The Royal Air Force in Oklahoma

By Paula Carmack Denson

Hardcover

Citizens of the Oklahoma towns of Ponca City and Miami never could have dreamed of the impact that their communities would have on the lives of thousands of Royal Air Force pilots who found themselves training over Oklahoma prairies during World War II. Neither could they have realized the role the Brits would come to play in their lives as well. The two training schools, part of six which were established in the United States as a result of the Lend-Lease Act of March, 1941, were built by civilian companies under the leadership of Hal Darr, who established Darr School of Aeronautics in Ponca City, and Captain Maxwell Balfour, CEO for Spartan School of Aeronautics in Miami. These schools, under the direction of capable Royal Air Force officers, were taught by American civilian flying instructors. United States Army Air Force cadets also trained while the two schools operated in Oklahoma. Paula Denson explores the history of both schools and their people as she reveals a colorful cast of characters, many forgotten, whose stories remain an important part of a world which has slipped past us. This chronicle provides a historic, well-documented glimpse into the lives of people, both English and American, and the relationships that were formed when they were thrown together by the necessities of war. This 187-page book is profusely illustrated with photographs.