NATTC Timeline: April - June 1943

Choose Year/Month Combo:    
1942 May-Aug 1942 Sept-Dec 1943 Jan-Mar 1943 Apr-Jun 1943 Jul-Sept 1943 Oct-Dec 1944 Jan-Mar 1944 Apr-Jun 1944 Jul-Sept 1944 Oct-Dec 1945 Jan-Mar 1945 Apr-Jun 1945 Jul-Sept 1945 Oct-Dec 1946 Jan-Mar


April 1, 1943
  • Big dance announced for Friday evening April 2nd in the station's new large auditorium (Building 92) from 7:00 - 9:30 PM. On hand will be more than 100 girls from the University of Oklahoma, 450 WAVES along with wives and sweethearts of the sailors. The station's orchastra, the Gremlins, will provide the music and uniform will be undress blues.
  • The Navy Department and the U. S. Bureau of Public Roads approves paving Jenkins Avenue which leads to the north entrance to the base.
  • Plans under way to organize a Chief Petty Officers' Club. A club house has been tentatively selected and improvements under consideration.
  • A ceremony held Saturday April 2nd to present the base with the pennant symbolizing the civilian employees have brought honor to the base through their purchase of U. S. War Bonds. Seen here is the flying of the "E" Penant flag at the ceremony. See Figure 001
  • A USO traveling show called "Show Time at the Roxy" and featuring Hal Leroy, a famous American dancer, gives two shows in Building 92 Monday night April 5th. This was the first time two shows, both identical, were staged to accomodate large crowds and swing shifts.
  • A 20 percent discount in station laundry services was announced by Lieutenant (jg) Jerry Spann, Ship's Service officer. Prices for bundles up to 10 pounds were now fourty cents with each additional pound five cents extra.
  • An invitation was issued to all NATTC personnel to play golf on the University of Oklahoma's small nine-hole course for a special price of 25 cents.
April 8, 1943
  • The April 8th edition of the Bull Horn was dedicated to the Marines Aviation Detachment (MAD). See Figure 002
  • The Marine Aviation Detachment (MAD) program was expanded this week which would ultimately more than double the Marine Aviation personell on the base. Area D was set aside almost entirely to house, mess, train and entertain as one unit without conflicting with other base activities. Although separate the Marines participated in most base sports, ceremonies and events.
  • The Marines (aka Leathernecks) maintained their own clubhouse for their exclusive use at 788 1/2 Asp Avenue in Norman. Monthly dues assessed Marine members largely supported the clubhouse.
  • First Lieutenant Lloyd W. Frank, Acting Assistant Quartermaster of the Marine Aviation Detachment, held the job of instructor of basic training and combat conditioning as well. He can be seen in the attached photo of four officers of the Marine Aviation Detachment, third man from the left. The four officers are, from left to right, Second Lieutenant Walton M. Rock, Major S. W. Burke, commanding officer of the MAD First Lieutenant Lloyd T. Frank and Captain Claude McNorton. See Figure 003
  • The Marines built an obstacle course suited for their own particular needs in the woods on Gallison creek located south of Constitution avenue and north of the railroad spur. The course was contructed by Sgt. Haney and his group of Leathernecks with no funding available.
  • The fourth and final Ship's Service stores opened in Area E in Building 25 on April 8th. The store would be an exact replica in all departments of the other three stores. Civilian personelle employed in Ship's Services increased to over 400 working two shifts a day in the four stores. The recreation room has been in operation for several weeks already with plans to show movies in the auditorium beginning within the month.
  • Due to a nationwide malt shortage a beer "curfew" was initiated on base as a consequent of the station's allotment of beer having been halved. Malt was used in producing TNT explosives.
  • With the completion of a recent competition sponsored by the athletic department a new sports team title, the Skyjackets, was picked for all athletic teams representing NATTC going forward.
  • The first station military wedding was held on Sunday April 4th when Elaine Forsander, daughter of Commander and Mrs. J. P. Forsander, was married to Lieut. Thomas W. Hillis, U. S. Navy Air Corps. Commander J. P. Forsander, station chaplain, performed the ceremony. Captain V. C. Griffin gave the bride in marriage. The wedding reception was held at the Chaplain's quarters south of Norman on Highway 77.
April 15, 1943
  • NATTC's gunnery range was completed and opened the prior week with over 400 men completing the Shotgun Phase of the Training Center's Primary Gunnery Training Program. The program was designed to aid in the selection of men enrolled in the AMM and AOM Schools for training in advanced gunnery schools. One such school was NAGS, located just 15 miles south of NATTC in Purcell, Oklahoma. See Figure 004
  • Entertainment for the week included a USO Travel Show, the American Symphony Orchestra with Lasalo Halasz conducting and Mme. Longone, soprano of the Metropolitan and Chicago operas, as soloist. Two performances were given Monday night in Building 92, one at 7:30 PM and a second at 10:00 PM.
  • Class 20-43, AMM, 144 in count, held graduation exercises in Hanger 88 on April 10th. Commander Arthur G. Norwood, Executive Officer, spoke at the ceremonies and presented the graduation certificates.
