WWII Flight Training Museum

06/16/2026

| Silas E. (Si) Cloud, Class of 1944-G, was born November 22, 1921, in Eldorado, Illinois. Before entering the Army Air Forces on February 18, 1943, he was employed by the Republic Aviation Corporation in Evansville, Illinois. He completed Basic Flying Training at Cochran Field, Macon, Georgia and graduated from Advanced Flying Training at Moody Field, Valdosta, Georgia. Lieutenant Cloud deployed to England on September 26, 1944. He was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 364 Bomb Squadron, 305 Bomb Group and flew 29 missions in Europe.

On March 1, 1945, an article in the Daily Journal of Eldorado, Illinois reported that Second Lieutenant Silas E. Cloud had recently been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial combat. It went on to say, "Lt. Cloud, a co-pilot on the B-17 Flying Fortress 'Hedge Hopper,' has participated in fourteen daylight bombing assaults against the N**i war machine in Europe.

"One of the 14 missions took Lt. Cloud to Giessen, Germany. The target was an enemy airfield. It was exceptionally clear that day and he could see flashes of German anti-aircraft guns as they fired at the attacking formations of B-17 Flying Fortresses. Lt. Cloud's plane was hit by shell fragments as it proceeded over the target to drop its bombs, but the 'Hedge Hopper' made its way safely back to England without casualties, to report good bombing.”

In November 1945, Cloud married Ann Wilkerson, who worked at the canteen on the airbase in Douglas. He stayed in Douglas and worked at Douling Furniture Company and Douglas Flying Service crop dusting for Billy Joe Dukes, a former 63rd FTD instructor. In July 1947, he moved to Fernandina, Florida where he worked until recalled to active on January 24, 1951. At the time his Air Force career ended, he had close to 50 combat missions and flew B-17s, B-29s, A-16s, and other aircraft.

Does anyone remember Si Cloud and his family?

06/15/2026

| The Georgia Historical Society Honors the Raymond-Richardson Aviation School | Erected in 2000 on Highway 221/441 just south of Douglas, Georgia |

“Wesley Raymond, Robert Richardson and others founded a school here in 1939 to teach basic flight skills to college students. With the start of World War II, the school became the 63rd Flight Training Detachment Airbase and provided primary flight training for several thousand young men. In addition to working clerical and food preparation jobs, many local women served as civilian base dispatchers and aircraft mechanics. Although officially closed in 1944, the airstrip and hangers have continued in use as a municipal airport and the barracks and administration buildings have seen a wide variety of community uses.”

By the summer of 1941, war had engulfed Europe and Asia. Although the United States had not yet entered the conflict, the nation was already preparing for a global fight. From the pine woods of the Southeast to the scorching deserts of the Southwest, signs of military buildup were everywhere.

As war approached, the government launched the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) to train thousands of new aviators. Almost overnight, small civilian airfields, like Douglas, became busy training centers. From 1939 to 1944, the CPTP trained more than 400,000 aviators. These schools were located where mild weather allowed year-round flying. Across the southern United States, the skies filled with training aircraft as young Americans prepared for war in the air.

The Raymand-Richardson Aviation School and later the 63rd Flying Training Detachment was one of 833 aircrew training bases in the United States and one of 14 in Georgia. Some 5,000-7,000 aviation cadets came here to learn to fly.

Of the 55 civilian Primary flying training centers across the country, the base at Douglas is the most intact. Quieter today, the Airbase holds a special place in history for this community, state, and nation.

Have you made plans to visit the Airbase and Museum?

06/14/2026

06/13/2026

On October 10, 1943, Captain John D. Brady, Class 1942-G, flew a B-17F Flying Fortress Serial Name: 42-30830 and nicknamed “M’lle Zig Zig” on a bombing mission from Thorpe Abbotts, England to Munster, Germany. The plane had a crew of 11, with Major John C. Egan, 418th Bomb Squadron Commander, and Captain Brady both listed as pilots. The aircraft assigned to the 418th Bomb Squadron 100th Bomb Group was in the lead position. It received a flak hit under the aircraft in front of ball turret. Radio room was riddled. The aircraft was under control when last seen.

The crew bailed out in the vicinity of Haltern, some thirty miles southwest of Munster. 10 were captured by the Germans and were prisoners of war. Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Harold E. Clanton was killed in action. Brady saw "all other crew members at one time or another since the various camps we were in were liberated."

While in Stalag Luft III, Brady played saxophone in a dance band made up of fellow prisoners of wars, with instruments furnished by the International Red Cross. He was held captive from October 10, 1943 to April 29, 1945. He returned to the US in June 1945.

On July 17, 1945, his upcoming marriage to Miss Esther L. Wilkinson, a teacher from Canandaigua, New York, was announced. Their marriage license application shows his primary occupation as Bomber Pilot with a second occupation as Prisoner. They would be married for 54 years and would have three children. He was a major at the time of his discharge.

John Donnelly Brady was born October 5, 1918, in Victor, New York. He graduated from Canandaigua Academy in 1937, continued his study of music at Ithaca College of Music, and graduated from there in 1941. Brady was acting instructor at the college and director of the college's band in summer concerts when drafted into service. Sadly, he died December 31, 1999, at age 81 in Burtonsville, New York.

Did you know that the 100th Bomb Group had 923 crew members taken as prisoners of war during the War?

06/12/2026

What a great day at the Currahee Military Museum! Wonder if he will be able to see England play in a World Cup match as well?

