The North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters represented the U.S. Navy pre-flight school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the college football seasons of 1942, 1943 and 1944 during World War II. The North Carolina Pre-Flight School was established on February 1, 1942, by the Secretary of the Navy and opened that April.[1] The football team was later organized and competed against other military teams in addition to major college teams of the period. During their three years in existence, the Cloudbusters compiled an overall record of sixteen wins, eight losses and three ties (16–8–3).[2]

North Carolina Pre-Flight was coached by one of Notre Dame's former "Four Horsemen" and Fordham head coach Jim Crowley in 1942 and went 8–2–1. The Cloudbusters were coached by former Baylor head coach Frank Kimbrough in 1943 and went 2–4–1. In 1944, they were led by Glenn Killinger and went 6–2–1. The Cloudbusters were also known for having both future College Football Hall of Fame inductees Johnny Vaught and Bear Bryant serve as assistant coaches in 1942 and 1944 respectively. Vaught went on to coach at Ole Miss, and while there won the 1960 national championship and compiled an overall record of 190 wins, 61 losses and 12 ties (190–61–12).[3] Bryant went on to coach at Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Alabama, and during his career won the 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978 and 1979 national championships and compiled an overall record of 323 wins, 85 losses and 17 ties (323–85–17).[4]

1942 season

1942 North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
APNo. 4 (APS)
Record8–2–1
Head coach

The 1942 Cloudbusters squad was led by former Fordham head coach Jim Crowley.[5] Members of Crowley's staff included: Charles R. Soleau as backs coach, Ed Sosky as ends coach, and George McGaughey, N. J. Pierce and Johnny Vaught as line coaches.[5] The squad finished the season with an overall record of eight wins, two losses and one tie (8–2–1).

After the Cloudbusters opened the season with a 13–2 victory over Catawba, they traveled to Boston and shutout Harvard, 13–0, before 7,000 fans.[6] After a tie against Georgia Pre-Flight and a victory against NC State, the Cloudbusters lost their first game of the season against Boston College 7–6.[7] Following their loss against the Eagles, they ran for 272 yards in a 34–0 victory over Temple before 20,000 fans in Philadelphia.[8] The Cloudbusters would then only allow seven points over the next four games leading to their season finale against Crowley's former school, Fordham. Before 24,500 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Cadets were upset 6–0 in a defensive struggle with the only points of the game coming on a Steve Filipowicz touchdown run in the first half.[9]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12vs. CatawbaWinston-Salem, NCW 13–2
September 26at Harvard
W 13–012,000[10]
October 3at Georgia Pre-Flight
T 14–147,500[11]
October 10at NC State
W 19–710,000[12]
October 17at No. 11 Boston College
L 6–725,107
October 23at Temple
W 34–020,000
October 31at Syracuse
W 9–010,000
November 7at Georgetown
W 23–712,000[13]
November 14at Manhattan
W 17–0
November 21at No. 13 William & Mary
W 14–010,000[14]
November 28at Fordham
L 0–624,500
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[15]

Games against both Colgate and Iowa Pre-Flight included in the original schedule were canceled by the end of the season.[5]

1943 season

1943 North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–4–1
Head coach
Home stadiumKenan Memorial Stadium

The 1943 Cloudbusters squad was led by former Baylor head coach Frank Kimbrough.[16] The squad finished the season with an overall record of two wins, four losses and one tie (2–4–1). The Cadets opened their 1943 season with a pair of shutout losses. The first was a 31–0 loss to Navy before 12,231 at Thompson Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, and the second was a 42–0 loss to Duke in Durham.[17][18] The Cloudbusters rebounded with a victory over Camp Davis only to lose their next two contests. The squad then finished the season with a tie against Camp Lejeune and a 21–7 victory over NC State.[19]

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, North Carolina Pre-Flight ranked 79th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 73.9.[20]

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 25at Navy
L 0–3112,231
October 2at Duke
L 0–426,179[21]
October 162:30 p.m.Camp Davis
W 23–18[22][23]
October 23Georgia Pre-Flight
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
L 7–205,000[24]
November 6Wake Forest
L 12–205,000[25]
November 132:30 p.m.Camp Lejeune
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
T 14–14[26][27]
November 25at NC State
W 21–73,000[28]

[29]

The game against Virginia Tech at Victory Stadium in Roanoke, Virginia included in the original schedule was canceled by the end of the season.[16]

1944 season

1944 North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–2–1
Head coach
Home stadiumKenan Memorial Stadium

The 1944 Cloudbusters squad was led by head coach Glenn Killinger.[30] Members of Killinger's staff included: Glenn Presnell as backs coach, John Roning as ends coach, and Bear Bryant as line coach.[31] The squad finished the season with an overall record of six wins, two losses and one tie (6–2–1).

