Biggest Ever

AIR

For the first time since war came to the U.S., the Army released statistics on the vast educational system which has built the "world's greatest air force, now in excess of 2,300,000 officers and enlisted men."

Off to a slow start in 1938 (pilot output: 500 a year), the Air Forces picked up speed rapidly. By last Nov. 30 it had trained 100,799 pilots, 20,086 bombardiers, 18,805 navigators, 107,218 aerial gunners, 555,891 ground and air combat technicians. To do the job Lieut. General Barton K. Yount had built his Training Command into the Air Forces' largest single unit. By year's end, with the big end of its job already done, the Training Command had 531,416 officers and men (exclusive of about 500,000 students). It also had more aircraft than any combat air force. From Piper Cubs to Fortresses and Liberators, the total was about 29,000.

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