The Wildcat Squadron induction during the 1942 Winter Carnival at the Palestra. (Marquette Regional History Center photo)

MARQUETTE — They were known as the U.P. Wildcats, a name befitting a bunch of Northwoods flyboys who were looking for a few thrills and a chance to fight in the Big One, the conflict we now know as World War II.

A large group of Northern Michigan College of Education students had joined the Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) program under the guidance of NMU Coach and Athletic Director Charles B. Hedgecock, CTP ground instructor, and Sigurd O. Wilson, CTP flight instructor. The program, which ran from 1938-1944, had the stated purpose of increasing the number of civilian pilots, though also having a clear impact on military preparedness.

Following the attack at Pearl Harbor, the Navy was desperate for pilots. They concentrated their search on CPT programs and university campuses across the country. Eighteen men from the Upper Peninsula were inducted into the Navy on February 7 during the 1942 Winter Carnival at the Palestra Hockey arena in Marquette. The ceremony was broadcast live on the radio across the entire Upper Peninsula.

One of the men, Albert “Abby” Jokela of Negaunee, later recalled that when he arrived at the Palestra, he noticed that everyone else had a suitcoat on- except him. He ran up to the Tri-Mu fraternity house, just a few blocks away to see if he could borrow one. There was only person still in the house, Frank Hartman, who found a coat and lent it to Albert. Jokela then ran back down to the Palestra, arriving just in time for the ceremony.

The group was nicknamed the Wildcat Squadron as the majority had been students at Northern Michigan College of Education (now Northern Michigan University). The remainder of the squadron came from around the Midwest, including some from Northwestern University in Chicago who were inducted during a half-time ceremony at a sporting event.

During the induction at the Palestra, the squadron received wildcat insignias that had been designed by Charles B. Hedgecock’s daughter, Mary Elizabeth and were presented by Beverly Brown, 1942 Marquette Winter Queen; Shirley Johnson, 1941 Marquette Winter Queen; Marie Markert, 1941 Michigan Winter Queen; and Phil Spear, Jr., president of the Marquette Winter Sports Club.

The Wildcat Squadron went through flight training together as a group. They departed Marquette on February 12 for nine weeks of basic training at Glenview Naval Air Station in Illinois. From there they went to ground school and advanced flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas.

After they graduated and received their wings in October 1942, the squadron scattered, with everyone deployed separately. They became fighter, bomber, or transport pilots serving in various theaters of the war. Albert Jokela was sent to serve as a fighter pilot on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific.

Of the original squadron members, four did not return from the war. Ralph Gunville of Munising and Douglas Gutenkunst of Milwaukee, WI were killed in action, while Ralph Hannula of Ishpeming and Albert Nurkala of Nisula went missing in action and were later declared dead. Those that did return went on to become test pilots, cattle ranchers, county prosecutors, and mayors. At least one, John Pellow, continued flying during the Korean War and served in Vietnam, although not flying.

The surviving members of the group held several reunions over the years. At the 1991 reunion, Patrick Brennan noted that the group had a bottle in a signed wooden box with instructions that the last surviving squadron member drink a toast to his fellow flyboys. The last survivor appears to have been Albert Jokela who died in 2018 at the age of 97.

To learn more about local participation in WWII, along with honoring our local heroes, join the Marquette Regional History Center for our 20th Annual Cemetery Walk on the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, Thursday, May 8. (Rain date: May 15) We have three options to enjoy this program – at 1 p.m. a self-guided walking tour; at 6 p.m. a guided walking tour; and 6 p.m .a seated tour, bring your own lawn chair. All tours meet near the main gate of Park Cemetery off Seventh Street in Marquette. $5 suggested donation. For more info visit marquettehistory.org or call 906-226-3571.

Squadron Members: (* indicates they were inducted at the Palestra on February 7, 1942)

Lloyd Malcolm Allen (1919-1989)

Ralph Emil Bergstrom (1919-1998)

*Walter Isaac Bietila (1916-1996)

*Patrick Brennan (1917-2004)

George L. Buckley (1916-1986)

*Thomas James Fagan (1915-1992)

*Blake Langan Foard (1921-1981)

Thomas Raymond Gallander (1919-2010)

*Clinton Leo Goudreau (1919-1976)

*Ralph Leo Gunville (1917-1943)

Douglas Hugo Gutenkunst (1919-1944)

*Ralph Elias Hannula (1919-1944)

*Robert Peter Hupy (1920-2001)

*Robert Frederick Johnson (1919-1985)

*Albert George Jokela (1920-2018)

George Dixon Jones (1915-1995)

Ira Cassius “Ike” Kepford (1919-1987)

*Norman Edward “Boots” Kukuk (1918-2009)

*Toivo John Lauri (1916-2000)

*Howard Leslie Mott (1918-1981)

*Albert John Nurkala (1921-1943)

*Albert Williams Nyquist (1920-1996)

*John Kenneth Pellow (1920-1991)

*Melvin Merl Prichard (1919-1994)

Raymond Duane Richards, Jr. (1919-2009)

*Orlando John Spigarelli (1918-2002)