Air Force, R.O.T.C. Historic Records

Air Force, R.O.T.C. Historic Records, 1939-2006

Overview of the Collection

Creator: United States. Air Force ROTC.
Title: Air Force, R.O.T.C. Historic Records
Dates: 1939-2006 (inclusive)
19392006
Quantity: 1.25 cubic feet, (2 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

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)

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