Saufley Screamer
This transcript1 is from a recording of a training flight at NAAS Saufley Field, near Pensacola, Florida, made in the summer of 1954.
The aircraft are Navy SNJs. The term “F-14” is the designation for the syllabus formation F-14 check hop.
The recording was made through an open mike in the basic training squadron BTU-2 OinC’s (CDR Cook Cleland’s) office. The laughter in the background is from BTU-2 flight instructors.
This is the story of a flight instructor who continued to instruct under the most trying of circumstances.
This program was planned, and LT (Instructor) was selected for the instructor — in this case because he was noted for his ‘sticktuitiveness,’ his conscientiousness, and his tendency to verbally assault his students.
All of these characteristics are illustrated most clearly on this recording.
The recording was made for the benefit of all who may instruct students under similar circumstances; however, this recording was also made for a more serious purpose:
1. “to teach future instructors just what some situations and students are like,” and
2. “what would you do under similar circumstances.”
There are instances on this recording which are humorous to those of us who were not strapped onto this instructor’s parachute.
LT Instructor met and briefed his four students for their F-14 formation check hop. However, as the four scheduled students manned their assigned aircraft, four senior instructors intercepted and replaced them without the knowledge of LT Instructor.
What happened after this is best demonstrated by the recording itself.
The actual flight lasted one hour and twenty minutes. This recording has been telescoped to 22 minutes.
Major Houston (USMC), who planned the project and flew as one of the substitute students, narrates this recording.
The pilots:
LT Instructor, USN
MAJ Houston, USMC
LT Brown, USN
MAJ Kiester, USMC
LT Gannion, USN
This instructor contributed a great deal to the behavioral aspects of the Navy flight training environment.
Click for Saufley Screamer audio: Saufley Screamer audio (7.3 megabytes)
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1 Transcribed from a tape recording made in the Saufley Field tower during this exercise.