Munsey's Magazine, April 1918

About this issue

: This April 1918 issue of Munsey's Magazine features a nonfiction article by William Atherton Du Puy titled "The Making of an Airman," documenting American aviation training during World War I. The piece details the establishment of pilot training infrastructure, including eight university-based ground schools and multiple government flying fields. It describes the rigorous selection process—requiring college education, perfect physical condition, and keen observational skills—and the comprehensive eight-week curriculum covering engine mechanics, aircraft structure, Morse code, wireless telegraphy, celestial navigation, meteorology, machine-gun operation, and aerial photography. The article explains practical training methods, including relief-maps with simulated shell-bursts for spotting practice and dual-control aircraft for flight instruction. It traces a cadet's progression from ground school through solo flights, altitude tests, and navigation challenges to commissioning as a second lieutenant. The article emphasizes how rapidly America has developed its aviation program since entering the war, with hundreds of men training simultaneously at facilities like Wilbur Wright Field near Dayton and fields in Texas, Michigan, and California.