The cadets opened the season with a 27–14 victory over Cherry Point Marines, and the next week upset national championship favorite Navy before 10,000 fans at Annapolis, Maryland.[32][33] In the victory over the Midshipmen, Otto Graham threw a lateral pass to Frank Aschenbrenner who ran it 55-yards for the game-winning score.[33] The next week, the squad defeated Duke, 13–6, for a second consecutive upset.[34] As a result of these upsets, the Cloudbusters earned the No. 2 ranking in the first AP Poll of the 1944 season.[35]

After being held to a tie against Virginia, the Cloudbusters rebounded with a 3–0 victory over Georgia Pre-Flight after Buell St. John connected on a short field goal with only seven seconds remaining in the game.[36][37] After a victory over Jacksonville NAS, the cadets suffered their first loss of the season in a 49–20 loss against Bainbridge NTS.[38] The Cloudbusters responded the following week with a 33–18 victory over Georgia Pre-Flight, with Graham throwing for three touchdowns and running for one in the contest.[39] The cadets then finished the season with a loss against Camp Peary.

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, North Carolina Pre-Flight ranked 40th among the nation's college and service teams and seventh out of 28 United States Navy teams with a rating of 93.3.[40][41]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 242:30 p.m.Cherry Point Marines
W 27–148,000[42][43][44]
September 302:30 p.m.at Navy
W 21–14[45]
October 7at Duke
W 13–619,000[46]
October 14at VirginiaNo. 2
T 13–13
October 21Georgia Pre-FlightNo. 10
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
W 3–0[47][48]
October 283:30 p.m.at Jacksonville NASNo. 9
W 14–13[49][50]
November 52:30 p.m.No. 12 BainbridgeNo. 8
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
L 20–49[51][52]
November 11at Georgia Pre-FlightNo. 16
W 33–18[53]
November 182:30 p.m.Camp PearyNo. 18
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
L 7–19[54][55]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll12345678Final
AP2 (24)10981618т20——

1945 season

The 1945 Cloudbusters squad was to have been led by head coach Bear Bryant.[56][57] However, Bryant never served as the head coach at Carolina after the Navy dropped the football program there in August 1945.[56] Bryant took the head coaching position with Maryland, and 14 players he coached at the Pre-Flight School enrolled to play for him at Maryland after they were discharged from the service.[58]

