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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Jean M. Cain

Reuben Avesian was drafted into the military at age of 18, and sent to Greenwood, Mississippi for basic training for 6 months. There, he was given a series of tests and assigned to introductory flight training in Springfield, Mass. He received ground studies for flight training and was introduced to flying the piper cub, and then to primary flight training before being sent to Arcadia Florida.

Once openings were available for basic flight trainine he flew the BT-13 (Vultee Valiant). At advanced flight training in Dothan, Alabama, he flew the AT-6 Texan, and received his wings on Dec. 23,1943. Other follow up training occurred: gunnery training on AT-6, at Eglin Air Force Base, and Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, then flight transition Training on P-40 Warhawk at Eglin.
He was selected for B-29 Superfortress training In Denver and trained as a flight engineer. He graduated and received "observer wings." While he was there he also trained on the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator, and as flight engineer.
Fun things to do in a plane included: rolls, spins and "Malians." All of these generated great sport and a rapid heartbeat.
War ended in 1946 he left active duty and went back to school at Springfield College for Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a major in Physical Education and a minor in music. After a semester in Springfield he transferred to the University of Michigan as they had a far superior music program. He graduated in 1949. Later he attended North Colorado University for a Masters of Education (1951); he received a second Masters of Education in counseling at Stanford University in 1952.