Aviation Cadet Museum Honors a Legacy

From 1917 to 1961, the U.S. Air Force’s Aviation Cadet Pilot Training Program played a vital role in training pilots who served in various wars, including World War II and Vietnam. Errol Severe, who graduated from this program at Oklahoma’s Vance Force Airbase in 1961, currently serves as the President of the Aviation Cadet Museum, Inc.

“Today if you ask anyone, ‘What do you know about aviation cadets?’, they’ll give you a blank look,” Severe shared. He emphasized the significant contributions of cadets, noting, “We are the guys who built the air arm of this nation. Without us, there wouldn’t be none.”

This training program was a rigorous path; out of thousands of hopefuls, only a handful were selected, and even fewer made it to graduation. Severe recalled some cadets had a singular dream. “Their dream was to fly,” he said. “They wanted to fly more than they wanted to eat.”

Severe reflects on the challenges faced during training, perceiving their experiences as uniquely tough. “When I tell you it was hell, I’m not kidding,” he remarked. “Most kids today couldn’t do what we did; it was really rough.”

To keep the spirit of the program alive, Severe and his wife, Beth, established the Aviation Cadet Museum in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Visitors there can engage with real aircraft used in military combat and even experience flying through a simulator.

Severe’s passion for the museum lies in narrating the true history of aviation cadets. “I want to show the world who we are, who we were,” he said, conscious of his legacy at 85 years old. “There are probably only 200-300 of us left, and soon there will be none.”

When advising aspiring pilots, Severe emphasized the importance of inspiration over motivation. “You can motivate someone to do terrible things with enough money, but inspiration—that really comes from within. It’s from God,” he noted.