Air Force, R.O.T.C. Historic Records, 1939-2017

Overview of the Collection

Creator
United States. Air Force ROTC.
Title
Air Force, R.O.T.C. Historic Records
Dates
1939-2017 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.25 cubic feet, (4 letter sized document cases and 1 letter half sized document case)  :  Correspondence, memoranda and reports in fair condition with some foxing and tears caused by improper handling and storage
Collection Number
RG075-08-02
Summary
The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, 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 2006.
Repository
Central Washington University, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Central Washington University
400 E University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Telephone: 509-963-1023
Fax: 509-963-3684
archive@cwu.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to the public for educational research.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

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 that 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 late April of 1944, men of the 314th A.A.F. were trained to serve as air crews for fighter units. On May 1, 1944, 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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Air Force R.O.T.C. records retained by Central Washington College of Education 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 in Ellensburg, WA, during the Second World War, and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (1945-1961) that was organized on the Central Washington University campus in 1951. The collection includes correspondence, memoranda, curricula, budgets, etc., from the 314th Army Air Force Training Detachment and the 3058th Army Air Force Base Unit.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Central Washington University began as the Washington State Normal School in 1891. In 1937, the school was rechristened the Central Washington College of Education. In 1961, the school became Central Washington State College and, finally, in 1977, Central Washington University.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number]. RG075-08-02, Air Force R.O.T.C. Historic Records. Archives and Special Collections, Brooks Library, Central Washington University.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

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

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1-1 Army Air Base Geiger Field – Correspondence 1943-1944
1-2 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Checklists for Mess Inspection 1943-1944
1-3 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Contract negotiations 1942
1-4 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Contract negotiations 1943
1-5 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Contract terminated 1944
1-6 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Correspondence 1943
1-7 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Correspondence 1944
1-8 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Curriculum 1943
1-9 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Faculty and Staff 1943
1-10 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Kamola Hal Remodel 1943
1-11 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Miscellaneous 1943
1-12 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Miscellaneous 1944
1-13 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Photographs 1943-1944
1-14 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Program of Instruction 1942-1944
1-15 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Property lists and expenses 1943
1-16 Army Air Force Training Detachment – Receipts and accounts 1943-1944
1-17 Army Air Forces Material Command – Memoranda 1944
2-1 Business Manager, Central Washington College of Education – Correspondence, 1943 1943
2-2 Campus Buildings – Square footage and Occupancy 1943
2-3 Civilian Pilot Training Program 1939-1946
2-4 Contract for Pilot Training 1942
2-5 Contracts – War Department and Central Washington College of Education 1943
2-6 Contracts – War Department and Central Washington College of Education 1943
2-7 Contracts – War Department and Central Washington College of Education 1944
2-8 Correspondence – Commanding Officer, Army Air Force Training Detachment 1943-1944
2-9 Correspondence – Ernest L. Muzzall 1943-1944
2-10 First Year of the 314th Army Air Force Training Detachment 1944
2-11 Historical outline of the data regarding 3058th Army Air Forces Base Unit 1943-1944
2-12 Military Science Department, Strategic Plans 1993-1995
2-13 Military Science Department, Strategic Plans 1994-1999
2-14 Report on Summer Civilian Pilot Training 1942
2-15 R.O.T.C. – Application 1948
2-16 R.O.T.C. – Correspondence 1945
2-17 R.O.T.C. – Correspondence 1950
2-18 R.O.T.C. – Correspondence 1951
3-1 R.O.T.C. – Correspondence 1952-1953
3-2 R.O.T.C. – Correspondence 1954-1955
3-3 R.O.T.C. – Correspondence 1956-1959
3-4 R.O.T.C. – Correspondence 1960-1961
3-5 R.O.T.C. – Link Foundation Grant 1958-1961
3-6 R.O.T.C. – Programs 1994-2006
3-7 R.O.T.C. – Training Schedules 1993-1994
3-8 Supplemental History of the 314th Army Air Force Training Detachment 1944
3-9 War Department, Army Air Forces Material Command – Correspondence 1943-1944
3-10 War Department, Army Air Forces Material Command – Memoranda 1943-1944
4-1 AFROTC: Pamphlets and programs student events 1993-2007
4-2 AFROTC: Unit closure issues, budget cuts and recruit report 1987-1988
4-3 AFROTC: Paperwork unit transition from 2 to 4 year unit 1985-
4-4 AFROTC: Letters sent to the detachment 1992-2006
4-5 AFROTC: Event documents, WWII 50th anniversary commemoration, Veterans Day special programming, military ball, and Battalion Reunion 1993-2007
4-6 AFROTC: Newspaper clippings 1993-2017
4-7 AFROTC: Class content, field traning documents 1990-1992
4-8 AFROTC: Cadet Handbooks 1991-1996
5-1 AFROTC: Deceased students records 1990-2004
5-2 AFROTC: School newsletters, The Cascade Chronical 1990-1995
5-3 AFROTC: Various School Newsletters 1957-2016
5-4 AFROTC: Det. 895 Historical Files 1950-1959
5-5 AFROTC: Det. 895 Historical Files 1960-1969
5-6 AFROTC: Det. 895 Historical Files, includes photographs and film 1980-1989
5-7 AFROTC: Det. 895 Historical Files 1990-2000
5-8 AFROTC: Various photographs and newspaper clippings -
5-9 AFROTC: CWU military flyer 1993-
5-10 AFROTC: Guestbook 1984-2001
5-11 AFROTC: David Wyatt / Silver Wings Scholarship 1990-2015

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Civilian Pilot Training Program (U.S.)
  • History, Military--United States--20th century
  • United States. Air Force ROTC.

Geographical Names

  • Ellensburg, Wash.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • United States. Army Air Forces. (creator)