1945 Air Transport Command Rockets football team

Last updated
1945 Air Transport Command Rockets football
Conference Army Air Forces League
Record6–3–2 (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
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Army Air Forces League
Third Air Force + 4 –1 –17 –2 –1
AAF Training Command + 4 –1 –18 –3 –1
Fourth Air Force 3 –2 –16 –3 –1
First Air Force 2 –2 –23 –2 –3
Air Transport Command 2 –3 –16 –3 –2
Personnel Distribution Command 2 –4 –06 –5 –0
Second Air Force 1 –5 –03 –7 –0
Independents
Fleet City  – 11 –0 –1
Corpus Christi NAS  – 7 –1 –0
Jacksonville NAS  – 9 –2 –0
El Toro Marines  – 8 –2 –0
Little Creek  – 7 –2 –0
San Diego NTS  – 4 –2 –0
Atlantic City NAS  – 4 –2 –1
Camp Lee  – 7 –4 –0
Camp Peary  – 5 –3 –0
Eastern Flying Training Command  – 5 –3 –1
Great Lakes Navy  – 6 –4 –1
Bainbridge  – 5 –4 –0
Fort Benning  – 5 –4 –1
Fort Warren  – 5 –7 –0
Saint Mary's Pre-Flight  – 2 –4 –1
Keesler Field  – 3 –6 –1
Fort Pierce  – 4 –9 –0
Gulfport AAF  – 2 –5 –0
Pensacola NAS  – 2 –7 –1
Cherry Point Marines  – 1 –8 –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

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 152:30 p.m. Fort Pierce *
W 13–107,000 [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
September 22 First Air Force *
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
T 7–7 [9]
September 30vs. Fourth Air Force
L 14–215,000 [10]
October 71:30 p.m.at Personnel Distribution Command
W 15–86,000 [11] [12]
October 132:30 p.m. AAF Training Command
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
L 0–147,500 [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
October 21vs. First Air Force
T 7–710,000 [18] [19]
October 281:00 p.m.vs. Cherry Point Marines *
W 27–020,000 [20] [21]
November 4at Bainbridge *
W 24–6 [22]
November 112:00 p.m.vs. Second Air Force
W 15–015,000 [23] [24]
November 18at Fort Benning *
W 23–712,000 [25]
November 242:00 p.m. Third Air Force
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
L 6–152,800–4,000 [26] [27] [28] [29] [30]

[31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZTV</span> Fox/CW affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee

WZTV is a television station in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with Fox and The CW. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate WUXP-TV ; it is also sister to Dabl affiliate WNAB, which Sinclair operates under an outsourcing agreement with Tennessee Broadcasting. The stations share studios on Mainstream Drive along the Cumberland River, while WZTV's transmitter is located along I-24 in Whites Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WUXP-TV</span> MyNetworkTV affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee

WUXP-TV is a television station in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside dual Fox/CW affiliate WZTV ; it is also sister to Dabl affiliate WNAB, which Sinclair operates under an outsourcing agreement with Tennessee Broadcasting. The stations share studios on Mainstream Drive along the Cumberland River, while WUXP-TV's transmitter is located along I-24 in Whites Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Shipkey</span> American football player and coach (1904–1978)

Theodore E. Shipkey was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and college athletics administrator. Playing football at Stanford University from 1924 to 1926, he was a two-time All-American selection. Shipkey served as head football coach at Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe, now Arizona State University (1930–1932), the University of New Mexico (1937–1941), and the University of Montana (1949–1951), compiling a career college football coaching record of 55–43–4. He was also the head basketball coach at Arizona State from 1930 to 1933, tallying a mark of 32–30.

The 1947 Tennessee Volunteers represented the University of Tennessee in the 1947 college football season. Playing as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Robert Neyland, in his 16th year, and played their home games at Shields–Watkins Field in Knoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of five wins and five losses.

The Smoky Mountain Conference – officially the Smoky Mountain Athletic Conference – was an intercollegiate athletic conference that existed from December 1926 to October 1966. Most teams in the league were located in Tennessee, and there were at times teams from Virginia and North Carolina. The first commissioner of the league was W. O. "Chink" Lowe, who had played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers; he served as commissioner until September 1941.

The 1946 Vanderbilt Commodores football team was an American football team that represented Vanderbilt University in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1946 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Red Sanders, the Commodores compiled a 5–4 record and outscored all opponents by a total of 108 to 43.

The 1944 Third Air Force Gremlins football team represented the Third Air Force during the 1944 college football season. The team compiled a 7–3 record. The Third Air Force was part of the United States Army Air Forces and was based in 1944 at Morris Field in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Litkenhous Difference by Score Ratings system was a mathematical system used to rank football and basketball teams. The Litrating system was developed by Vanderbilt University professor Dr. Edward E. Litkenhous and his brother Francis H. Litkenhous.

