AF Reserve Order No. 175; 2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley; Training Class 53-G; 3308th Pilot Training Squadron, Stallings Air Base, Kingston, North Carolina (Date to Report: September 24, 1952)
Roy J. Blakeley (circa 1934): Barefoot on oil field road in East Texas.
"Well, I started out
Down a dirty road
Started out
All alone
And the sun went down
As I crossed the hill
And the town lit up
The world got still
I'm learning to Fly
But I ain't got wings
Comin' down
Is the hardest thing
Well, the good ol' days
May not return
And the rocks might melt
And the sea may burn
I'm learning to fly (learning to fly)
But I ain't got wings (learning to fly)
Comin' down (learning to fly)
Is the hardest thing (learning to fly)"
"Well, some say life
Will beat you down
And break your heart
Steal your crown
So I've started out
For God knows where
I guess I'll know
When I get there
I'm learning to fly
Around the clouds
What goes up (learning to fly)
Must come down
I'm learning to fly (learning to fly)
But I ain't got wings
Comin' down
Is the hardest thing
I'm learning to fly (learning to fly)
Around the clouds
And what goes up (learning to fly)
Must come down
I'm learning to fly (learning to fly, learning to fly)
I'm learning to fly (learning to fly, learning to fly, learning to fly)"
- "Learning to Fly"; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley; North American T-6G; 3308th Pilot Training Squadron, Stallings Air Base, Kingston, North Carolina
2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley; North American T-6G; 3308th Pilot Training Squadron, Stallings Air Base, Kingston, North Carolina
2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley with group of fellow students; North American T-6G; 3308th Pilot Training Squadron, Stallings Air Base, Kingston, North Carolina
2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley; Pilot Training, First Solo Certificate (January 8, 1953); Stallings Air Base, Kingston, North Carolina; USAF Contract Pilot School; Serv-Air Aviation Corporation (SAC), Contractor for the 3308th Pilot Training Squadron
2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley; Proficiency Training Certificate (May 8, 1953), Stallings Air Base, Kingston, North Carolina
Stallings Air Base (October 1956), Kingston, North Carolina
North American T- 28 Trojan training aircraft
HISTORY OF CLASS 53-G (2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley)
3 Nov 1952:
Students: Began primary flying training in North American T-6G
3308th Pilot Training Squadron
USAF Contract Pilot School; Serv-Air Aviation Corporation (SAC)
Stallings Air Base, Kingston, NC
1 Jan 1953:
First Solo Certificate in North American T-6G
8 May 1953:
Completed primary flying training
Issued Proficiency Training Certificate
16 May 1953:
Arrived at Bryan Air Force Base
3530th Pilot Training Wing (Advanced Single-Engine)
23 May 1953:
Began North American T- 28 Trojan (Conventional) training
3 Aug 1953:
Began first hours of Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (Jet) training
2 Nov 1953:
Commissioning of american aviation cadets
2 Nov 1953:
Graduation of Class 53-G-1
16 Nov 1953:
Graduation of Class 53-G-2
1 Dec 1953:
Graduation of Class 53-G-3
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star ("T-Bird") training aircraft
2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley; Student Time (November 3, 1952-December 1, 1953); 3530th Pilot Training Wing, Bryan Air Force Base, Bryan, Texas
2nd Lt. Roy J. Blakeley; Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star ("T-Bird") training aircraft; Official USAF Photo; Bryan Air Force Base, Bryan, Texas (December 1953)
