San Luis Obispo California Cal Poly Navy Flight Prep School World War 2 1943 Real Photo Postcard

The Navy Flight Preparatory School at California Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo was established in 1942 as part of a nationwide program to accelerate the training of aviators for the United States Navy during World War II. These preparatory schools provided essential academic and physical conditioning to cadets, preparing them for advanced flight instruction and playing a vital role in addressing the urgent need for naval pilots in both the European and Pacific theaters of conflict.

These graduation exercises signify the completion of an intensive wartime curriculum, marking the transition of civilian students into military personnel destined for specialized flight training. The presence of the Navy Flight Preparatory School profoundly impacted California Polytechnic College, temporarily reorienting its mission from agricultural and technical education to direct military support and contributing significantly to the Allied war effort.