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Bohdan Bayus of Georgia recently mailed to The Times Record a booklet detailing his experiences as a cadet in the 68th Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment at Bowdoin College in Brunswick in 1943. Bayus wrote, “I am now approaching my 91st birthday. In 1943, I was one of the cadets who took the course in meteorology at Bowdoin College.” The booklet, essentially a yearbook for the program, opens with a note that reads, “Dear Bob, Here’s that letter I promised you about our life at Bowdoin. As you know, we are in the ‘C’ pre-meteorological program, which prepares us for Aviation Cadet training and eventually a commission in meteorology.” With photos and short notes, the booklet goes on to illustrate aspects of the cadets’ daily routines at Bowdoin, including calisthenics. “‘In cadence, exercise!’ is our dear Sgt. Yatchak’s battle cry, for our life is not all academic. Pickard Field is our battleground. Here we line up for our ‘conditioning’ exercises. Our regular routine consists of close order and gas mask drills, manual of arms, and military lectures. After all, we ARE in the army!” (Courtesy of Bohdan Bayus)
Bohdan Bayus of Georgia recently mailed to The Times Record a booklet detailing his experiences as a cadet in the 68th Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment at Bowdoin College in Brunswick in 1943. Bayus wrote, “I am now approaching my 91st birthday. In 1943, I was one of the cadets who took the course in meteorology at Bowdoin College.” The booklet, essentially a yearbook for the program, opens with a note that reads, “Dear Bob, Here’s that letter I promised you about our life at Bowdoin. As you know, we are in the ‘C’ pre-meteorological program, which prepares us for Aviation Cadet training and eventually a commission in meteorology.” With photos and short notes, the booklet goes on to illustrate aspects of the cadets’ daily routines at Bowdoin, including calisthenics. “‘In cadence, exercise!’ is our dear Sgt. Yatchak’s battle cry, for our life is not all academic. Pickard Field is our battleground. Here we line up for our ‘conditioning’ exercises. Our regular routine consists of close order and gas mask drills, manual of arms, and military lectures. After all, we ARE in the army!” (Courtesy of Bohdan Bayus)


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