1945 Air Transport Command Rockets football team

1945 Air Transport Command Rockets football
Conference	Army Air Forces League
Record	6–3–2 (2–3–1 AAF League)
Head coach	Dick Emerson (1st season; first 2 games) Eddie Davison (acting, final 9 games)
Home stadium	Dudley Field
Seasons ← 1944 1946 →

1945 military service football records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Army Air Forces League
Third Air Force +	4	–	1	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
AAF Training Command +	4	–	1	–	1			8	–	3	–	1
Fourth Air Force	3	–	2	–	1			6	–	3	–	1
First Air Force	2	–	2	–	2			3	–	2	–	3
Air Transport Command	2	–	3	–	1			6	–	3	–	2
Personnel Distribution Command	2	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Second Air Force	1	–	5	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Independents
Fleet City			–					11	–	0	–	1
Jacksonville NAS			–					9	–	2	–	0
Hutchinson NAS			–					8	–	0	–	0
Selman Field			–					8	–	1	–	0
El Toro Marines			–					8	–	2	–	0
Corpus Christi NAS			–					7	–	1	–	0
North Camp Hood			–					7	–	1	–	0
Little Creek			–					7	–	2	–	0
Santa Barbara Marines			–					7	–	3	–	1
Camp Lee			–					7	–	4	–	0
Camp Beale			–					6	–	1	–	2
Farragut NTS			–					6	–	2	–	0
Eastern Flying Training Command			–					6	–	3	–	1
Great Lakes Navy			–					6	–	4	–	1
Hondo AAF			–					6	–	4	–	1
South Camp Hood			–					5	–	2	–	0
Camp Peary			–					5	–	3	–	0
Bainbridge			–					5	–	4	–	0
Fort Benning			–					5	–	4	–	1
Fort Warren			–					5	–	7	–	0
Fort McClellan			–					4	–	2	–	0
San Diego NTS			–					4	–	2	–	0
Atlantic City NAS			–					4	–	2	–	1
Minter Field			–					4	–	2	–	1
Williams Field			–					4	–	4	–	0
Stockton AAF			–					4	–	5	–	2
Barksdale Field			–					4	–	7	–	0
Fort Pierce			–					4	–	9	–	0
Amarillo AAF			–					3	–	1	–	0
Olathe NAS			–					3	–	2	–	0
Albany Navy			–					3	–	3	–	1
Camp Detrick			–					3	–	4	–	0
Kearney AAF			–					3	–	4	–	0
Bergstrom Field			–					3	–	5	–	1
Keesler Field			–					3	–	6	–	1
Melville PT Boats			–					2	–	1	–	0
Great Bend AAF			–					2	–	4	–	0
Saint Mary's Pre-Flight			–					2	–	4	–	1
Gulfport AAF			–					2	–	5	–	0
Pensacola NAS			–					2	–	7	–	1
Squantum NAS			–					1	–	1	–	0
Camp Blanding			–					1	–	2	–	0
Luke Field			–					1	–	2	–	0
Miami NAS			–					1	–	2	–	0
Miami NTC			–					1	–	3	–	0
NSB New London			–					1	–	3	–	0
Oceana NAS			–					1	–	3	–	0
Fort Riley			–					1	–	4	–	0
Lake Charles AAF			–					1	–	4	–	0
Ellington Field			–					1	–	4	–	1
Cherry Point Marines			–					1	–	8	–	0
Dalhart AAF			–					0	–	3	–	0
Homestead AAB			–					0	–	3	–	0
Fort Monroe			–					0	–	7	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

The 1945 Air Transport Command Rockets football team represented the Air Transport Command (ATC) based in Nashville, Tennessee during the 1945 college football season. The Rockets competed in the Army Air Forces League (AAF League) with six others teams from the United States Army Air Forces. The Rockets compiled an overall record of 6–3–2 with a mark of 2–3–1 in league play, placing fifth in the AAF League. ^[1] Captain Dick Emerson of Portland, Oregon served as the team's head coach at the outset of the season. He was transferred by the Army in late September and succeeded by Captain Eddie Davison of Plainfield, New Jersey as acting coach. Davison had played football at Saint Louis University and was line coach for the Rockets. ^[2]

The ATC Rockets were ranked 18th among the nation's college and service teams in the final Litkenhous Ratings. ^[3]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 15	2:30 p.m.	Fort Pierce *	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 13–10	7,000	[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
September 22		First Air Force *	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	T 7–7		[9]
September 30		vs. Fourth Air Force	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX	L 14–21	5,000	[10]
October 7	1:30 p.m.	at Personnel Distribution Command	duPont Manual Stadium Louisville, KY	W 15–8	6,000	[11] [12]
October 13	2:30 p.m.	AAF Training Command	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	L 0–14	7,500	[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
October 21		vs. First Air Force	Mackenzie Field Holyoke, MA	T 7–7	10,000	[18] [19]
October 28	1:00 p.m.	vs. Cherry Point Marines *	Griffith Stadium Washington, DC	W 27–0	20,000	[20] [21]
November 4		at Bainbridge *	Tome Stadium Bainbridge, MD	W 24–6		[22]
November 11	2:00 p.m.	vs. Second Air Force	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	W 15–0	15,000	[23] [24]
November 18		at Fort Benning *	Doughboy Stadium Fort Benning, GA	W 23–7	12,000	[25]
November 24	2:00 p.m.	Third Air Force	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	L 6–15	2,800–4,000	[26] [27] [28] [29] [30]
*Non-conference game All times are in Central time

