Questions about my dad's service in the Army Air Forces and Airborne Engineers

Can anyone help fill in some blanks about my dad's service?  Here are some approximate dates and the bases where he trained.
Army Air Forces:
Ft. Thomas, KY  Entered Service                                      Feb1, 1943
Clearwater, FL  Basic Training:  Air Corps Basic (521)     Base and dates unknown (I assume it was for 4-5 weeks)
Chanute Field, Rantoul IL :  Welding School                   12 weeks-from his Separation and Qualification Record
Transferred to Airborne Engineers:
Westover Field, Springfield, MA:  Engineer training         12 weeks-assumed from research
Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, CT                                      Late Summer/Fall 1943
(Transferred to Richmond, VA right after Thanksgiving)
Richmond, VA      (edited)                                                  Nov-Dec 1943
(Transferred to Goldsboro, NC right after Christmas)
Goldsboro, NC  Base Unknown-Seymour Johnson???      ???   Dec, 1943-March, 1944   ???
(Departed April 2, 1944, from North Carolina)

Under Service Schools Attended, my dad's records show that he went to Army Air Force Tech, Sch 1.  I think this must have been the 1st Technical School Squadron at Chanute Field, per the list of training school squadrons that mbee53(Mark) recently posted.

Is there a similar list for Airborne Engineer training schools?  My dad was transferred to the Airborne Engineers after welding school at Chanute Field.  He said he went to demolition school and also to blacktop school to learn to build and patch roads and airfields.  Does anyone have any idea which school would have been at which field?

Dad was transferred back into the Army Air Forces when he arrived in Bombay.  He was an airplane mechanic, working mainly on P-40s. His MOS was Airplane and Engine Mechanic 747.  How does mechanic training fit in with the above timetable?

Thanks for any information as well as suggestions for further research.
cbidaughter

Thank you for your reply.
His training at Chanute was actually in welding, as shown on his Separation Qualification Record.  That stated, "Welding School, Chanute Field, Illinois, Combination Welding Course 12 weeks."  Unfortunately, no other training information is shown on the form, except "Air Corps Basic (521)."
Dad told me that he was at Westover Field for engineer training.  He also went to  demolition and blacktop school, I think at Bradley Field or at the Richmond base.
Someone else told me he went to "Langley Field, in Richmond, VA."  I see now that it could not have been the case.
I don't know which Airborne Engineer Battalion my dad was in, but I will certainly follow up with the 873rd Airborne Aviation Engineer Battalion you mentioned.  I'm hoping that will help fill in some blanks.
I discovered Gary G's site this summer, and have found much information there.  I've also enjoyed reading the Ex-CBI Roundup magazines, and am working my way through them.  But without knowing my dad's battalion number, I haven't always known what to look for on these or any of the sites I've searched.
I did discover an interesting book chapter online at
http://140.194.76.129/pub...ns/misc/un21/c-14.pdf. The chapter is "Chapter XIV"
"Engineer Aviation Units."  There is no book title or author given, and no homepage, so I don't know the source of the information.   Anyway, it says that on April 1, 1943, "the airborne EAUTC at Westover Field in The First Air Force" was activated, and that "airborne battalions remained at Westover Field for 12 weeks."  Perhaps my dad was in one of the next battalion there, after his 12 weeks at Chanute.
Thank you again for your helpfulness.
cbidaughter

My brother told me that after my dad completed demolition school, he assisted in training the following group(s).  No wonder his service dates and the battalion dates I've seen don't match up!
 

Jim,
No, there are no letters, but one of his photos is marked with his APO address on the back, "APO 883."
His discharge papers do show that he was with the 89th Airdrome Squadron while in India, but there is no mention of his Airborne Engineer battalion(s) while stationed in the US.
 

Thanks, SHAEF1944.

I am not sure if this will help you, it is report of the Airborne during WWII.

PA. Dutchman and Yunch,
Thank you both for the information.  I'll contact the Adjutant General's office next week.
cbidaughter

Dad's training was in the 883rd Airborne Engineer Aviation Battalion.  Searching AFHRA hasn't turned up anything, but fold3 did.  Navy War Diary entries show Co. B, 883rd A/B Engr Avn Bn went aboard U.S.S. LCI(L) 536 on Feb. 7, 1944 for beaching exercises on Feb 8th and 9th.  The 883rd disembarked at Bradford Beach, VA. on Feb 10th, 1944.
I was surprised, but pleased, to find this information in Navy records.

Cbidaughter,
Here are the convoy websites that may aid in your search:
http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/
http://ww2troopships.com/crossings/1944.htm
 
Scott
p.s. Data rebuild from server incident 3 May 2012

Wow! Let me start over!:>) If indeed your dad had a pet monkey, the pictures I have might be him. They were taken in India, I believe and I am told his name is Bill Garth. I saw a post that referenced someone's Dad having a pet monkey but I can't remember where I saw it..

                                              Vicky :>)