SOUTH DAKOTA HISTORICAL MARKER INSTALLED ON BHSU CAMPUS

This past November, a new South Dakota Historical Marker was installed in Veterans Park on the Black Hills State University campus. The marker recognizes the United States Army Air Forces 93rd College Training Detachment, which was based in Spearfish.

During World War II, the demand for trained pilots, navigators, and bombardiers led to the creation of a new program for military training. Individuals had to be officers to hold these positions, which required two years of college. The Army Air Forces established College Training Detachments to meet the need for training and college credits. Black Hills Teacher College (now Black Hills State University) was selected for the program and offered accelerated college coursework to aviation cadets. The college was one of 150 colleges and universities and the only institution in South Dakota selected for the program. From March 1943 to the spring of 1944, more than 1,000 cadets were stationed, educated, and trained on campus.

The funding for the historical marker was generously provided by Terry Neil King, son of the 93rd's second-in-command. King also donated records, scrapbooks, photographs, newspapers, and artifacts that documented the history of the detachment to the Case Library at BHSU. The marker is part of a program by South Dakota State Historical Society to recognize and commemorate historically significant sites across the state.

"The placement of this marker on the BHSU campus ensures the important work of the Army Air Forces 93rd College Training Detachment will not be forgotten," said Lori Terrill, Case Librarian and archivist at BHSU. "Hopefully, the marker will inspire people to learn more about the history of our campus and the town of Spearfish."

Visitor parking for viewing the marker can be accessed across the street from Veterans Park, which is located on University Street, east of the Student Union. Artifacts and records of the 93rd detachment can be viewed in Case Library, located on the lower level of the E.Y. Berry Library-Learning Center. A dedication ceremony for the marker is currently being planned for the spring of 2025.