TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PLYERS

This is the story of the civilian contract schools-AAF pilot training program, which was launched under AAF supervision, but carried out by civilians. A tribute to those ""incorrigible youngsters taught mastery of flight by incorrigible oldsters"" -- a story told in human terms of the men behind the men who fly. Red tape was cut by business men when the situation was put up to them. Congress could not move fast enough -- the job had to be done and the authorities knew it in 1939. The first nine schools were operating before authorization was forthcoming, and not only American youth, but British and Chinese profited. The appendix defines the schools, school by school.