Wikipedia

1945 Air Transport Command Rockets football team

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]

1945 Air Transport Command Rockets football
ConferenceArmy 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 stadiumDudley Field
Seasons
← 1944
1946 →
1945 military service football records
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
Hutchinson NAS   –   8 – 0 – 0
Fleet City   –   11 – 0 – 1
Corpus Christi NAS   –   7 – 1 – 0
North Camp Hood   –   7 – 1 – 0
Selman Field   –   7 – 1 – 0
Jacksonville NAS   –   9 – 2 – 0
El Toro Marines   –   8 – 2 – 0
Camp Beale   –   6 – 1 – 2
Little Creek   –   7 – 2 – 0
Amarillo AAF   –   3 – 1 – 0
Farragut NTS   –   6 – 2 – 0
South Camp Hood   –   5 – 2 – 0
Santa Barbara Marines   –   7 – 3 – 1
Fort McClellan   –   4 – 2 – 0
San Diego NTS   –   4 – 2 – 0
Eastern Flying Training Command   –   6 – 3 – 1
Atlantic City NAS   –   4 – 2 – 1
Minter Field   –   4 – 2 – 1
Camp Lee   –   7 – 4 – 0
Camp Peary   –   5 – 3 – 0
Olathe NAS   –   3 – 2 – 0
Great Lakes Navy   –   6 – 4 – 1
Hondo AAF   –   6 – 4 – 1
Bainbridge   –   5 – 4 – 0
Fort Benning   –   5 – 4 – 1
Albany Navy   –   3 – 3 – 1
Williams Field   –   4 – 4 – 0
Stockton AAF   –   4 – 5 – 2
Camp Detrick   –   3 – 4 – 0
Kearney AAF   –   3 – 4 – 0
Fort Warren   –   5 – 7 – 0
Bergstrom Field   –   3 – 5 – 1
Barksdale Field   –   4 – 7 – 0
Saint Mary's Pre-Flight   –   2 – 4 – 1
Keesler Field   –   3 – 6 – 1
Camp Blanding   –   1 – 2 – 0
Great Bend AAF   –   2 – 4 – 0
Luke Field   –   1 – 2 – 0
Miami NAS   –   1 – 2 – 0
Fort Pierce   –   4 – 9 – 0
Gulfport AAF   –   2 – 5 – 0
Ellington Field   –   1 – 4 – 1
Miami NTC   –   1 – 3 – 0
Oceana NAS   –   1 – 3 – 0
Fort Riley   –   1 – 4 – 0
Lake Charles AAF   –   1 – 4 – 0
Pensacola NAS   –   2 – 7 – 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 ATC Rockets were ranked 18th among the nation's college and service teams in the final Litkenhous Ratings.[3]

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 152:30 p.m.Fort Pierce*
W 13–107,000[4][5][6][7][8]
September 22First 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]

References edit

  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  .
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