P.A.A.F. Plane Crashes 1943 - 1945
By Rodney B. Dyerly
This document was researched, written and published in order that this bit of World War II history should not be forgotten. It is designed to be used for educational - research purposes.
This book has been published for donation purposes only, since it is not the author's intent to make it available for sale.
Plane Crashes
A few content samples are transcribed here, but if you want more information about this document, email your request to the Pratt County Historical Museum Curator.
About The Author
Rodney B. Dyerly , Major USAFR (Ret.), is a retired attorney now residing in Dune Acres, Indiana. He was born in Pratt, Kansas and was a member of The Pratt High School '49 graduation class. He served on active duty with the Air Force during the Korean War. During that time , he served on several Aircraft Crash Investigation Boards.
The Booklet is available for viewing at the Pratt County Historical Museum, and The Pratt Publc Library.
Transcriptions were made by Madeline Martin December, 2007.
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Forward
I still have vivid memories of the Pratt Army Air Field (PAAF) from 1943-1945. I was in elementary school and then Junior High during this time. I remember my friends and I used to ride our bicycles to the Air Base to watch the planes. We were always awed by the size of the Bombers. On several occasions a Sgt. Marvin Beaver from Texas, who became a family friend, would take me to the Air Field, where we could buy candy bars (scarce items) at the Post Exchange (PX), see a movie at the Base Theater, or visit his barracks. I even visited him at the Base Hospital when he was a patient there. He was like a brother to me. Sadly, he never returned from the Pacific War Theater.
Introduction
In the spring of 1943, the Pratt Army Air Field became operational as a primary Base in the development of the new B-29 long-range bomber program. It was located in south central Kansas, four (4) miles directly north of the city of Pratt.