aviation – I like to write junk…

A picture postcard showing an Army Air Corps training airplane on the front was sent to Miss Sue Howard of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, on September 16, 1942. The sender was Private Anthony “Tony” J. Infantino, who was at the base during this time. Infantino’s postcard has a Selma postmark. His message to Sue was a polite and cordial one.

“Stopped here and will soon be on our way to Texas by plane. Will write later. Your pal, Tony”

Craig Field, located near Selma, Alabama, was a significant military airfield during World War II. Established as part of the United States’ rapid expansion of air training facilities, Craig Field played a vital role in preparing pilots for combat and supporting the broader war effort. This overview explores the history, operations, and legacy of Craig Field during the WWII era.

The base was constructed in 1940 as the threat of global conflict grew and the United States recognized the need to train a vast number of aviators. Named in honor of Lieutenant Bruce K. Craig, a military aviator who lost his life in service, the field became operational in early 1941. Its primary mission was to serve as an advanced pilot training base under the Army Air Forces’ Southeast Training Center.

During WWII, Craig Field was primarily dedicated to advanced flight training. Cadets, having completed basic flight instruction elsewhere, arrived at Craig for rigorous, comprehensive training on advanced aircraft.

The base specialized in transitioning pilots to operate single-engine fighter planes and multi-engine bombers, crucial to the Allied air campaign. Training included instrument flying, formation maneuvers, navigation, and aerial combat tactics.

Thousands of American and Allied pilot trainees passed through Craig Field during the war. The influx of personnel brought economic growth and increased activity to the surrounding Selma community. The base employed both military and civilian workers, fostering a sense of shared purpose in the national war effort.

Craig Field operated a variety of aircraft, including the North American AT-6 Texan, which was widely used for advanced pilot training. The field was equipped with modern runways, hangars, and support facilities, reflecting the technological advancements of the era. The curriculum emphasized proficiency in the latest aviation technology and combat readiness.

The pilots trained at Craig Field went on to serve in every theater of World War II, flying missions over Europe, the Pacific, and North Africa. The field’s rigorous training programs ensured that aviators were well-prepared for the challenges they would face in combat. Craig Field thus played a pivotal role in the overall success of the U.S. Army Air Forces during the war.

With the end of WWII, Craig Field continued to serve as a training and operational base, adapting to the needs of the emerging U.S. Air Force. Its contributions during WWII are remembered as a key chapter in the history of American military aviation, and the field’s legacy endures in both the region and the broader context of air power development.

Craig Field’s history during World War II is marked by its critical function as a center for advanced pilot training, technological innovation, and community involvement. Its legacy reflects the determination and teamwork that underpinned the Allied victory in the air war.

At Craig Field for a brief time, Pvt. Anthony Infantino was probably on his way to Randolph Field near San Antonio for further training. He was born on July 22, 1919, in New York. Enlisting in the Army at the age of 23, tragically, Tony was killed in action (KIA) while parachuting into enemy territory in the Netherlands.

This happened on March 24, 1945, with his remains not brought back to the States until 1948, where it was interred in his hometown of Pawling, New York. Flags were lowered to half staff, with quite a few residents turning out for the service. Tony’s young friend may have never known.

Sue Howard was much younger than Tony, and judging by the context of the postcard message, their relationship was strictly one of friendship. Perhaps she was more of a pen pal than anything. Citizens were encouraged to write the soldiers for encouragement and to lift their spirits. This nationwide campaign was called V-MAIL, or Victory Mail.

Miss Betty Sue Howard married Eugene L. Delves on March 27, 1954. The couple stayed together until their deaths. Eugene passed away in 2011, and Betty Sue, seven years later, in 2018.

A 1940s WWII era postcard that I own was mailed from Colorado Springs, Colorado, on June 23, 1943, to a person in Macy, Indiana. The card sender was S/Sgt W.L. Hunter, assigned to the 19th Photo Headquarters at Peterson. The picture of the Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” on Hunter’s card is an official Army Air Corps photo. His letter to Ernest Miller says:

“Dear Ernest, Haven’t time to write a letter now. Rec the knife. It’s swell. Tell me how much I owe you and I’ll send it to you. I’m being transferred again. I don’t know where I’ll end up this time. I can’t understand it all but I’m doing plenty of thinking. Ha. It’s the Army. Anything can happen. So long for now. Line.”

Colorado Springs Army Air Base, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was first established in 1942 as a military photo reconnaissance training facility during World War II, and was also used to train fighter pilots later in the war. Toward the end of 1942, it was renamed Peterson Field after 1st Lieutenant Edward J. Peterson.

1st Lieutenant Peterson was assigned to the 14th Photograph Reconnaissance Squadron in Colorado Springs, where he was promoted to operations officer on July 26, 1942. On August 8, 1942, only 13 days after his new assignment, Ed Peterson was seriously injured when an engine on his Lockheed F-4 failed and he crashed shortly after takeoff. An F-4 is similar to the P-38 Lightning.

The pilot was burned over his head, chest, and lower body. Peterson’s last wish before he lost consciousness was that he would fly again. Per his wife’s request, he was cremated and his ashes scattered over Pike’s Peak with an F-4 airplane like the one he flew.

Peterson Field was closed after the war ended in 1945, yet it was reactivated several times for different reasons. Renamed Peterson Air Force Base, it is currently home to the US Air Force Space Command, although that is soon to change. President Donald Trump recently made the decision to move the headquarters from Colorado to the Redstone Army Facility in Huntsville, Alabama.

William Lincoln “Linc” Hunter was born on September 15, 1919. He enlisted with the Army Air Corps on April 13, 1942. S/Sgt. Hunter saw action during WWII, most likely snapping photos from a B-17 aircraft like that one pictured on front of the postcard.

Thankfully, he returned, as many B-17 crewmen didn’t. Perhaps this had something to do with William Hunter selling life insurance after leaving the service. He lived to be 88, passing away on September 3, 2007.

Ernest Miller was a close friend. Born in 1909, he was 9 years older than William Hunter. Entering the draft on October 6, 1940, Mr. Miller was never chosen to serve. Ernest Howard Miller worked as a city engineer before retiring, succumbing to heart failure on August 22,1969, at the age of 60.