References

  1. ↑ "This Month in Naval Aviation- February 1, 1942". Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ Jones, Wilbur D. (2009). "Football! Navy! War!": How Military "Lend-Lease" Players Saved the College Game and Helped Win World War II. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 124–126. ISBN 978-0-7864-4219-5. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Johnny Vaught". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Paul "Bear" Bryant". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ten grid games for Navy school". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. The United Press. July 12, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Chapel Hill cadets whip Harvard, 13–0". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. The United Press. July 12, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Boston moves in". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. October 21, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Cadets maul Owls, 34–0". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. The United Press. October 24, 1942. p. 10. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  9. ↑ Rennie, Rud (November 29, 1942). "Rams upset naval eleven". The Miami News. p. 2D. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  10. ↑ Danzig, Allison (September 27, 1942). "Navy Cadets Beat Harvard; Crimson Bows, 13-0". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
  11. ↑ "Two Pre-Flight Foes Tie". The Des Moines Register. October 3, 1942. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "N.C. Pre-Flight eleven trims Wolfpack, 19–7". Asheville Citizen-Times. October 11, 1942. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Georgetown Beaten: North Carolina Pre-Flighters Beat Hilltoppers, 23 to 7". The Sunday Star. November 8, 1942. pp. C1, C4 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "William and Mary finally conquered". The Los Angeles Times. November 22, 1942. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Daye, John (2014). Encyclopedia of Armed Forces Football. Haworth, New Jersey: St. Johann Press. pp. 120–121. ISBN 978-1-937943-21-9.
  16. 1 2 "Navy football plans given". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Associated Press. July 12, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  17. ↑ Abramson, Jesse (September 26, 1943). "Bruce Smith's passes feature Navy romp". The Miami News. p. 3E. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Duke steam-roller flattens N.C. Navy Pre-flight, 42–0". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. INS. October 3, 1943. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  19. ↑ "N.C. Pre-flight whips N.C. State". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Associated Press. November 26, 1943. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  20. ↑ Litkenhous, E. E. (December 17, 1943). "Litkenhouse Selects U. S. Grid Leaders". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 18. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  21. ↑ "Duke does usual, Blue Devils roll for six counters". The News and Observer. October 3, 1943. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Both Squads Set For Opening Gun". Wilmington Morning Star. Wilmington, North Carolina. October 16, 1943. p. 5. Retrieved April 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  23. ↑ "Busters Top Camp Davis In 23-18 Scoring Spree". Greensboro Daily News. Greensboro, North Carolina. Associated Press. October 17, 1943. p. 3, section 4. Retrieved April 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  24. ↑ "Georgia Sailors Rip Cloudbusters". The Greenville News. October 24, 1943. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Demon Deacs spill Pre-Flight, 20–12". The Charlotte Observer. November 7, 1943. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Camp Lejeune Meets Cloudbusters Today". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press. November 13, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  27. ↑ "Lejeune Balked By Pre-Flight With 14-14 Tie". The Durham Herald-Sun. Durham, North Carolina. Associated Press. November 14, 1943. p. 2, section IV. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  28. ↑ "Carolina Pre-Flight turns back stubborn Wolfpack, 21–7". Greensboro Daily News. November 26, 1943. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ Daye, John (2014). Encyclopedia of Armed Forces Football. Haworth, New Jersey: St. Johann Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-937943-21-9.
  30. ↑ "Killinger football head". The New York Times. February 27, 1944. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  31. ↑ Tomberlin, Jason (October 21, 2009). "Bear Bryant in Chapel Hill". North Carolina Miscellany. UNC University Libraries. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Cloudbusters clip Cherry Point". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Associated Press. September 25, 1944. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  33. 1 2 "N.C. Pre-flight upsets Navy". The Pittsburgh Press. The United Press. October 1, 1944. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  34. ↑ "N.C. Pre-flight upsets Duke". The St. Petersburg Times. The United Press. October 8, 1944. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  35. ↑ Claassen, Spike (October 10, 1944). "North Carolina Pre-flight is second". San Jose Evening News. Associated Press. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  36. ↑ "N.C. Pre-flight ties Virginians". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. United Press. October 15, 1944. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Cloudbusters trip Skycrackers 3–0 in last 7 seconds". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. The United Press. October 22, 1944. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Bainbridge whips Pre-flight to hop into limelight". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. United Press. November 6, 1944. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  39. ↑ "N.C. Pre-flight winners 33–18". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. United Press. November 12, 1944. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  40. ↑ Litkenhous, E. E. (December 10, 1944). "Big Ten Circuit Repeats As King of College Leagues". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City Utah. p. 8B. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  41. ↑ Litkenhous, E. E. (December 17, 1944). "Army, Randolph Field One-Two in Final Litkenhouse Ratings". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 4, section 2. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  42. ↑ "Cloudbusters To Meet Cherry Point Marines This Afternoon At 2:30 On Chapel Hill Field". The Durham Herald-Sun. Durham, North Carolina. September 24, 1944. p. 8, section II. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  43. ↑ "Busters To Play Marines At Hill". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press. September 24, 1944. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  44. ↑ Herbert, Dick (September 25, 1944). "Buster Top Marines". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. p. 7. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  45. ↑ "Navy To Open Grid Season With Cloudbusters Today". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. September 30, 1944. p. 12. Retrieved April 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  46. ↑ "Preflight defeats Duke, 13–6". Winston-Salem Journal. October 8, 1944. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ↑ "Busters Face Crackers". Durham Moring Herald. Durham, North Carolina. October 21, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  48. ↑ Horner, Jack (October 22, 1944). "Field Goal Brings Cloudbusters 3 To 0 Triumph". The Durham Herald-Sun. Durham, North Carolina. p. 1, section IV. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  49. ↑ "Jacksonville Take On N. C. Pre-Flight". Tampa Morning Tribune. Tampa, Florida. Associated Press. October 28, 1944. p. 10. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  50. ↑ "Cloudbusters Squeeze Out 14-13 Win Over Fliers". The Durham Herald-Sun. Durham, North Carolina. October 29, 1944. p. 9, section II. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  51. ↑ "'Busters Buck Bainbridge". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. November 5, 1944. p. 23. Retrieved May 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  52. ↑ "Bainbridge Wins, 49 to 20: Commodores Humble North Carolina Pre-Flight Eleven". The Baltimore Sun. November 6, 1944. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ↑ Hanes, O. P. (November 12, 1944). "Graham Gets Hot In Athens Battle". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  54. ↑ "Cloudbusters Host To Strong Camp Peary In Final Tilt". Durham Moring Herald. Durham, North Carolina. November 18, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  55. ↑ "Camp Peary Nips N. C. Pre-Flight". The Greenville News. November 19, 1944. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. 1 2 "Bear Bryant is Terp coach". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 6, 1945. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  57. ↑ "Sports items rationed". The Los Angeles Times. February 2, 1945. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  58. ↑ Perry, Lawrence (September 28, 1945). "New Maryland coach scoffs at fears of football purists". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
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