The 1945 Second Air Force Superbombers football team represented the Second Air Force based in Colorado Springs, Colorado during the 1945 college football season. The Superbombers competed in the Army Air Forces League with six others teams from the United States Army Air Forces. Led by head coach Ed Walker, the Superbombers compiled an overall record of 3–7 with a mark of 1–5 in league play, placing last out of seven teams in the AAF League.

The 1945 Third Air Force Gremlins football team represented the Third Air Force based in Tampa, Florida during the 1945 college football season. The Gremlins competed in the Army Air Forces League with six others teams from the United States Army Air Forces. Led by second-year head coach J. Quinn Decker, the Gremlins compiled an overall record of 7–2–1 with a mark of 4–1–1 in league play, sharing the AAF League title with Army Air Forces Training Command Skymasters.

The 1945 Army Air Forces Training Command Skymasters football team represented the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC) based in Fort Worth, Texas during the 1945 college football season. The Skymasters competed in the Army Air Forces League with six others teams from the United States Army Air Forces. The Skymasters compiled an overall record of 8–3–1 with a mark of 4–1–1 in league play, sharing the AAF League title with the Third Air Force Gremlins. Major Doug Fessenden was the team's head coach. Captain Berl Huffman served as backfield coach.

The 1945 Fourth Air Force Flyers football team represented the Fourth Air Force based at March Field, in Southern California, during the 1945 college football season. The Flyers competed in the Army Air Forces League with six others teams from the United States Army Air Forces. Led by head coach Johnny Baker, the team compiled an overall record of 6–3–1 with a mark of 3–2–1 in league play, placing third in the AAF League. The Flyers ended the regular season with a win over the Third Air Force Gremlins, who earned a shared of the League title. The Flyers were recognized as the "most interesting" team in the league and selected to face the Army Air Forces Training Command Skymasters, the other co-champion of the league, in a postseason benefit game, the Legion Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. The Skymasters had beaten the Flyers earlier in the season in Fort Worth, Texas, but the Flyers avenged the loss with a 27–0 victory in Memphis on December 16.

The 1945 First Air Force Aces football team represented the First Air Force based at Mitchel Field during the 1945 college football season. The Aces competed in the Army Air Forces League with six others teams from the United States Army Air Forces. Led by head coach Jesse Yarborough, the Aces compiled an overall record of 3–2–3 with a mark of 2–2–2 in league play, placing fourth in the AAF League. Major Yarborough's coaching staff consisted of Lieutenant Clyde Crabtree as backfield coach, Staff Sergeant George Platukis as line coach, and Lieutenant Art White as end coach. White and Platukis were also players for the team. The team's roster included Frank Damiani and Bill Paschal, who had both played for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL).

The 1945 Personnel Distribution Command Comets football team represented the Personnel Distribution Command (PDC) based in Greensboro, North Carolina and Louisville, Kentucky during the 1945 college football season. The Comets competed in the Army Air Forces League with six others teams from the United States Army Air Forces. The team compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 2–4 in league play, placing sixth in the AAF League.

The 1945 Fort Pierce Amphibs football team represented the Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base in Fort Pierce, Florida during the 1945 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Hamp Pool, the Amphibs compiled a record of 4–9. The team's starting quarterback was Johnny Lujack.

The 1945 Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers football team represented the Jacksonville Naval Air Station during the 1945 college football season. Led by head coach Jim Tatum, the Fliers compiled a record of 9–2. Walt Dubzinski was the team captain. Other members of the roster included Otis Douglas and Barney McGarry. The fliers ran the T formation on offense.

The 1945 Cherry Point Marines Flying Leathernecks football team represented Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina during the 1945 college football season. The Flying Leathernecks compiled a record of 1–8.

The 1945 Camp Peary Pirates football team represented Camp Peary of Virginia during the 1945 college football season. Led by head coach Edward A. Jontos, the Pirates compiled a record of 5–3. The team's roster included Jim Mello.

The 1945 Little Creek Amphibs football team was an American football team that represented United States Navy's Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Virginia during the 1945 college football season. Led by head coach Russell L. Waters, the Amphibs compiled a record of 7–2. The team's roster included guard Ben Chase and tackle Phil Ragazzo.

The 1945 Gulfport Army Air Field Bombers football team represented the United States Army Air Forces's Gulfport Army Air Field, also called Gulfport Army Air Base, in Mississippi during the 1945 college football season. The Bomber compiled a record of 2–5. Captain John Walsh was the team's head coach.

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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  9. ↑ "Yarborough Aces Rally To Tie ATC". Miami Herald . Miami, Florida. September 23, 1945. p. 1C. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  22. ↑ "Bainbridge's Streak Ended". Baltimore Sun . Baltimore, Maryland. Associated Press. November 5, 1945. p. 16. Retrieved March 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  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 Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.