Naval Flight Preparatory School

BIOGRAPHIES - Class of 1947

LdCdr George A EVERDING USN (Ret)

LdCdr George A EVERDING USN (Ret)
Transfered prior to graduation
Warfare Specialty Naval Aviation
Commissioned Ensign USN Transfered
Further Education Unknown
Address Available
Spouse Unknown
[Email] - updated 1999

Biography: Email dated 20 Nov 1999

I finally found the copy of the newsletter and sent it on to you. I was in Battalion 5, 2nd Platoon.I arrived in Los Angeles from St. Louis, Mo on May 3rd, 1943 and reported to the Naval Aviation Cadet Selection Board. For nine days I lived at Hotel Northern at 420 West 2nd Street. (Room 425). It probably does not exist anymore.

After I passed all the tests at the Selection Board I was transferred to the USC Campus and was assigned quarters in Newkirk Hall at 848 W. 36th St. I believe it had been a fraternity house before the Navy took over. There were two of us in a room and we shared the bath with the two fellows in the next room.

All of the cadets at USC were ex sailors from the fleet, many with extensive combat experience. The Navy was hard up for aviation cadets so they started taking enlisted men with only a high school education. Prior to that you had to have at least two years of college and preferably college degrees. The training at USC was supposed to bring us up to speed so that we could compete with them. I doubt whether they made us equal in three months but it certainly helped us later on. Our Naval training and experience helped tremendously however. I had four years of active duty when I started at USC.

Our instructors were college professors who taught us basic college level physics, chemistry, math etc. But they had also been given a crash course, lesson guides and materials to be able to teach very unfamiliar courses to them like aircraft engines, theory of flight, navigation and aerology. I was very impressed with their ability in these areas.

Looking back at this from 79 years if age, I realize that a good teacher, given the proper tools can teach anything. There were two Naval Officers who taught us military subjects.

For reasons known only to the bureaucrats in Washington, our school was closed in July of that year and we moved on to other universities. I was transferred to William Jewell College in Liberty, MO to complete that phase of my training.

My memory is not as good as this all sounds. My mother saved almost all of the letters I wrote home. Re-reading them gives me a chance to relive my days of glory.

This is probably a lot more than you care to know. I wish you fair winds and following seas.

Lcdr George Everding USN (Ret)
300 No. 4th St Apt 502
St. Louis, MO 63102-1940

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