April 22, 1943
  • A new War Bond Campaign began April 19 and ran through Friday April 30th. Camptain V. C. Griffin, Commanding Officer at NATTC kicked off the campaign by purchasing bonds totaling more than $1,500 (about $22,000 in 2019 dollars). In this photo Lieutenant J. L. Cleary, War Bonds Officer, presents Captain Griffin with the War Bonds purchased by him. See Figure 005
  • The Gremlins Band furnished the music at the regular station dance held Friday night, April 23rd in Building 92.
  • Transfer of the Marines Aviation Detachment from Area B to Area D is almost complete this week. Marines now occuppy Barracks 64-67 and 71-74 with Baracks 65 being remodeled to serve as headquarters for the detachment.
  • The Welfare Department opened a Booking Department in Building 25. Headed up by Steve Smith the function of the Booking Department was to ferret out local talent on the station to appear in future Variety Shows.
  • The NATTC post office was designated an Official Navy Post Office this week. The post office handles up to 50,000 pieces of mail daily.
April 29, 1943
  • Announcement made for Captain's Personal Inspection Saturday 1 May at 1:45 PM where the first wearing of whites for the year at NATTC. See Figure 006
  • Beginning Monday 3 May the Gem Razor Company under auspices of the NATTC Welfare Department began recording voice records for enlisted personnel in Recreation Building 25. The recordings were mailed home free of charge.
  • Serviceman were invited to a May Day festival dance at the Armory USO Saturday night 1 May. It was a formal affair, blue-jackets were required to wear dress blue. The NATTC Corsairs provided the music. Ladies from Oklahoma City were in attendance.
  • Claire Stafford from Indiana replaced Stanley G. Paine as the director of the Norman Armory USO. Mr. Paine left for foreign service with the American Red Cross overseas. The Norman Armory USO was opened on February 7, 1943.
May 6, 1943
  • The first formal exercises for graduating trainees was held Saturday May 1st at 10:30 in building 92. Classes from the station's three schools combined for the mass ceremony.
  • The station library and reception center officially opened Wednesday 5 May in Building 22. It operated under the supervision of the Senior Chaplain, J. P. Forsander. The library featured over 10,000 books, eighteen reading tables and an air-conditioning system. Miss Bernita Golly was the head librarian.
  • Pawnee Indians from the Pawnee Indian School put on a show Thursday 6 May in the evening in Building 92. The show featured a war council, dancing and authentic pageantry.
  • The Navy began regularly scheduled bus runs between NATTC and the Interurban station this week.
May 13, 1943
  • Ships' Service Officer, Lieut. Jerry G. Spann, announced a reduction in prices of numerous cafe, store and barber shop articles and services. Price reductions were made possible through the profit margin and operational efficiency.
  • Lt. Jeremiah reported Monday to relieve the Catholic Chaplain L. M. F. Cook who was transfered to San Diego Naval Air Station. Chaplain Cook had been at NATTC for seven months.
  • 'Swing's The Thing' Tonight! read the Bullhorn's front page headline. The USO Camp Show, held in Building 92 at both 8 PM and 10 PM, featured Al Sears famous band and several acts of funmakers. This was the sixth USO show to be held at NATTC to-date.
  • The Welfare Department announced a complete change in the schedule of station dances and entertainment. Dances in the new auditorium, Building 92, will be held on Tuesdays, Variety Shows on Thursdays and USO shows along with other special entertainment will be held whenever scheduled. Sunday dances continued as normal.
  • Lieut. B. E. Jameson, NATTC Swimming Director, announced that all three station swimming pools had been filled with water and would be opening up for use in about one week. Altogther the three swimming pools had a combined capacity of 1,650,000 gallons of water. The installed filter plant could reprocess that water three times each day.
May 20, 1943
  • The Thursday Variety Show was held for the first time in Building 92 with the station's band, the Gremlins, heading up the music.
  • Paul Marques of Fox-Movietone News was at NATTC this week preparing newsreels of WAVE activities at the station. The WAVES program at NATTC was selected from that of a number of other training schools because of its suitable facilities and training record to date. The movies comprise the major portion of a Movietone short depicting the evolution of a civilian girl into a trained member of the U. S. Navy.
May 27, 1943
  • Blackstone USO Camp Shows production held Monday 24 May in Building 92. One of the best USO Camp Show productions to date at the station featuring Mr. Blackstone the Magician and his entertainment group.
  • Lieutenant B. E. Jameson, Swimming Officer, announced that the covered swimming pool in Area B is now complete and classes will begin Monday 31 May. The other two outdoor swimming pools in Area D and Area E were not yet completed. In addition to training recreation swim periods were scheduled for the station personnel to promote physical fitness. A contingent of WAVES were allowed to give the pool a try-out. See Figure 007
  • It was announced that during the month of April the officers and personnel of NATTC purchased $95,912 (about $1,388,695 in 2020 dollars) of war bonds at maturity value. This accounted for eight per cent of the total bond purchases made during the month. It was a very impressive figure when one considers the total complement of the station was less than one per cent of the Navy.