06/12/2026

- The sign at the entrance of the WWII Flight Training Base - Douglas,GA said, “WARNING RESTRICTED AREA”. The security guards were the ones who enforced this and made sure that the airbase and personnel were safe. We do not know how many security guards were employed at the Airbase, but we do know about three of the security guards posted here.

Mr. Fred Brayden, a WWI combat veteran, farmer, and miller, worked as a guard on the Airbase and at the Douglas Icehouse. His service revolver was recently loaned to the Museum for display by his family. Mr. John Ben Browning was born in Tifton, Geogia on October 27, 1904. He was employed by the Douglas Police Department before working at the Airbase, Lastly, there is Mr. J.C. Wright, born on March 14, 1906, joined the security department on December 14, 1941. Just one week after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Do you know of anyone who worked as a security guard at the Airbase? Can you help fill in any more information on Browning, Brayden, or Wright?

06/11/2026

William Karl Damaschke, Class 1943-G, was born on October 29, 1918, in Port Huron, Michigan to Henry and Bertha Damaschke. His parents were born in Germany. He was their second born child with an elder sister and two younger brothers.

By 1930, William was 11 years old and living on Minnie Street in Port Huron. His father worked as a gas operator for the local Light and Power Company. William graduated from the Port Huron High School, Class of 1937. The 1940 US Census showed that William was 21 years old and was working in the private sector. That same year on October 12, 1940, he married Miss Olga Deborah Lenn. They divorce after five years of marriage on September 28, 1946. Records show that William entered the Army Air Corps on July 28, 1943, when he was 24 years old.

Aviation Cadet Damaschke completed Primary Flying Training in Douglas sometime March 1943. He had Basic at Gunter Field, Alabama and graduated Advanced at George Field, Illinois on July 28, 1943. Second Lieutenant Damaschke then went to Laughlin Army Airfield in Del Rio, Texas. There he trained to pilot the Martin B-26 Marauder, twin-engined medium bomber. We are not sure what happened to William next, but he was discharged on October 6, 1945, at the rank of first lieutenant.

On March 22, 1947, William married Miss Ruth Gawne in Port Huron. The 1950 US Census shows William working as a compressor operator from the Public Gas Works and has an infant daughter. Our story runs dry at this point.

The next record of William K. Damaschke is when he dies. His obituary in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper stated, “William K. Damaschke, 84, a retired natural gas control supervisor for Southeast Michigan Gas Company, died Friday, April 11, 2003, at Ocala Regional Medical Center. A native of Port Huron, Michigan, he moved here 17 years ago.” He is buried with his wife, Ruth, in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. “Fair skies and tail winds.”

Do you recall other B-26 pilots who trained in Douglas?

06/10/2026

“The Man Who Saved the G.I. Bill” | - 82 years ago, on a stormy night in South Georgia, US Congressman John S. Gibson was rushed from Douglas to Jacksonville, Florida by a police motorcycle es**rt. There a plane flew him to Washington, D.C. Gibson arrived just in time to cast his vote to break the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act out of a conference committee deadlock on June 10, 1944, the final day the lawmakers would meet about it. His dramatic overnight journey changed U.S. History.

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, better known as the G.I. Bill, was intended to help WWII veterans transition back to civilian life. It provided funds for college, houses, and unemployment benefits. The law also sought to prevent the economic disruption and widespread joblessness predicted for the 15 million returning service members. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the act into law on June 22, 1944.

John S. Gibson was born near Folkston, Georgia on January 3, 1893, to William and Julia Gibson. He attended Charlton County schools. After graduation, he moved to Douglas and attended Georgia State Normal College.

Gibson began his legal studies at the office of George Mingledorff. Admitted to the bar in 1922, he began practice in Douglas. He was one of Georgia's most respected and feared attorneys and was solicitor of the city court of Douglas from 1928 to 1934. In 1934, Gibson was elected solicitor general of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, a role equivalent to today’s district attorney, until 1940.

Gibson’s growing popularity led to his election to represent Georgia’s Eighth District in the United States Congress in 1940. He began serving in the 77th Congress, won re-election twice, and served from January 3, 1941, to January 3, 1947.

After failing to secure renomination in 1946, Gibson returned to Douglas and resumed his law practice. He died on October 19, 1960, and is buried in the City Cemetery.

Many of our cadets were able to go back to school and further their education? Did you or someone you know use the GI Bill?

06/09/2026

Sometimes all we have is a name, class number, photo, and a paragraph in Ancestry.com. Girard E. Georger, Class 1945-C, is one of those.

“Girard Eugene Georger was born on September 4, 1922, in Buffalo, New York, to Leon and Anna Georger. He married Ruth Dolores Szpakowski in Buffalo on June 26, 1954, and they had two children. He died on February 20, 2011, in Williamsville, New York, at age 88 and was buried in Lancaster, New York.”

Georger was in the last class at the WWII Flight Training Base in Douglas. He posed for a photo with his classmate, Edward Arnold Ferris, in late 1944 or early 1945. Ferris did graduate Advance Flying Training at Napier Field, Alabama in May 1945.
Records show that Georger may have registered for the Draft at age 19 on June 30, 1942, in Buffalo, New York. His occupation was listed as Student at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. There is no mention of his service in his obituary or on his gravestone.

His Korea War Era Draft Registration Card shows Georger was on active-duty August 24,1943, in the Army Air Forces. At the time of his discharge on March 8, 1946, he was stationed at Amarillo Army Airfield, Texas assigned to the 629th Training Squadron.

We know that there has to be more to his story than we have. If know anything about Georger or any of our other cadets with little or no information listed in our database, please let us know. With the passing of our WWII veterans, many stories are fading away. Can you help before it is too late? flighttrainingbasedouglasga