Army Air Corps Marching at Springfield College (c. 1943)
Description:
This black and white photograph shows dozens of Army Air Corps cadets marching down the sidewalk in an orderly fashion at Springfield College (c. 1943). It appears to be sunny outside and pictured in the background are trees and lamp posts. One soldier is holding a flag. The cadets have serious looks on their faces. Buildings can be seen in the far background that appear to be the infirmary that is now Weiser Hall and also the building that is currently where the library is. At the start of World War II, Springfield College served as training grounds for the Army Air Corps, which allotted the college $90,000 for upgrading facilities. In the spring of 1944, the training program was canceled; in order to conserve its assets for expanded postwar operations in the face of decreasing student enrollment, Springfield College negotiated a contract with the U.S. Navy to serve as a Naval Special Hospital. The Navy allotted $75,000 to bring the college up to the mark of a naval hospital, and the first contingent of one hundred and fifty patients arrived on September 22, 1944. It was estimated that five hundred patients could be served. Alumni Hall was used as the hospital, and the old dormitory (now called the Administration Building) became administrative offices and housing for nurses and WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service).
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