The Civilian Pilot Training Program was a government-sponsored effort to increase the number of civilian pilots, creating a supply of pre-trained pilots for later use in the military. It existed from 1938 to 1944.
Many universities participated in this program, among them Northwestern University, where Tom applied in May, 1942.
![Student fliers with Piper J-3s under the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Congressional Airport. Rockville, Maryland](https://brooksidepress.org/cartmell/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Civilian_Pilot_Training_Program-300x216.jpg)
After completion of training and obtaining a private pilots’ license, graduates were expected to be drawn into the army or navy.