Air War WW2 Portal

Equipment was purchased from The USAAF. Primary Training started at Sherman Airfield at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Basic Training at Hinds Airbase not far from Jackson, Mississippi and the Advanced Training at Tallulah Airbase with Forest Field as a reserve. Headquarters of the RNMFS were at Jackson Army Air Base.

The Training scheme of the USAAF was adopted by the Dutch. The training scheme consisted of three stages:
1. Primary Training
2. Basic Training
3. Advanced Training

On May 5th 1942 The Netherlands Purchasing Commission (NPC) send a request for delivery of 55 Primary Trainers, 50 Basic Trainers, 25 Advanced Trainers (single engined) and 35 Advanced Trainers (twin-engined) to the Munitions Assignment Board (Air) to the American Ministery of War in Washington.
Within a week delivery of planes started. Between May 12th and 16th 55 PT19A were delivered at Sherman Army Field at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The planes came straight from Fairchild production facilities.
Between May 9th and 14th the 50 Vultee BT13A arrived at Jackson Army Air Base. These came straight from the Vultee production line.
Between June 27th and 30th 25 AT6's were delivered to Jackson Army Air Base. The planes came from various depots.
All these planes were American property and flew with American serials.

The twin-engined Advanced Trainers (AT), the Beechcraft AT11 and the Lockheed model L-12, were Dutch property. These were originally ordered for service in the Dutch East Indies.
They were delivered between May 6th and June 5th 1942 at Jackson Army Air Base.
The Beech AT-11 got fake US-serials, compiled from 'fiscal year' 42 and the construction numbers of the planes. 'Serials' were: 42-3057 to 42-3080.
The Lockheed planes retained their Dutch 'East Indies' serials L2-36 to L2-46.

The training courses started as follows:
1. Primary Training - 4 months - 80 flying hours/student - 100 students.
2a. Basic Training - 4 months - 120 flying hours/student - 80 students.
2b. Basic Training - 2 months - 80 flying hours/student - 125 students.
3a. Advanced Training - 4 months - 100 flying hours/student - 125 students.
3b. AT Bombardiers - 21 weeks - 75 flying hours/student - 51 students.
3c. AT Air-Gunners - 6 weeks - 75 flying hours/student - 173 students.
A totally of 654 students.