History Discussion Group

Each month, we will talk about a different book, article, or historical topic. These programs are intended to foster discussion, and attendees are encouraged to comment and participate. History Discussion Groups are best suited for adults and older students with a keen interest in history. During World War II, thousands of British pilots trained at civilian training schools in the United States. The first of these schools was located in Terrell, Texas. The fictional novel based on a true story, “Girls of Flight City,” by Lorraine Heath, brought this little-known chapter of history to life and inspired guest speaker Barbara Pankratz to dig deeper into the subject, even taking a road trip to the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum. A novel is unusual source material for History Discussion Group, but “Girls of Flight City” has historical significance. The trick is determining fact from fiction. Join us as Barbara Pankratz leads a discussion on how the United States and Britain worked hand-in-hand from the grassroots level to the highest levels of government to defeat the Nazi war machine.