COL E. Pearce Fleming Jr.

Army Aviation Hall of Fame 1983 Induction - Atlanta, GA

COL E. Pearce Fleming Jr. provided enlightened leadership and foresight in key aviation duties during the decades of the 1950s and 1960s serving consecutively as an aviation officer with U.S. Army Europe and in the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, where he was particularly influential in ensuring the freedom of action enjoyed by all Army aviation units in Vietnam.

When Fleming assumed command in 1965 of the U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School at Fort Wolters, Texas, the graduates were programmed at 100 per month using 126 helicopters at one heliport and four stagefields.

On his departure in 1967, the program's graduates totaled 575 per month using 1,150 helicopters from three heliports and at 26 stagefields to accomplish the mammoth training requirement.

In terms of graduates and aircraft, Fort Wolters became the largest flight training school on one installation in the history of aviation.

An innovative trainer, manager, leader and commander, Fleming's remarkable achievements at Fort Wolters contributed immeasurably to the success of Army aviation pilot training during the tumultuous years of the Vietnam var.

His final assignment was as deputy director of Army Aviation, from which he retired after 31 years of exemplary service.