vincent p. norris wrote:
My grandfather, Naval Aviator #711, told me about standing up in
the cockpit and peeing over the side of his plane.
That would also indicate he was designated between 1911 and 1919.
During those years 2834 Naval Aviators were designated.
I got my wings in February, 1951, and my number is V-1493.
Anyone know how they got from 2834 in 1919 and V-1493 in 1951?
The system changed (at least) twice in between. In 1942, they started
issueing letter-number combos based on where they took their training. Then
in 1949, they switched it so that they gave numbers based on the command in
charge fo the training course. The V-series numbers started then.
http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP01.PDF
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Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when
wrong to be put right." - Senator Carl Schurz, 1872