#6 British Flying Training School
Royal Air Force
| | 1941-1944 | |
Silver Wing in Prairie Skies
Shared Memories
Laughter Tears Lives
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Education • War, World II.
Location. 36° 42.221′ N, 97° 4.786′ W. Memorial is in Ponca City, Oklahoma, in Kay County. It is at the intersection of Grand Avenue East (Business U.S. 60) and North 4th Street, on the right when traveling west on Grand Avenue East. The marker is located beside the sidewalk at the northeast corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 401 Grand Avenue East, Ponca City OK 74601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the American South, specifically on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and Cherokee Outlet.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance
this page online
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . The British Flying Training Schools in the U.S.A. 1941-1944 (WW2 People's War).
By Mike Igglesden Excerpt: From early in the war, well before the entry of the United States in December 1941, Air Force officers in both countries had discussed the training of RAF pilots in the open and friendly skies of the U.S.A., in parallel with similar arrangements for the Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada, Rhodesia and South Africa. Approval was finally given by President(Submitted on December 28, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Roosevelt in May 1941 and seven British Flying Training Schools were set up in short order.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 20242. #6 British Flying Training School MarkerLooking south across Grand Avenue East; the U.S. Post Office and Federal Building is in the left background.No. 6 was operated under contract to the RAF by Harold S. Darr, then president of Braniff Airlines, and was known as the Darr School. Except for a nucleus of RAF staff, all the instructors, ground staff and supporting staff were American civilians. The aircraft were provided by the USAAC, later the USAAF. The RAF staff comprised the Commanding Officer, Administrative Officer and three or four other officers, and NCOs for armaments, signals and other specialist training, discipline and pay. The school closed in April 1944.
At No. 6 BFTS, 1113 RAF pilots and 125 USAAF pilots are believed to have undergone training in the 33 months of its existence. Seven RAF cadets were killed in training and are buried at the IOOF Cemetery, Ponca City. This was the lowest accident rate of all BFTSs and perhaps of all training in USA and Canada. The graves are carefully maintained, and a ceremony is held each Memorial Day.
WW2 People's War is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 28, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
