throughout February, was
able to make full use
of tan B-17 airplanes
when assigned.
March 1942 saw the
beginning of the
program that would
train and coordinate
combat crews: Pilot,
Co-pilot, Navigator,
Bombardier, Aerial
Engineer, Radio Operator, and
Gunners. With the arrival of additional B-17’s came a
staff of student instructors, both ground and flying. In
short order the program was in full swing. There was
real activity at Hendricks Field.
The field was named in January in memory of
First Lieutenant
Laird Woodruff
H e n d r i c k s ,
a native of
Ocala, Florida,
a resident of
Jacksonville,
Florida, a
graduate Of
West Point, Class of ‘39. Lieutenant Hendricks died in
London. England, in July, 1941, while on temporary
duty with the Air Corps.
Since training of the Combat Crews began hundreds
of pilots, co-pilots, navigators, and bombardiers, and
other members of the crew have been
graduated from Hendricks
Field. Included in the list
of those trained here are a
Brigadier General, Colonels,
Lieutenant Colonels, and
Majors.
Because of the thoroughness
of its training
program, Hendricks
Field has become one
of the most important
stations in the Army
Air Forces. It is under
the jurisdiction of
the Southeast Army
Air Forces Training
Center at Maxwell
Field, Alabama.
As the first year of
the forced entry of
our country into
World War II nears
its end, the training
program at
Hendricks Field
is being stepped
up to turn out
more and more
men to man the Flying
Fortresses. The construction appears to be of a permanent
nature. The runways have been widened and
lengthened to accommodate the biggest and heaviest
aircraft so far designed. Probably to take care of the
future when we shall have won the peace – with
Hendricks Field contributing its modest share to that
peace.
Editor’s Note:
Following the war, Hendricks Field was deactivated
on January 1, 1946, and turned over to the city of
Sebring. Today, one of the few remaining physical
reminders of the military air base is the flagpole
located behind Turn 3, and the front straight of the
track which is original Hendricks Field concrete.
104 T h e 6 6 t h A n n u a l 1 2 H o u r s o f S e b r i n g