Fred Renshaw was a U.S. cadet at Riddle Field’s Course 12, the first course that saw American and British cadets training together. He was a contributor to Roger Out, a Course 12 publication prepared by a talented editorial committee of cadets (writers, cartoonists, and poets). At the end of his course he wrote,



"British and American cadets have worked together, flown and played together, shared the same rooms, eaten at the same table, argued, laughed at and with each other, and have found that they have a great deal in common.



The rugged lips of the North countryman and the quicker lips of the Londoner now proffer strange oaths and expressions born certainly many wingspans from Bow Bells and Wigan Pier, while from American lips might be heard glibly falling, “Oh, good show, sir!”

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to our squadron commanders, flight commanders and (not least!) our flying instructors: also to those hard-working, long-suffering ground school instructors who struggled valiantly against the Sand Man on those hot afternoons, teaching us the mysteries of lift. Or was it “life?”"



Upon completion of his training, (April 1943) Fred was commissioned as an RAF Pilot Officer and as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Air Corp and assigned to the Air Transport Command. He served in the ATC, in the US, North Africa and Europe until discharged in 1946.



Later Fred was to write, "Being a cadet at Riddle Field was a lucky and happy experience for me, and the exposure to the British cadets was wonderful. I learned a lot from them and we got along very well together. Many of the British men I trained with were daring and fearless pilots, and I am sure they did their part in winning the war.



My wife was with me in Clewiston. We rented a house and I was with her every weekend, even though I had to stay in the barracks during weekdays. Often we would invite some of the British cadets for dinner.

As the oldest man in the American group, I was assigned to the Air Transport Command. I ferried A-24s, A-25s, P-47s, DC-3s, and B-25s. Later I was assigned to the North African Air Transport Command. Ferrying planes from the P-47 Republic factory in Evansville, Indiana, to Long Beach, California, resulted in my being chosen one of the old timers with his “head on straight,” as we would say."