Date of Award

Summer 8-2014

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

School

Humanities

Committee Chair

Andrew Wiest

Committee Chair Department

History

Committee Member 2

Allison Abra

Committee Member 2 Department

History

Committee Member 3

Kenneth Swope

Committee Member 3 Department

History

Abstract

From May 1942 thru February 1944, the United States allowed the Netherlands to train its aviators at Jackson Army Air Base. Known as the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School, the training the Dutch conducted helped rebuild the Royal Netherland Air Force and the air component of the Royal Netherland Navy. The Dutch military came to Jackson because they lost their territory to foreign invaders. Furthermore, the surviving members of the Dutch military felt compelled to endure and carry on the fight. The United States military selected Jackson Army Air Base because of its geographic location, the existing infrastructure at the base, and the support the community had for both the military and aviation.

Once in Jackson, the instructors and students of the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School interacted with both the American military forces stationed at the base and the civilians living in Jackson. Through their interactions with the American military, the Dutch adopted a more methodical and scientific method to pilot training like theAmericans. While the Dutch military adopted several other American military traditions, they did not adopt them wholesale. The Dutch also interacted with the civilians of Jackson. The Dutch and Jacksonians interacted in a variety of ways displaying both the positive and negative aspects of both cultures.

Ultimately the Dutch experience in Jackson was one of the first successful multinational training experiments in the U.S. The Dutch helped open the doors to the international training programs seen today.

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