WWII Flight Training Museum

WWII Flight Training Museum WWII 63rd Flight Training Detachment About 10,000 young men learned how to fly in the PT-17 Stearman here at this primary flight training facilitiy.

The most intact, complete and original school left in the US is here in Douglas. 13 original buildings are still standing, and in order to preserve their story, one of the buildings houses our WWII Flight Training Museum, a fitting memorial to those who prepared to defend freedom.

Samual Dale Broadhurst Jr., Class 1944-E, was born December 20, 1910, in New Philadelphia, Ohio to Samual and Hallie Bro...
06/03/2026

Samual Dale Broadhurst Jr., Class 1944-E, was born December 20, 1910, in New Philadelphia, Ohio to Samual and Hallie Broadhurst. By the 1920 US Census, nine-year-old Samual was living in Goshen, Ohio with his parents and younger brother. The Warren, Ohio City Directory dated 1927 shows Samual, a student living with his family on McMyler Avenue. A 29-year-old, Samual, with an eighth-grade education, registered for the Draft in Monroe, Michigan on October 16, 1940. His employer was the Republic Steel Corporation.

Samual entered the service in February 1942. He was in Douglas late 1943 to possibly January 1944, according to our records. Squadron photos of Class 1944-E are dated January 5, 1944. Next the records show that Staff Sargent Samual D. Broadhurst was discharged in September 1948 from the US Air Force. This date was possibly the end of an enlistment before re-enlisting.

New York Passenger Lists show that on October 11, 1955, Samual was onboard the USNS "General Maurice Rose", a Troop Ship, in Bremerhaven, Germany. He disembarked October 19th in Brooklyn, New York. Was he stationed in Germany in the early 1950s?

Sadly, the next record is a Headstone Applications for Military Veterans. It shows that Samual died Sep 7, 1973, and is buried in the Resthaven Cemetery Jacksonville, Texas. Records also show that did not have a spouse and his brother applied for the headstone.

On the History Channel’s World War II with Tom Hanks, Hanks describes how people of the Greatest Generation talk about their life in three blocks of time. They are “Before the War”, “The War”, and “After the War”. Like many of this generation, Samual does not have a lot recorded on any of these phases. Their stories fade away with the passing of time and people to share them. If you know more about Samual Dale Broadhurst Jr. or anyone else from the 63rd Flying Training Detachment or the Raymond-Richardson Aviation Company, please share it with us. Don’t let it fade away.

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Herman Lotstein, Class 1944-K, was born on November 9, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of Dora and...
06/02/2026

Herman Lotstein, Class 1944-K, was born on November 9, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of Dora and Samuel. By 1930, the family lived in Paulsboro, New Jersey. In 1940, Herman was a junior in high school and family has expanded to include a daughter. June 30, 1942, he registered for the Draft in Paulsboro, New Jersey. His employer was the Socony Vacuum Company. Herman attended Pennsylvania State University, where he majored in chemistry.

After completing two years of college, he enlisted in the military on June 15, 1943. Herman completed Primary Flying Training in Douglas, but washed out of Basic at Cochran Field Macon, Georgia. He graduated Class 1945-04N as a navigator at Ellington Field near Houston, Texas on January 27, 1945. Records show that he did not serve overseas. Second Lieutenant Herman separated from the Army Air Forces on February 14, 1946, at Mitchell Army Airfield, New York.

On August 31, 1948, Herman registered for the Draft the second time. His occupation was listed as salesman. His employer was the Lotstein Furniture Company. That same year, he married Miss Florence Hoffman in New Jersey. They would be married 68 years and have three children. In 1975, Major General Herman Lotstein, US Air Force Reserves, Master Navigator, retired after 32 years of service.

Herman earned a master's degree in education from Villanova University. After the Air Force, he taught chemistry at Malvern Preparatory School in Pennsylvania and the Franklin Learning Center in Philadelphia. He also coached competitive tennis and marksmanship.

Herman and Florence later owned an antique toy train and railroad memorabilia business for over 25 years. He passed away on April 16, 2017, age 93 in La Quinta, California, after a short struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Unfortunately, we cannot find many pictures of Herman, except from his time at the Malvern Preparatory School. Regardless, we are proud to share his story. “Fair skies and tail winds.”

Harry James Brody, Class 1945-B, was born on April 20, 1918, in Glendive, Montana. He was the eldest of James and Elsie ...
06/01/2026

Harry James Brody, Class 1945-B, was born on April 20, 1918, in Glendive, Montana. He was the eldest of James and Elsie Brody’s four children. In 1930, he was 11 years old and attended school in Dawson. By 1940, Harry was 21, graduated from Circle High School, and was a farmer.

