View source for George, Weldon 1997-06-06

Weldon George reminisces about his career as 
a pilot during World War I and after, on the South Plains, England 
and Nicaragua. His career covers experience as a military aviator, 
flight instructor, test pilot and crop sprayer. 

==General Interview Information==

'''Interviewee Name:''' Weldon George

'''Additional Parties Recorded:'''

'''Date:''' June 6, 1997

'''Location:''' Lubbock, Texas

'''Interviewer:''' Fred Allison

'''Length:''' 1 hour, 45 minutes


==Abstract==

'''Tape 1, Side 1:''' George Weldon background,
Childhood in Sweetwater Texas,
Attempt to fly in military,
Civilian flight instructor for Army Air Forces cadets and 
women pilots,
Test pilot for Chance-Vought Corporation,
Crop sprayer,
Born in Longworth Texas,
Childhood in Sweetwater Texas (again),
Parents,
Development of interest in flying,
Influence of Charles Lindbergh,
Aviators as role models,
Army Air Corps,
Texas Tech - 1935,
Lubbock airport,
Works Progress Administration,
Clent Breedlove,
Flight instructing for Army ,
PT-17s,
Women pilot trainees (WASPs),
British pilot trainees,
Aircraft types,
PT-17 PT-13 PT-18 BT-13 PT-19
Avenger Field Sweetwater Texas,
Town relations,
BT-13 (again),
Accident rate,
Civilian instructors,
Pilot training,
WASP training.
<br>

'''Tape 1, Side 2:''' Flight instructing for Army (continued),
WASP training (continued),
Employment at Chance-Vought Corporation,
F4U Corsairs,
Characteristics,
Kill-ration,
Test flying,
Comparison to other fighters,
Charlie Zimmerman,
'Flying Wing',
Igor Sirkorsky Russian,
Engineers,
Helicopter development,
Corsair (again),
Comparison (again),
Modifications.
<br>

'''Tape 2, Side 1:''' Chance-Vought (continued),
Corsair (continued),
Water injection,
Speed,
Charles Lindbergh,
Technological insight,
Fall from favor,
Contribution to war effort,
Personal character,
Wolfgang Ganglivishee,
Corsair (again),
Charles Lindbergh (again),
Armament,
Marine Corps,
Post-World War II use,
George Weldon,
Lubbock Texas,
Changes during war,
Reese Air Force Base - 1940,
Learning to fly,
Pilot training,
Army Air Corps (again),
Lubbock Texas relations with Reese Air Force Base,
Crop spraying,
Night flying,
South Plains after World War II,
Leland Snow,
Snow S-1 aircraft.
<br>

'''Tape 2, Side 2:''' Crop spraying (again),
Nicaragua - 1957,
Samozas,
Chemicals,
Worth to agriculture,
Hazards,
Chemicals (again),
Insects,
Corsair (again),
Close calls,
Maintenance problems,
Flight characteristics.
<br>

'''Range Dates:''' 1920-1997

'''Bulk Dates:''' 1940-1945


==Access Information==

'''Original Recording Format:'''

'''Recording Format Notes:'''

'''Transcript:'''



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[[Category: Needs Review ]]  [[Category: SWC Interviews]] [[Category: 1990s]] [[Category: Sweetwater, Texas]] [[Category: Aviation]] [[Category: World War II]] [[Category: Army Air Corps]] [[Category: Lubbock, Texas]]