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Central Washington University Archives

Guide to the Air Force, R. O. T. C.
  • Historic Records
  • RG 075, Series 08-02

    • Processed and Listed by: Dieter C. Ullrich
    Date: January 16, 2008

    Date Span: 1939-1961

    Size: 1.25 cubic feet.

    Number of Boxes: 2 letter sized document cases and 1 letter half sized document case.

    Type of material: Correspondence, memorandums and reports.

    Physical condition: Fair with some foxing and tears caused by improper handling and storage.

    Arrangement: Organized in alphabetical order by title of file folder subject heading. Chronological arrangement.

    Historical or Biographical Sketch: Efforts to establish an Air Force training program at Central Washington University began in the fall of 1942 when President Robert E. McConnell sent telegrams to the United States War Department, the Secretary of the Navy and high ranking military and government officials offering all the facilities of the college to assist in the war effort. The Navy turned down President McConnell stating the college was too small for a training program. The Army, however, took up McConnell’s offer and after some improvements to the dorms and dining facilities two hundred men of the 314th Army Air Force Training Detachment arrived on March 1, 1943. Two hundred more soldiers arrived the following week. From March of 1943 until the end of April of 1944, men of the 314th A.A.F. were trained to serve as aircrews for fighter units. On May 1, 1945, the 3058th Army Air Forces Base Unit replaced the 314th A.A.F. Training Detachment. The 3058th A.A.F. Base Unit trained in Ellensburg until June 23, 1944 before being sent to other military posts.

    President McConnell made attempts to retain the program but the war was winding down and the need for training facilities on college campuses were being reduced nationwide. In August of 1945, the Army Air Force Training Command sent a survey to the college in reference to the establishment of a post-war Air Reserve Officers Training Corps. Once again campus facilities became a factor, along with low male student enrollment and no nearby armory. The Army chose not to select Central. Three years later in 1948, President McConnell applied to the Secretary of Defense for either an Army or Air Force R.O.T.C. unit. His efforts failed. When the United States became involved in the Korean Conflict in the summer of 1950, McConnell lobbied regional congressman in Washington D. C. to establish a compulsory R.O.T.C. unit at the college. On April 20, 1951, Central Washington College of Education was selected to participate in the Air Force R.O.T.C. program. The official date of the program’s establishment was on July 1, 1951 and by the fall quarter training was being conducted on the Ellensburg campus. Currently the Air Force R.O.T.C. Detachment 895 Cadet Wing resides and trains at Central Washington University.

    Scope and Content Note: The collection consists of correspondence, memorandums and reports retained by the administrative offices of Central Washington College of Education (presently Central Washington University) related to Ellensburg campus aviation programs from 1939 to 1961. The records contain historical documents on the Civilian Pilot Training Program of the Civilian Aeronautics Authority (1939-1946), the Army Air Force Training Detachment (1943-1944) that served here during the Second World War and the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (1945-1961) that was organized on the Central Washington University campus in 1951. The collection includes correspondence, memorandums, curriculum, budgets, etc. from the 314th Army Air Force Training Detachment and the 3058th Army Air Forces Base Unit.

    Research Note: Open to the public for educational research.
    Inventory List:
    Box 1
    1. Army Air Base Geiger Field – Correspondence, 1943-1944
    2. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Checklists for Mess Inspection, 1943-1944
    3. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Contract negotiations, 1942
    4. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Contract negotiations, 1943
    5. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Contract terminated, 1944
    6. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Correspondence, 1943
    7. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Correspondence, 1944
    8. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Curriculum, 1943
    9. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Faculty and Staff, 1943
    10. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Kamola Hal Remodel, 1943
    11. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Miscellaneous, 1943
    12. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Miscellaneous, 1944
    13. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Photographs, 1943-1944
    14. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Program of Instruction, 1942-1944
    15. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Property lists and expenses, 1943
    16. Army Air Force Training Detachment – Receipts and accounts, 1943-1944
    17. Army Air Forces Material Command – Memorandums, 1944

    Box 2
    1. Business Manager, Central Washington College of Education – Correspondence, 1943
    2. Campus Buildings – Square footage and Occupancy, 1943
    3. Civilian Pilot Training Program – 1939-1946
    4. Contract for Pilot Training, 1942
    5. Contracts – War Department and Central Washington College of Education, 1943
    6. Contracts – War Department and Central Washington College of Education, 1943
    7. Contracts – War Department and Central Washington College of Education, 1944
    8. Correspondence – Commanding Officer, Army Air Force Training Detachment, 1943-1944
    9. Correspondence – Ernest L. Muzzall, 1943-1944
    10. First Year of the 314th Army Air Force Training Detachment, 1944
    11. Historical outline of the data regarding 3058th Army Air Forces Base Unit, 1943-1944
    12. Report on Summer Civilian Pilot Training, 1942
    13. R.O.T.C. – Application, 1948
    14. R.O.T.C. – Correspondence, 1945
    15. R.O.T.C. – Correspondence, 1950
    16. R.O.T.C. – Correspondence, 1951
    17. R.O.T.C. – Correspondence, 1952-1953

    Box 3
    1. R.O.T.C. – Correspondence, 1954-1955
    2. R.O.T.C. – Correspondence, 1956-1959
    3. R.O.T.C. – Correspondence, 1960-1961
    4. R.O.T.C. – Link Foundation Grant, 1958-1961
    5. Supplemental History of the 314th Army Air Force Training Detachment, 1944
    6. War Department, Army Air Forces Material Command – Correspondence, 1943-1944
    7. War Department, Army Air Forces Material Command – Memorandums, 1943-1944

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