On October 16, 1940, Harry registered for the Draft. Then March 20, 1942, he enlisted in the US Army in Missoula, Montana. He was a B-17 Flying Fortress ball turret gunner with the 4th Bomb Wing in England. There he completed 36 combat missions, awarded the Distinguish Flying Cross and Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and commissioned.

After 22 months overseas, Lieutenant Brody returned to Kirtland Army Airfield in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Great Falls (Montana) Tribune announced Harry’s marriage to Miss Irene Gertison on January 29, 1944. The newspaper said that the couple will make their home in Fort Worth, Texas before moving to Fort Meyers, Florida where he is to be an instructor. Buckingham Army Airfield in Fort Meyers was a Flexible Gunnery School that trained aircrew gunners for the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator.

We are not sure what happened next, but Lieutenant Brody entered flying training in Class 1945-B. He was in Douglas in November 1944 and scheduled to graduate Advance on April 15, 1945. Records show that he was discharged August 4, 1945, and returned to Montana.

The Dawson County Review on November 3, 1949, announced that Mr. and Mrs. Harry Brody were proud parents of a son, William James, born October 27, 1949. Harry ranched near Glendive until March 1951 when he bought a ranch 32 miles northwest of Glendive. Harry participated in rodeo his entire life and was a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Then on August 7, 1957, The Great Falls Tribune carried Harry’s obituary. It stated that Harry was a prominent rancher and died in a farm accident on August 2, 1957. He left behind his wife, daughter age 9, and son age 7. Do you remember any other cadet who was a cowboy?

Museum Offers Hands-On “Bombardier School” Experience with Authentic Norden BombsightOne of the greatest accomplishments...
05/30/2026

Museum Offers Hands-On “Bombardier School” Experience with Authentic Norden Bombsight

One of the greatest accomplishments of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II was the rapid training of hundreds of thousands of flying and ground personnel. This fall, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force invites students and history enthusiasts to step into that story through an immersive Bombardier School program led by renowned Norden Bombsight expert Dr. Tim Moore.
Attendees will plot real flight paths using dead reckoning and operate an authentic Norden Bombsight, one of the most important technological innovations of the air war. Dr. Moore will guide participants through the process, offering insights into mathematics, engineering, and split-second decision-making that defined these critical missions.
Seating is limited, and advance registration is required by June 4, 2026. Cost: $50 Non-Members | $35 Members. For full details and tickets, visit mightyeighth.org or contact H+STEM Educator, Kristin Singleton, at [email protected].

Are you ready to say, “Bombs Away”?

05/29/2026

Thinking about a road trip this summer?

Travel through history along the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail and explore the museums, airfields, memorials, and stories that helped shape America’s role in World War II.

Start at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, then continue your journey across Georgia to discover the people, places, and legacy of the Greatest Generation.

History is closer than you think.

Plan your adventure at www.georgiawwiitrail.org

that we have a self-guided walking tour of the WWII Flight Training Base - Douglas,GA? Brochures are available outside...
05/29/2026

that we have a self-guided walking tour of the WWII Flight Training Base - Douglas,GA? Brochures are available outside the WWII Flight Training Museum 24/7. You may also download a copy at https://wwiiflighttraining.org/Documents/Douglas63rdBrochure.pdf.

Come walk in the footprints of thousands of young men who trained here. See where the flying careers of many of our cadets began and for others ended. The entire walking tour is under a mile. It takes approximately 20 minutes to one hour, depending on how long the walker spends at each stop. At night, there are lights that illuminate all of Airport Circle and Stearman Way.

The tour begins at the Museum, which was originally Barracks 7. It then moves to the south (left) toward the Administration Building. The interiors of all the buildings have been altered from their WWII configuration. However, the exteriors of the buildings remain largely unchanged. Other than the Museum, none of the buildings are open to the public.

In the grass on each corner of the foundations of the buildings that no longer are standing, we will find a marker. These markers are like the ones used for geographic surveys. Installed by the City of Douglas’ WWII Flight Training Base Committee, they give the walker an idea of the size of each building.

Put on your walking shoes and tour the Airbase like cadets did over eighty years ago. If you listen, you just might hear the cadets counting cadence. Sidewalks, ramps, and a paved walking path make the tour accessible for everyone. Before you leave the Airbase, do not forget to visit Cadet Park and the Charles Loring Memorial.

Have you walked where before they were heroes?

