and also navigator training at Mather Assigned Pilot Schools Chico Army Airfield. Chico, California Army Flying School 97th Basic Flying Training Group Opened: September 1941, Closed: March 1944 (BT-13) Aircraft carried Fuselage Code "M" Fuselage code "M" was originally assigned to Moffett Field when it was a USAAC base. In 1942 Moffett Field was returned to the USN and the USAAC transferred its assets to Chico. The BT-13's retained the fuselage code of "M"; Transferred to IV Fighter Command, May 1944, became P-38, P-63 Replacement Training Unit; closed September 1945 Dos Palos Airport, Firebaugh/Dos Palos, California AAF Contract Pilot School (Primary) 13th Flying Training Detachment Opened: June 1942, Closed: November 1944 (PT-13, PT-22, BT-13) Aircraft carried Fuselage Code "B"; Operated by: Coast Aviation Corporation Gardner Army Airfield, Taft, California AAF Basic Flying School 98th Basic Flying Training Group Opened: August 1941, Closed: February 1945 (BT-13) Aircraft carried Fuselage Code "F" Santa Maria Army Airfield, Santa Maria, California AAF Contract Pilot School (Primary) 1st Flying Training Detachment Opened: September 1939, Closed: February 1945 (PT-13, PT-27) Operated by: Hancock College of Aeronautics, one of the original nine civilian contract Army Primary Training Schools; transferred to IV Fighter Command, May 1944, became P-38 Replacement Training Unit; had five auxiliary airfields, closed July 1945 Lemoore Army Airfield, Lemoore, California AAF Basic Flying School 97th Basic Flying Training Group Opened: January 1942, Closed: August 1945 (BT-13, BT-15) Aircraft carried Fuselage Code "R" Also operated advanced two-engine flying school (AT-17, UC-78), November 1943; both schools closed August 1945 Mather Field, Sacramento, California AAF Advanced Single-Engine Flying School AAF Specialized Two-Engine Flying School, also Two-Engine Transition AAF Navigation School Opened: May 1941, Closed: August 1945 (AT-6) Former World War I flying training airfield, reopened May 1941; also AAF Navigation School, August 1941 (AT-7, AT-9); Specialized Two-Engine Flying School, June 1943 (AT-18, B-25); Aircraft carried Fuselage Code "T" and "I", "I" for aircraft assigned to the Centralized Flight Instructors Program; became permanent training airfield after World War II as Mather Air Force Base; Closed 1993. Merced Army Airfield, Merced, California AAF Basic Flying School AAF Advanced Single-Engine Flying School Opened: September 1941, Closed: October 1944 (BT-13) Aircraft carried Fuselage Code "E" Advanced Flying School (AT-6) opened June 1944; became permanent airfield after World War II as Castle Air Force Base; Closed 1993. Minter Field, Shafter, California AAF Basic Flying School AAF Specialized Two-Engine Flying School, also Two-Engine Transition