Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 56 Part 1.djvu/677

 56 STAT.] 77TH CONG., 2D SESS.-CH. 493-JULY 8, 1942 [CHAPTER 493] AN ACT To create the title of flight officer in the Army Air Forces, to amend the Army Aviation Cadet Act, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby created for the Army Air Forces the title of "flight officer." A flight officer shall have the rank, pay, and allowances, provided for a war- rant officer, junior grade, and shall take rank as of the date of appointment. Flight officers shall be entitled to the benefits of all existing laws or regulations covering retirement, pensions, and dis- ability as are applicable to members of the Army of the United States when called or ordered into the active military service of the United States under existing statutory authorizations and shall be entitled to longevity pay as provided for warrant officers in section 1 of the Act of August 21, 1941 (Public Law 230, Seventy-seventh Congress). Flight officers (warrant officers, junior grade) appointed under this authority shall not be limited by the restriction as to numbers estab- lished by section 3 of the Act of August 21, 1941 (Public Law 230, Seventy-seventh Congress). SEC. 2. The provisions of section 3 of the Army Aviation Cadet Act of June 3, 1941, are hereby suspended for the duration of the present war and for six months thereafter except as to any person who has enlisted or who has been appointed as an aviation cadet prior to the date of enactment of this Act. During such period and under such regulations as the Secretary of War may prescribe, male citizens of the United States may enlist as aviation cadets and men having an enlisted status in the Army of the United States may be appointed by the Secretary of War as aviation cadets. All enlistments shall be for the period of the duration of the present war and for six months thereafter unless sooner terminated by the President. Upon success- ful completion of the prescribed course of training and instruction and under such regulations with respect to selection as the Secretary of War may prescribe, each such cadet shall be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army of the United States under the provi- sions of the Act of September 22, 1941 (Public Law 252, Seventy- seventh Congress), or appointed as a flight officer in the Army of the United States. Under such regulations as the Secretary of War nay prescribe, the status, pay, and allowances of any aviation cadet who fails to complete successfully the prescribed course of training and instruction may be terminated and for the remainder of the war and six months thereafter he may be required to serve in any enlisted grade with the pay and allowances of such grade. SEC. 3. During the continuance of the present war and for six months thereafter, the Secretary of War is authorized, under such regulations as he may prescribe, to make temporary appointments as flight officers in the Army of the United States from among men having an enlisted status in the Army of the United States who have received training as aviation students. SEC. 4. Pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary of War may prescribe, flight officers may be appointed, by selection, to the grade of second lieutenant and, upon such appointment, shall be commis- sioned in the Army of the United States under the provisions of the Act of September 22, 1941 (Public Law 252, Seventy-seventh Congress). SEC. 5. Any person who has completed the prescribed course of training and instruction as an aviation cadet or aviation student and has served in time of war as a commissioned officer or flight 649 July 8, 1942 [S. 2553] [Public Law 658] Flight Officer Act. Title of "flight of- ficer" created; rank, pay, etc. Benefits. Longevity pay. 55 Stat. 651. 10U.S.C., Supp.I , §593a. 65 Stat. 652. 10U. .C., Supp.I, § 591a. Army Aviation Cadet Act. Suspension of see- tion 3; exception. 55 Stat. 239. 10 U.S. C., Supp. I 5299. Enlistments, etc. Commissions or ap- pointments on com- pletion of course. 55 Stat. 728. 10 U. S. C., Supp. I, § 4.94note. Failure to complete course. Temporary appoint- ments as flight officers. Appointments of flight officers as 2d lieutenants. 55 Stat. 728. 10U. .C., Supp.I, § 484 note. Air Corps Reserve officers, appointments.

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