Army Air Corps soldiers carrying a flag (July 1943)
Description:
A photograph of a three Army Air Corps Trainees walking off a field on the campus of Springfield College. The middle soldiers is holding the national flag of the United States. Trees and a building can be seen in the background. The photograph most likely took place on what is now referred to as the Naismith Green, right in the center of campus as the Pratt Field gate can be seen far off in the distance. The photograph was taken in July 1943. 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). On the back of the photographic print is stamped "JUL 1943";
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