  • The Welfare Department announced the introduction of jitter-bug dance competitions every Tuesday and Sunday at the station's dances. The winning couple of these contest were awarded a cash prize of $10 (about $145 in 2020 dollars). Providing music for the first Tuesday dance was the Naval Air Station's band, the Jive Bombers.
  • The USO Armory held a former dance Saturday evening 29 May with the Corsairs providing the music. Girls from the high school graduating class were the honor dancing partners with others in attendance as well.
  • Upon learning of the large number of patients at the U. S. Naval Hospital who were unable to attend the Monday night show Mr. Blackstone went through the hospital entertaining the men in their beds. He also performed a short special act right outside a quarantined WAVES barracks. Clearly Mr. Blackstone had a heart for serving. See Figure 008
  • Security Offier Lieutenant George H. Ludlow announced beginning Saturday 29 May WAVES to guard their own post in their area. Shown in the photo from left to right are Inez Van Winkle and Rita Nolan. See Figure 009
June 3, 1943
  • Paul Richard Christian of Barracks 39 and Joseph Ralph Luckey of Barracks 51 were commended and promoted in rank by Captain Griffin for protecting Navy material found on the public road while on liberty. See Figure 010
  • An all-Navy pair, WAVE Eileen Flemming of Barracks 159 and R. D. Cannos AOM of Barracks 84 won the first jitter-bug dance contest.
  • It was announced that the opening of the remaining swimming pools was once again delayed due to additional repairs being made.
June 10, 1943
  • It was announced that a 32 page photographic booklet depicting life at NATTC would go on sale soon in the Ship's Service Stores. Priced at 30 cents it came with a matching color mailer. Click here to see the actual Pictorial Booklet.
  • Dedicatory chapel services were held Sunday 6 June in Building 23 for the flags donated by the station personnel. See Figure 011
  • NATTC held its first nation-wide NBC radio broadcast Monday 7 June at 7:30 PM. From the stage in Building 92 the radio quiz show True Or False pitted the WAVES against the Bluejackets in a battle of wits. The WAVES put up a great fight but one Bluejacket held the line for the win.
  • The new reception lounge in Building 22 was completed providing enlisted personnel with a suitable place to entertain their guests.
  • Albert D. Miller OAM student from Mt. Vernon, OH Class 40-43 set a Cource C record on May 28, 1943 when he hit 40 consecutive clay birds on the Skeet Range.
  • Twentieth-Century Fox Film Corporation announced that its Movietone News short, titled Women In Blues, is scheduled for national release 2 July. A majority of the pictures for the short subject were taken at NATTC by Paul Marques who spent nearly a week at the station.
June 17, 1943
  • Lieutenant Jerry Spann, Ship's Service Officer, announced a new policy with regards to buying tickets for bus service between NATTC and Oklahoma City. All tickets had to be purchased at one of the Ship's Service Stores (Buildings 22, 23, 24 and 25) at the coupon window. The fare one way was 45 cents, round trip 70 cents. That is the equivilent of $6.52 and $10.14 respectively.
  • The USO Camp Show, Looping the Loop, announced to be presented in two shows Saturday 19 May beginning at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM in Building 92. Featuring 37 cast members and several acts the show was received with enthusiasm across the nation.
  • The last station dance before summer was in the great oak hall, Building 92, was held Sunday 20 June with the Gremlins furnishing the music. Due to the summer heat the dance was moved to Building 25 air-cooled auditorium using recorded music.
  • An abandoned house located on the east side of Gallison Creek was set afire to give the NATTC Fire Department a real life drill. Twenty-three men and 3 fire trucks were on the scene putting water on the house in just 7 minutes and 15 seconds.
  • Recognizing its own the Navy issued the mascot at Building 25, Puddles, his own USN Identification Card 13. Puddles was born on May 9, 1943 and at 6 weeks old was considered one of the station's old salts.
  • The Ship's Service Department opened a telegraph office in the Post Office, Building 93. The telegraph office featured all the facilities of a Western Union office with the exception of money orders. It was noted that only the Ship's Service script was accepted in payment for telegrams.
June 24, 1943
  • The NATTC Pictorial Booklet went on sale Friday 18 June. A total of 6,500 copies were placed in the four Ship's Service stores and the WAVES store and sold out in a matter of hours. The Ship's Service in Building 23 held the record, selling over 500 in 20 minutes. An order for 50,000 copies was placed ensuring a copy for everyone. See Figure 012
  • On Monday 21 June a third movie theater opened up in Building 25. All attractions were feature films directly from the producers. To offset the cost of these films a fee of 5 cents in Ship's Service script will be collected.
  • The former Commanding Officer of NATTC, Commander Norman S. Gallison, was present on the base all week making an official visit.
  • It was reported that Puddles, the little cocker spaniel dog from Building 25, either went AWOL or was dognapped.
  • Station Order 129-42A was issued effective June 17, 1943 with new rules regarding operation of automobiles, motorcycles, scooters and bicycles on the station.


            

Copyright © 2019 Oklahoma Naval Air History
Website created by Joel Silvey, 2019