April 8, 1943.

The U.S. Navy Comes To Iowa City – 1942-1944.

April 8, 1943 – The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces that Shaw Aircraft will expand operations at the Iowa City Airport. Over a three-year period (1942-1944), 2,500 pilots were trained here – with many joining the war effort in the Pacific, helping America win World War II.

Did you know that the United States Navy once had a large training school here in Iowa City? And thanks to long-time, Iowa City-based aviation pioneer – Paul B. Shaw – when World War II broke out in 1941, the United States Navy immediately contacted him to help lead one of the most important aspects of the war effort in the Pacific – training qualified pilots.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS IOWA STORY HERE.


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