Air
Explorers (1949-1965)
Overview
In September of 1949, with the change of the Senior Scouts program
to Explorers, Air Scouts became Air Explorers. At first, the only
initial change was in the name, and in a lower of the age to 14.
Later on, in 1953, there would be a change in the advancement program.
In 1959, the Air Explorer program was unaffected by the change in the Explorer
program becoming Exploring. It would
be in October of 1965 that the Air Explorer program as it was know would
come to an end, becoming nothing more then another career oriented program
of Exploring to be known as Aviation Exploring. Later, the October
deadline was extended to March 15, 1966.
Air Explorer Program
The program of Air Explorers was identical to that of Air Scouts: a
pre-flight aeronautics program for older boys inspired by the Air Force,
much as the Sea Scout program was inspired by nautical traditions and the
Navy.
Air Explorer Uniforms
Air Scouts and adult leaders wore uniforms of sky blue. Community
strips, state strips, and unit numbers were available in dark blue on sky
blue to match until 1953, when they were dropped and replaced with standard
white on red numerals and strips. Some minor changes to uniforming
included moving the rank patch to the left pocket, whereas before it was
worn above the pocket. This was done to bring Air Explorer uniforms
more in line with other BSA programs.
Air Explorer Advancement Program
There was initially no change in the Air Explorer advancement program
from the prior Air Scout program. At first. Then in December
1953, it was announced that Explorers and Air Explorers would use the same
basic advancement program and progress toward the Silver Award. A
new Silver Award medal and patch were created, which more closely resembled
the Ace Medal. The color of the Explorer advancement awards was changed
from dark blue to red. And new Explorer Ratings were added to the
existing ones. However, the Air Explorers did not quite use the same
requirements. Rating requirements
were a little different, and advancement
requirements made earning the Aviation rating mandatory. This would
be reflected in the new second edition handbook for Air Explorers which
came out at the same time. There was a grace period for those wanting
to finish their Ace Awards, but it was expected that all Air Explorers
would start earning the new Explorer awards. This grace period ended
on January 1, 1955.
With the demise of the Air Explorer program in 1965, there was again
a grace period for earning Air Explorer Silver Awards, and statistics show
a jump in 1965, which leveled off in 1966.
| Air Explorer Apprentice NO PICTURE | Air Explorer Observer NO PICTURE |
| Air Explorer Craftsman NO PICTURE | Air Explorer Ace NO PICTURE |
 Air
Explorer Ace Medal |
  Air
Explorer Ace Knot |
 Observer
Airman |
 Craftsman
Airman |
 Ace
Airman |
 Observer
Builder |
 Craftsman
Builder |
Ace Builder |
 Observer
Communicator |
 Craftsman
Communicator |
 Ace
Communicator |
 Observer
Mechanic |
 Craftsman
Mechanic |
 Ace
Mechanic |
 Observer
Navigator |
 Craftsman
Navigator |
 Ace
Navigator |
 Observer
Outdoorsman |
 Craftsman
Outdoorsman |
 Ace
Outdoorsman |
 Apprentice |
 Bronze |
 Gold |
 Silver |
 Air
Explorer Silver Medal |
  Silver
Award Knot |
 Aviation |
 Communications |
 Construction |
 Emergency
Skills |
 Mechanics |
 Navigation |
 Outdoor
Skills |
 Physical
Fitness |
 Vocational
Exploration |
 Weather |
 Aerodynamics |
 Aeronautics |
 Airplane
Design |
 Airplane
Structure |
Air Explorer Unit Organization
With the change from Air Scouts to Air Explorers,
National wanted all the Explorer programs (Explorer, Air Explorer, and
Sea Explorer) to use the same terminology. However, for traditions
sake, the old terms were allowed. The new Air Explorer Handbooks
reflected this change by using only the new terminology. To help
match these up, see the comparison chart below. Squadron Leader was
really the Squadron Advisor. Other then that the official terms for
Air Explorers were identical to Explorers
| Boy Scout Troop | Explorer Post | Air Explorer Squadron |
| Scoutmaster | Post Advisor | Squadron Leader |
| Senior Patrol Leader | Senior Crew Leader | Squadron Pilot |
| Patrol | Crew | Flight |
| Patrol Leader | Crew Leader | Flight Pilot |
| Scribe | Post Secretary | Squadron Secretary |
 Squadron
Leader |
 Assistant
Squadron Leader |
 Squadron
Pilot |
 Assistant
Squadron Pilot |
 Flight
Pilot |
 Assistant
Flight Pilot |
 Secretary |
Literature
The basic manual for Air Explorer was the Air Explorer Manual,
which is the second edition of the Air Scout manual. It detailed
the new combined Explorer/Air Explorer Silver advancement program.
For the first few years of Air Exploring they still used the Air Scout
Manual with the revised requirements.
The only manual for adult leaders was the generic Hints on Explorer
Leadership. Why nothing equivalent to a Scoutmaster Handbook
was
produced is unknown.
| Air Explorer Manual (#3508)
2nd Edition 1st 1951,Feb (proof printing) 2nd 1953,Dec #3508 6M1253 3rd 1954,Aug 4th 1955,Jul 5th 1957,Dec #3508 6M1257 6th 1958,May paperback, 224pg, edited by Ted S. Holstein |
 |
| Hints on Explorer Leadership (#3482)
1949 200001149 1950 25000450 1951 25000151 1954 11M154 1955 1957 paperback, 92pg
|
 |
| year | membership | units | ace awards | silver awards |
| 1949 | 6055 | ? | 150 | |
| 1950 | 5464 | ? | 139 | |
| 1951 | 4612 | ? | 55 | |
| 1952 | 4995 | ? | 45 | |
| 1953 | 4876 | ? | 51 | 971* |
| 1954 | 6033 | ? | 79 | 1212* |
| 1955 | 7982 | 558 | 0 | 1615* |
| 1956 | 9041 | 636 | -- | 1957* |
| 1957 | 10208 | 698 | -- | 2415* |
| 1958 | 10968 | ? | -- | 6890* |
| 1959 | 9697 | 641 | -- | 1068 |
| 1960 | 8829 | 581 | -- | 147 |
| 1961 | 8853 | 589 | -- | 144 |
| 1962 | 8775 | 587 | -- | 167 |
| 1963 | 8580 | 577 | -- | 153 |
| 1964 | 7456 | 516 | -- | 81 |
| 1965 | -- | -- | -- | 152 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
*- these years include Explorers earning Silver, not just Air Explorers.
NOTE- in 1965 they stopped recording Air Explorers separately, as the program ended in October of that year. The Silver Awards earned in 1965 and 66 were probably allowed for those finishing up their work. Its normal to allow a year or so grace. Note the Ranger Awards earned two years after that program ended.
Statistics taken from BSA Annual Reports to Congress.
Updated: 09/11/2002mrb