The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was
the aviation component of the United States Army during World War II. The title of Army Air Forces succeeded the prior
name of Army Air Corps (USAAC) in June 1941 during preparation for expected combat in World War II. Although countries
such as Great Britain had a separate Air Force, the Army Air Forces were part of the U.S. Army and a direct precursor
to the U.S. Air Force. The USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947 as an autonomous part of the U.S. Army, equal to the
Army Ground Forces and Army Service Forces.
Dad served from July 11, 1942 (entered Ft. Niagara,
NY) to November 23, 1945 (Honorable Discharge, Greensboro, NC). Dad obtained the rank of Corporal (Machinist 114), having
spent his previous civilian years (1939-1942) as an aircraft assembler at Curtis-Wright Airplane Corporation, then completing
ten (10) weeks of training at Chanute Field (IL) while enlisted. Dad was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, American
Theater Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal.
Dad's last few months were spent stateside in an Army hospital, recovering
from an injury sustained overseas and finally discharged (separated) from AAF ORD (Overseas Replacement Depot) in