^[31]

References

1. Goodale, George (December 5, 1945). "Who's Kicking Who—Gremlins or Flyers". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 15. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
2. "Emerson Relieved fo Coachign Post". Spokane Daily Chronicle . Spokane Daily Chronicle. United Press. September 25, 1945. p. 12. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
3. Litkenhous, E. E. (December 19, 1945). "Litkenhouse Rates College, Service Teams of Nation". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph . Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 20. Retrieved March 25, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
4. Steber, Bob (September 15, 1945). "12,000 Expected To See Clash; Kickoff at 2:30". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
5. Steber, Bob (September 15, 1945). "ATC Rockets Entertain Powerful Naval Amphibs Today (continued)". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 5. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
6. Johnson, Raymond (September 16, 1945). "Two Late Passes Give Fliers Win In Stiff Battle". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 1A. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
7. Johnson, Raymond (September 16, 1945). "Rockets' Air Power in 4th Sink Navy Amphibs 13-10 (continued)". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 1C. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
8. Johnson, Raymond (September 16, 1945). "Clark Throws Winning Points (continued)". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 3C. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
9. "Yarborough Aces Rally To Tie ATC". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. September 23, 1945. p. 1C. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
10. "4th AAF Edges Out ATC, 21-14". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Fort Worth, Texas. Associated Press. October 1, 1945. p. 10. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
11. "Aerial Battle Is Expected As Comets Meet Rockets Today". The Courier-Journal . Louisville, Kentucky. October 7, 1945. p. 2, section 4. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
12. Carrico, John (October 8, 1945). "6,000 See Rocket Aerials Bring Down Comets 15-8". The Courier-Journal . Louisville, Kentucky. p. 8. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
13. Johnson, Raymond (October 13, 1945). "Visitors Rated One Touchdown Edge Over ATC". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 1. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
14. Johnson, Raymond (October 13, 1945). "12,000 Fans Expected To See Service Stars (continued)". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 5. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
15. Johnson, Raymond (October 14, 1945). "McHugh Sprints 69 Yards To Set Stage For Tally". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 1C. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
16. Johnson, Raymond (October 14, 1945). "McHugh Sprints 69 Yards To Set Stage For Tally (continued)". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 5C. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
17. McMullen, Lorin (October 14, 1945). "Skymen Rap Rockets, 14-0". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Fort Worth, Texas. p. 11. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
18. "Aces-Rockets Third Game Out; Play 7-7 Tie Again Before More Than 8000 Fans At Mackenzie Field". Holyoke Transcript-Telegram . Holyoke, Massachusetts. Associated Press. October 22, 1945. p. 8. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
19. "First Air Force Held To 7-7 Tie". Daily News . New York, New York. Associated Press. October 22, 1945. p. 33. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
20. "ATC Picked Over Cherry Point In Hot Grid Tilt Here Today". The Sunday Star . Washington, D.C. October 28, 1945. p. A20. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
21. "Line-Ripping Rockets Blast Marine Team, Unable To Score". The Evening Star . Washington, D.C. October 29, 1945. p. 13. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
22. "Bainbridge's Streak Ended". Baltimore Sun . Baltimore, Maryland. Associated Press. November 5, 1945. p. 16. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
23. "Rockets-Superbombers tilt at 2 p.m." Sunday Journal and Star . Lincoln, Nebraska. November 11, 1945. p. 9. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
24. "ATC's Aerial Attack Downs Bombers, 15-0". Morning World Herald . Omaha, Nebraska. November 12, 1945. p. 9. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
25. "ATC Rolls Over Benning Eleven By 23-7 Margin". Tampa Morning Tribune . Tampa, Florida. Associated Press. November 19, 1945. p. 9. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
26. Johnson, Raymond (November 24, 1945). "Gremlins Close Season For ATC". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 1. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
27. Johnson, Raymond (November 24, 1945). "Gremlins Rule Favorites Over Resurgent Rockets Today (continued)". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 5. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
28. Johnson, Raymond (November 25, 1945). "Gremlins Exploit Breaks of Game To Whip Rockets 15-6". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 1C. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
29. Johnson, Raymond (November 25, 1945). "Gremlins Whip Rockets 15 to 6 (continued)". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 2C. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
30. Johnson, Raymond (November 26, 1945). "One Man's Opinion: Only 2,800 Cash Fans Saw Gremlins and Rockets—Why?". The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. 12. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
31. "Final Log For Nation's Top Football Teams". Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. December 2, 1945. p. 14, part I. Retrieved March 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com .