Modern Flight (with over 100 signatures of P.A.A.F. flyers) by Clevenger, Cloyd P - 1941

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1941. Hardcover. Very Good/no dust jacket . Clayton Knight, Illustrator. A piece of history, this book was apparently used in training at the Pecos Army Air Field in 1942 when pilots were being trained as aviators for World War II. It is inscribed and signed by the author, and by instructors, navigators, radio navigators, captains and by many of the young flyers from P.A.A.F. on margins of pages throughout the book, most of them designating their rank and role. (I counted 100 signatures). Author's inscription on the half-title page reads: "To Johnny Brugler from the author Captain Cloyd Clevenger. I am about to leave on a ferry trip to the Far East. Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did writing it. - Miami, Fla. Oct. 16, 1942." The author was a veteran million miler pilot, instructor of flying and aerobatics, holder of C.A.A. Pilot License 141, Air Line Pilot, Test Pilot, and author of "Flight Manual" as well as this book. The book is well illustrated throughout by Clayton Knight. It thoroughly covers flight, aeronautic maneuvers, forced landings, motors and their problems and care, accurate landings, flying cross country and more. 294 pages with index. Book is hardcover (blue cloth boards with black cloud decoration and lettering on cover, black lettering and small decoration on spine). Tiny spot of wear to one spine corner. Binding is tight and square, hinges are solid, pages are clean.

Pecos Army Air Field, activated on July 11, 1942, while still under construction, first served in the Army Air Forces West Coast Training Center (later the Western Flying Training Command) as a basic pilot school. The field was redesignated an advanced pilot school (twin-engine) on December 29, 1943, and had four auxiliary fields. PAAF was placed on "temporary standby" status on May 1, 1945, and was never again an active military installation. Originally the Pecos Municipal Airport, the field initially included 400 acres located three miles south and slightly west of Pecos. Proceeds of a $10,000 bond issue authorized in a special election on September 14, 1940, were used for land purchase. The site was cleared, fenced, and graded under a WPA contract. As the war in Europe intensified, the desire of Pecos residents for a military base increased. Efforts were unsuccessful, however, until the attack on Pearl Harbor galvanized the army air forces into launching a training program, first for 50,000 and then for 70,000 pilots. At that time, Pecos was chosen as one of five new training fields. (from PECOS ARMY AIRFIELD, by James L. Colwell).