1945 First Air Force Aces football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1945
| team = First Air Force Aces
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Army Air Forces League
| short_conf = AAF League
| record = 3–2–3
| conf_record = 2–2–2
| head_coach = Jesse Yarborough
| hc_year =
| captain =
| stadium = Ebbets Field, Freeport Municipal Stadium
}}
{{1945 military service football records}}
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 (AAF 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.{{cite news |last=Goodale |first=George |title=Who's Kicking Who—Gremlins or Flyers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121705427/the-tennessean/ |newspaper=The Nashville Tennessean |location=Nashville, Tennessee |date=December 5, 1945 |page=15 |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }} 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 ends coach. White and Platukis were also players for the team.{{cite news |author= |title=Yarborough And Aide At Mitchel Field |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121728130/the-miami-news/ |newspaper=Miami Daily News |location=Miami, Florida |date=September 23, 1945 |page=8B |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }} 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 First Air Force Aces were ranked 14th among the nation's college and service teams in the final Litkenhous Ratings.{{cite news |last=Litkenhous |first=E. E. |authorlink=Edward E. Litkenhous |title=Litkenhouse Rates College, Service Teams of Nation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121643539/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph/ |newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |date=December 19, 1945 |page=20 |access-date=March 25, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| w/l = t
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Air Transport Command
| site_stadium = Dudley Field
| site_cityst = Nashville, TN
| score = 7–7
| attend =
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Yarborough Aces Rally To Tie ATC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121729200/the-miami-herald/ |newspaper=Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |date=September 23, 1945 |page=1C |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 29
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Fort Pierce
| site_stadium = Burdine Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| score = 19–7
| attend = 16,000
| source = {{cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |title=First AAF Eleven Defeats Fort Pierce Amphibs, 19-7 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121729373/the-miami-herald/ |newspaper=Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |date=September 30, 1945 |page=1C |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |title=Yarborough Eleven Wins (continued) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121729428/the-miami-herald/ |newspaper=Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |date=September 30, 1945 |page=2C |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| neutral = y
| opponent = Third Air Force
| site_stadium = Carolina Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| score = 0–19
| attend =
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Aces, Gremlins Play in Air Force Battle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121709814/the-state/ |newspaper=The State |location=Columbia, South Carolina |date=October 7, 1945 |page=3B |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Personnel Distribution Command
| site_stadium = Greensboro Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Greensboro, NC
| score = 0–7
| attend = 12,000
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Aces, Gremlins Play in Air Force Battle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121729614/winston-salem-journal/ |newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel |location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina |date=October 14, 1945 |page=16 |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |author= |title=PDC Comets Cop By 7-0 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121729717/the-charlotte-news/ |newspaper=The Charlotte News |location=Charlotte, North Carolina |date=October 15, 1945 |page=5B |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 21
| w/l = t
| neutral = y
| opponent = Air Transport Command
| site_stadium = Mackenzie Field
| site_cityst = Holyoke, MA
| score = 7–7
| attend = 10,000
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Aces-Rockets Third Game Out; Play 7-7 Tie Again Before More Than 8000 Fans At Mackenzie Field |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/transcript-telegram/121729977/ |newspaper=Holyoke Transcript-Telegram |location=Holyoke, Massachusetts |agency=Associated Press |date=October 22, 1945 |page=8 |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |author= |title=First Air Force Held To 7-7 Tie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121729881/daily-news/ |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York, New York |agency=Associated Press |date=October 22, 1945 |page=33 |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = t
| neutral = y
| opponent = Fourth Air Force
| site_stadium = Baltimore Stadium
| site_cityst = Baltimore, MD
| score = 6–6
| attend = 7,000
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Air Force Elevens To Clash In Stadium Today At 2 P.M. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121726749/the-baltimore-sun/ |newspaper=Baltimore Sun |location=Baltimore, Maryland |date=October 28, 1945 |page=21 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |author= |title=1st, 4th Airmen Battle to 6-6 Tie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121726605/fort-worth-star-telegram/ |newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |location=Fort Worth, Texas |agency=Associated Press |date=October 29, 1945 |page=14 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| opponent = AAF Training Command
| site_stadium = Ebbets Field
| site_cityst = Brooklyn, NY
| gamename = Brooklyn Bond Bowl
| score = 24–6
| attend = 12,515
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Three Ex-Giants To Clash Sunday In Bond Contest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121730095/the-brooklyn-citizen/ |newspaper=Brooklyn Citizen |location=Brooklyn, New York |date=November 5, 1945 |page=6 |access-date=March 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Gould |first=Ben |title=30,000 to View 'Bowl' Tilt Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121722053/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle/ |newspaper=Brooklyn Eagle |location=Brooklyn, New York |date=November 11, 1945 |page=24 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=McMullen |first=Lorin |title=Aces Shock Skymen, Triumph, 24-6, in Mud |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121721869/fort-worth-star-telegram/ |newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |location=Fort Worth, Texas |date=November 12, 1945 |page=9 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| w/l = w
| opponent = Second Air Force
| site_stadium = Freeport Municipal Stadium
| site_cityst = Freeport, NY
| score = 15–0
| attend = 4,000
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Aces' Late Tallies Beat 2nd AAF |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121701269/daily-news/ |newspaper=New York |location=New York, New York |date=November 19, 1945 |page=42 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |author= |title=Aces Topple 2AF, 15 to 0 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121701761/newsday-suffolk-edition/ |newspaper=Newsday |location=Melville, New York |date=November 19, 1945 |page=17 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 25
| w/l = cancelled
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Cherry Point Marines
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Cherry Point, NC
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Game Cancelled |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121888021/the-wilmington-morning-star/ |newspaper=The Wilmington Morning Star |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |agency=Associated Press |date=November 26, 1945 |page=8 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
}}
{{cite news |author= |title=Final Log For Nation's Top Football Teams |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121674996/the-los-angeles-times/ |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles, California |date=December 2, 1945 |page=14, part I |access-date=March 26, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{World War II service football teams navbox}}