Sam Roth Connelly Jr., Class 1943-B, was born on January 11, 1918, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the eldest of Sam a...
05/28/2026

Sam Roth Connelly Jr., Class 1943-B, was born on January 11, 1918, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the eldest of Sam and Irene’s three children. In 1935, he graduated from Chattanooga’s Baylor High School. Then in 1941, Sam registered for the Draft. He was 23 years old and employed by the Coco-Cola Bottling Company in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. On May 09, 1941, he married Miss Sarah Thompson, uniting two prominent Chattanooga families. Sam was now the manager of the Coco-Cola Bottling Company in Waynesboro, Georgia.

March 28, 1942, Private Sam R. Connelly Jr. enlisted in the Army Air Corps in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Later, Aviation Cadet Connelly completed his Primary Flying Training in Douglas, Basic in Greenville, Mississippi and Advanced at Blytheville Army Airfield, Arkansas. Second Lieutenant Connelly was assigned to the 565th Bomber Squadron 389th Bomber Group as a B-24 Liberator pilot. The 389th Bomb Group, known as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions from Hethel, England.

On November 13, 1943, Sam was the pilot of B-24D, serial number 42-72868, nicknamed "Tinker Toy” on a mission to Bremen, Germany. It was the crew’s second combat mission. Their aircraft was in a mid-air collision. Enemy aircraft fire struck another B-24. It went out of control and struck Sam’s aircraft. Both aircraft crashed near Janneby, Germany.

Sam and six of his crew were killed. The radio operator and top turret gunner were able to bail out and were prisoners of war in Germany. A third crewmember survived and evaded capture. First Lieutenant Sam R. Connelly Jr. is buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis County, Missouri.

Do you recall other cadets from Class 1943-B?

Lieutenant Colonel Roland Frank Martens, United States Air Force is buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery Minnea...
05/27/2026

Lieutenant Colonel Roland Frank Martens, United States Air Force is buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery Minneapolis, Minnesota. His gravestone records that he was a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. His birthday was August 18, 1915, and died July 11, 1997.

Here is what we know about Martens from our research. Born in Dane, Wisconsin, he was a 1932 graduate of Madison Central High School in Madison, Wisconsin. While attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison, he took part in military studies and was a cadet lieutenant. Roland graduated in 1939 from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He enlisted in the Army on April 7, 1941.

The next time we see Roland, he is a First Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, Class 1942-F, at the WWII Flight Training Base in Douglas. A photo from that time shows him in flying gear. The handwritten caption reads “1ST LT ROLAND F. MARTENS AT DOUGLAS, GA. HE 'WASHED' OUT 1-20.42”.

We cannot confirm what comes next for him. Records show Roland was discharged from the Army on February 8, 1946. we know that on September 18, 1947, former Captain and Mrs. Roland Frank Martens of Badger, Wisconsin had a son. They chose to name him, James Conrad. The birth announcement in the Capital Times on September 23, 1947, also said, “Mr. Martens served overseas for two years.” Other online information shows that he possibly flew 30 combat missions over Europe.

So many questions we wish we could answer about Roland’s life. Regardless of how little we know, we must not forget to remember Lieutenant Colonel Roland Frank Martens, Class 1942-F. If you have any stories or information about Martens or anyone who worked or trained with the 63rd Flying Training Detachment, please contact us. Do it before their stories are lost.

Can you help?

the WWII Flight Training Base - Douglas,GA had its own “Band of Brothers”? In the very first class, Class 1942-D, ther...
05/26/2026

the WWII Flight Training Base - Douglas,GA had its own “Band of Brothers”? In the very first class, Class 1942-D, there were two brothers. The brothers were thought to be twins because few could distinguish one from the other.

Edward Martin Rex and his brother, John Leo Rex Jr, were born in Rochester, New York. They enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 2, 1941, trained, flew, and served together during the War. Both were assigned to the 833rd Bomb Squadron 486th Bomb Group based at Sudbury, England. On D-Day, the brothers flew together in a B-24 Liberator supporting the Normandy Landings. They were discharged in November 1945 and entered the University of Rochester. January 1946, they applied for and received Regular Air Force Commissions.

Edward went on to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received his Masters and Doctorate. His career took him to the rank of Colonel with his last assignment as Commander of the Rocket Testing Site at Edwards AFB, California. He died on April 3, 1980.

John reached the rank of Colonel and was the Base Commander, Niagara Falls AFB, New York. He went to the Army Language School to learn Russian and then reported to USAF Security Service. He attended several service-oriented schools, including Command and Staff, Naval Intelligence, and Tactical Staff College. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked for over thirty years for Rochester Products. John died April 19, 1996.

A third brother, James Foster Rex was a Naval Academy and veteran of both WWII and Korea. Like many families of that time, all the brothers went into the armed forces.

Do you remember other families who had all their brothers in uniform?

Address

3 Airport Cir
Douglas, GA
31535

Opening Hours

Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

(912) 383-9111

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