Spence Air Base

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SPENCE AIR BASE

Moultrie, Georgia

SPENCE/HAWTHORNE REUNION - OCTOBER 10 & 11, 2008

(See details below)

This web site conveys, in word and picture, a brief history of Spence Air Base, a base that performed a vital training function during two wars, and completed it's second military mission in March, 1961. It is dedicated to the personnel, both military and civilian, who played a role in the operation of Spence Air Base during its two terms as a military air training center. Although military operations covered by this web site ceased long ago many still look back on their tour of duty at Spence among their most challenging, rewarding and enjoyable life experiences. This site is dedicated also to the fine people of Moultrie, Georgia and surrounding area who graciously accepted those who served at Spence, took us into their homes and hearts and by their actions taught us the true meaning of “southern hospitality”.

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In 1941, before the United States was actively engaged in World War II, a new Army Air Force base was carved from some 1600 acres of tobacco and cotton fields a few miles southeast of Moultrie, Georgia. It was named Spence Air Base after World War I hero Lt. Thomas Lewis Spence of Thomasville, Georgia. When the attack on Pearl Harbor came on December 7, 1941 a small military detachment of 27 officers and 39 enlisted men staffed Spence Air Base.

Spence grew rapidly into an Advanced single engine training base that functioned throughout the war and trained nearly 6000 pilots by the time the base closed in November of 1945. The last several months of operation, from February 1945 until the base closed it served as a Basic flight training site.

Spence was reactivated in 1951 during the Korean conflict due to the increased need for well trained military pilots. The base had deteriorated badly over its six idle years and a major renovation project was required to return it to acceptable standards. Repair work was still underway when the first United States Air Force (USAF) class, Class 52-C, reported for training in May 1951.

On it’s second military mission Spence operated as a Contract Primary Flying Training base - a training system where a civilian contractor provided professional flight, maintenance and support personnel to train military students, in military aircraft, to military standards, with their training monitored by a specialized military team selected for that purpose. It was one of nine Towers

contract bases activated during the Korean conflict era and was among the last of this group to be phased out. The contract training concept was first introduced during World War II by General “Hap” Arnold and resulted in most World War II Army Air Force pilots receiving some of their training in one of the over 60 contract schools that operated during that war.

The civilian contractor for the Spence operation was Hawthorne Flying Service of Charleston, South Carolina operating under the name Hawthorne School of Aeronautics. Hawthorne had operated contract schools during World War II so was well qualified for the new assignment. President of Hawthorne was world famous aerobatic pilot Beverly E. “Bevo” Howard. Military supervision was provided by the 3302nd Pilot Training Squadron of the USAF Air Training Command.

Instructor Pilots and Flight Supervisors were selected from a pool of ex-military and professional civilian pilots who were then given further training at the USAF Instructor Pilot School at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Alabama. Flight students were USAF aviation cadets and student officers interspersed with additional trainees from other U.S. military services plus trainees from over 30 allied countries. Students and instructors alike were spot checked periodically by 3302nd military check pilots and by a traveling USAF standardization board to insure that training conformed to strict USAF standards. Spence was noted for both its standardization and safety record and received several USAF commendations for both.

Spence flight students flew the finest of military training aircraft available at that time. In the earlier classes students flew the North American T-6G, the latest version of the legendary AT-6 advanced trainer of World War II, during their entire flight curriculum. Time proved that the T-6 was a major challenge for some beginning students and the Piper PA-18 was added to the training fleet. The PA-18 was a less complex aircraft that permitted early screening of flight students and allowed students to develop some degree of proficiency before advancing to the more sophisticated T-6. In 1953-54 the T-6 was replaced with the more modern North American T-28 and in 1955 the new Beechcraft T-34 replaced the PA-18. The T-34 & T-28 were the standard trainers until 1959-60 when the new Cessna T-37 jet trainer was phased in replacing the T-28 and it remained until military flight operations at Spence were terminated.

Flight training took place at Spence, the home field, plus three auxiliary fields, Thomasville, Tifton and Sunset Field south of Moultrie.

Flight operations varied somewhat over time but typically consisted of two squadrons of four flights each. Flights normally included a Flight Commander, Assistant Flight Commander, Standardization Leader, Safety Leader and about fifteen additional instructors, depending on the size of the class. Four students were assigned to each instructor. Students alternated between morning and afternoon flight schedules with other required training during the remaining half-day. Actual flying training typically entailed 30 hours in the smaller first phase aircraft and another 100 hours in the more complex second phase aircraft, all flown in a six month period. Students were trained in fundamental through advanced maneuvers, night flying, instrument flying, navigation and aerobatics. A student class graduated and a new class started every six weeks. Graduates went on to a Basic Training base for an additional six months and upon satisfactory completion of that phase of training Cadets were commissioned and all graduates received their coveted silver wings. Advanced training followed, with eventual operational assignments.

While flying training was the primary mission at Spence little would have been accomplished without the dedicated support groups that worked hand-in-hand with the Flight Department. Departments of Academic Training, Flight Safety, Aircraft Maintenance, Base Supply, Base Engineering and Maintenance, Food Services, Accounting and Industrial Relations all fell under the umbrella of responsibility of Hawthorne School of Aeronautics. All departments contributed significantly to fulfilling the primary mission.

Chapel

Spence Air Base was a model of cooperation between military and civilian personnel with strong support from the surrounding community. All worked in concert to successfully accomplish an important mission. Spence, in the 1951-61 decade, saw over a million hours flown, with over 2.5 million take offs and landings and over 6400 flight students successfully completing their training courses. In addition to flight trainees from the United States students were trained from Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippine Islands, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela, and Viet Nam. It was indeed a decade of accomplishment for all involved.

The skies over Moultrie and vicinity were relatively quiet for many years following the base closure in 1961 but it was not always so. The older folks of the Moultrie area and aging pilots worldwide remembered when those same skies were filled with graceful aircraft training fine young airmen to become competent military pilots in order to help protect and defend freedom throughout the world.

Sources: Hawthorne publications SPENCE AIR BASE and THE SPENCE STORY, personal knowledge gained as an instructor pilot and standardization leader at Spence Air Base, plus information and photographs contributed by many fine people who shared in the Spence experience.

Note: Since launching the Spence Web site we have learned that Spence was again used by the USAF. It served as an auxiliary field for the pilot training program at Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA being used for take off and landing operations by their T-6 Texan II turbo-prop trainers. For the latest information on Spence click here.

This web site is a works in progress and subject to additions and modification as time goes on - Bruce R. Watson

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VIEW OUR SPENCE GUEST BOOK

An informal Spence/Hawthorne reunion is planned for October 10-11, 2008 in Moultrie, GA at the Hampton Inn where it was held the last time we met. For details contact Vivion S. Griner, 1862 U.S. Hwy 319 South, Moultrie, Ga. 31768, Phone 229-985-3048. You must make your own reservations at the Hampton Inn, Phone 229-616-7777, if you are coming. Most will plan to arrive Thursday evening and depart Sunday morning. All former Spence personnel, civilian and military, including former Student Officers, Aviation Cadets and others are welcome.

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