British Flying Training School Program

At the beginning of the Second World War the United Kingdom recognised that it would need to train a large number of pilots. A number of flying and aircrew training schools were set up across the British Empire where pilots could be trained without risk of enemy interference. The British Flying Training Schools (BFTS) were set up in the United States of America from 1941 as a result of the Lend Lease Bill.^[1]

Locations

1 Terrell TX

2 Lancaster CA

3 Miami OK

4 Mesa AZ

5 Clewiston FL

6 Ponca City OK

7 Sweetwater TX

British Flying Training Schools in the USA 1941-1944

Seven schools were opened. These were:

• 1 BFTS Terrell, Texas. 9 June 1941
• 2 BFTS Lancaster, California. 9 June 1941
• 3 BFTS Miami Oklahoma 16 June 1941
• 4 BFTS Mesa, Arizona. 16 June 1941
• 5 BFTS Clewiston, Florida. 17 July 1941
• 6 BFTS Ponca City, Oklahoma. 23 August 1941
• 7 BFTS Sweetwater, Texas. May 1942 but closed August 1942

References

1. Denson, Paula (2006). The Royal Air Force in Oklahoma : Lives, Loves & Courage of the British Air Crews Trained in Oklahoma During World War II. Oklahoma: Oklahoma Heritage Association. ISBN 1885596561.