With 35 hours of CPTP (Civilian Pilot Training Program?) flight time in a Cub, John entered the United States Navy in 1942-Jun as a Seaman 2nd class (Aviation).
There was little room for new recruits, and there were no uniforms available.
On the positive side, the USN decreed an automatic pay raise in 1942-Aug, raising Air Cadet's pay from $21 to $75 [per ?].
John was sent to Owaka, Kansas for Basic Training, and then to Iowa City (, Iowa?) for Pre-flight School.
His began his log book on 1943-May-11 with training flights at NAS (Naval Air Station) Olathe, Kansas.
Early in 1943-Aug, John was transferred to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas for flight training and was enrolled in class 8A.
Training started with the Consolidated Vultee "Vibrator" trainer.
Around this same time, the Navy changed its standard enlistment policy of 3 years in active duty (each earning a bonus) and several more in the Reserves:
John was forced to decide between getting out now or staying for the duration of the war - he received his Ensign's commission and wings on 1943-Dec-26.
The next stop for John was NAS Jacksonville on 1944-Jan-04, where he was assigned to the Outbound Training Unit (OTU ) for patrol training in an actual war zone.
These flights were usually piloted by an instructor and two Ensigns.
[Chose first pilots?]
John was selected to be the Patrol Plane Commander (PPC) in his later training flights.
During one of these patrols, depth charges were dropped but they were old and didn't explode.