1943 ORIGINAL WORLD WAR 2 ERA TRAINING COURSE FOR A YOUNG NAVY SOLDIER LEARNING EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT PROPELLER PLANES IN A NAVAL AIRCRAFT TRAINING COURSE IN CHICAGO

On offer is a large and comprehensive notebook of handwritten, typed, and printed pages relating to a Naval Training course on plain propellers, their many parts, the way the work, and their maintenance. The course was taken by a man with the last name ‘Dekker’. The very first thing written is a definition of a propeller. “A propeller is an air screw. It is a series of twisted air foils of irregular planes and form. AIRFOIL - is any surface which when projected through the air produces some aero-dynamic usefulness.” Seven more terms are defined , and then a number of types of propellers (‘Fixed Prop,’ ‘Adjustable Prop,’ ‘Controllable Prop’) are drawn and their advantages and disadvantages described. There are also a few pages on quick maintenance of the outside of the propeller: “Props made of aluminum alloys should be inspected daily for nicks and scratches that may have been picked up during flight.” The first dozen or so pages deal with terms, nomenclature, and background of propellers and their maintenance. After these pages, there are a number of typed sheets on the “Ground Adjustable Propeller,” a diagram of the “Universal Propeller Protractor,” “Maintenance Problems,” and a “Job Sheet” which give step by step instructions on how to disassemble, remove, balance, check propeller track, troubleshoot, and install this type of propeller. These sheets show an objective (ex. ‘Balancing The Propeller’), tools, equipment, and materials needed and the procedure for achieving the objective. The procedure often includes notes such as “This is a two man job” or “Caution--do not use a metal hammer or steel wedge.” More pages follow on “Repair Blade and Hub Specifications for Counterweight Type Controllable Propellers.” These pages seem to have been created by the Hamilton Standard Propellers Company and distributed to the students in the course. The course even goes into the proper procedure and materials for painting propellers, giving a breakdown of painting that prevents glare, protects the surface, adds additional safety features to the propeller, and camouflages the plane: “Especially now during War Time, the painting of the blades with non-specular lacquer is important. On bright sun shining days the glint from a shiny prop will disclose to every spotter the location of a plane. Therefore the blades are now entirely covered with lacquer, mostly black. This eliminates any reflection from the prop.” Beginning in week two, there are Job Sheets for “Blade Etching and Inspection,” “Trouble shooting on a Two-Position Propeller,” “Removal of a Two-Position Propeller From Engine,” “Inspection and Repair of Counterweight Bearing and Shaft,” and many more. A 25 page “Study Guide” for “Ground Adjustable and Two-Position Propellers” follows. The pages contain 90 typed questions, with Dekker’s handwritten answers belong. The questions include, “During take-off, approximately how much horsepower will a 1,000 horsepower engine develop if fitted with a fixed pitch propeller?”; “What is the greatest advantage of a feathering type propeller?”; “What is the purpose of the counterweight bracket on a Hamilton Standard two-position propeller?” and many more. The next few dozen pages contain information on ‘Counter-Weight’ and ‘Constant Speed’ propellers. The third week begins with a cover page in block letters “GOVERNORS”. An alphabetized Table of Contents follows. The topics (“Assembly of Const. Sp. Cont.,” “Calibration, Governor,” “Drive Gear Shaft,” etc.) are grouped by letter and the page number is located next to each topic. The section is roughly 50 pages. The next section of material follow a similar structure (Cover page, alphabetized Table of Contents, material). The section deals with “Hydromatic” and “Accumulator” Propeller Governors. It also includes a number of printed diagrams in which Dekker has written in and around the drawing. These weeks in the course seem to have been taught by a ‘Major Thompson’. There are also included a number of printed charts showing various columns such as “Input pressure,” “Timer,” “Pressure shut off switch,” “Results Expected” and more, alongside a number of questions meant to test the comprehension of propeller tests. Ultimately the page asks whether or not the governor being tested is satisfactory or not. The last major section of the book is material for the understanding of Hydromatic Propellers. The book is roughly 350 pages, in very good condition. The cover is brown leather. The handwriting is clear and easy to read in black ink. The front cover has black ink reading “PROPS” in big block letters. The eight-week course was taken at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Chicago, Illinois in the early 1940s during World War Two. The only date found is 1943.; Manuscript; Folio - over 12" - 15" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, PROPELLER DRIVEN AIRCRAFT, WORLD WAR TWO, AIR COMBAT IN WW2, NAVAL AIR TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, NAVAL AIRCRAFT TRAINING, PROPELLER COURSE, NAVY TRAINING COURSE, AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE, WWII, AIRPLANES, MILITARY TRAINING, WW2 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE, NAVAL AVIATION, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL