School of Applied Tactics
History > Training
At the end of April, 1943, a portion of the Group was sent to the Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT) at Orlando, FL for combat training. The instructors at this school were supposed to pass on to Group and Squadron men the latest information on aerial warfare. The course consisted of two weeks of classroom instruction and two weeks of living at satellite fields under battle conditions located around Orlando. This training was to prepare the men of the 445th for combat operations once in their theatre of operations.
A total of 49 officers and 81 enlisted men of the Group were sent to AAFSAT as it was known. It wasn't long before the school became known by another name - SNAFU-U. The men selected to attend this training consisted of both Group and Squadron Commanders; Group Adjutant; Group and Squadron Operations, Intelligence, Engineering, Armament, Ordnance, Engineering, Communications, Medical, Navigators, and Bombardiers. Enlisted personnel was made up of Intelligence and Operations non-commissioned officers, aircraft maintenance personnel, and enlisted combat crews.