Monday, February 10, 2014

Cavalry Radio School

 Cavalry School in Fort Riley Kansas didn't exactly have a radio school. But they did have a class in radio theory. This was no cloistered christian college. This was a United States Army Cavalry School. In 1887, the U.S. Congress appropriated $200,000 to found this military academy. Five years later it was in operation. The Fort Riley post hospital, built in 1855, was remodeled in 1890 and became the headquarters and home for the school.  But the best part is that in 1957, the former home of the Cavalry School, became the U.S. Cavalry Museum.

It was called the Mounted Service School beginning in 1907 and until World War I when it resumed the name cavalry School. This continued until 1946,when the Army ended all training and educational programs dealing with equine-mounted troops. After 1950, it continued as the Army General School until May 1955.  It is currently the headquarters for the U.S. 1st Infantry Division. The school did produce some DJs notably Jerry Boulding. But might be better known for training the Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet (RB&L) which went to Korea in 1951. They were a propaganda unit.

More interesting to you is probably that I  scanned all 87 pages of their Basic Radio Theory text book. This book was used in the waning days of WWII at a military school that would cease teaching within a decade. Now it's a fascinating artifact. The book is typed and mimeographed, and hand illustrated. It's alternately a science text and how-to manual. It's worth the read.

Download all 72 MB