December 7, 1941 – Pearl Harbor attacked – WWII begins for the United States.
Did you know that the United States Navy once had a large training school here in Iowa City?
Hard to believe, isn’t it – since the nearest ocean to Iowa City is about 1,000 miles away! But thanks to long-time, Iowa City-based aviation pioneer – Paul B. Shaw – when World War II broke out on December 7, 1941, the United States Navy immediately contacted Shaw, asking him to help lead one of the most important aspects of the war effort in the Pacific – training qualified pilots.
Over a three-year period (1942-1944), 2,500 Navy pilots were trained here – with most joining the war effort in the Pacific, helping America win the war.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS IOWA STORY HERE
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