHNODWHU(PSHURU invaded Ethiopia. challenges throughout the expansions 6th Fighter Wing History
Hirohito announced on radio his nation’s
surrender. The common Japanese had In 1936, the Spanish Civil War began.
never heard his divine voice before. Be Three months later, Stalin conducted
cause of the time zones, it was Aug. 14 the Great Purge in the Soviet Union. He
LQ WKH 86 2Q WKDW GD\ DOO 86 3 imprisoned or killed suspected opponents.
3 DQG 3 SLORW WUDLQLQJ WHUPLQDWHG The next year, Japan declared war on
DW/XNH)LHOG$WSP('73UHVLGHQW China again. Both Germany and Japan
Truman announced receipt of the formal continued to expand their war machines.
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formal surrender on Sept. 2. our national defenses inadequate in the
face of the warlike preparation abroad.
To take you back, after the horrors of He was not wrong. In March, Japanese
World War I’s trenches, the United States WURRSVUHDFKHGWKH<HOORZ5LYHULQ&KLQD
decided its best defense was isolationism. and Germany annexed Austria.
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