With the outbreak of World War II, British Royal Air Force (RAF) officials sought to train aircrews outside of England, safe from enemy attack and poor weather. In the United States six civilian flight schools dedicated themselves to instructing RAF pilots; the first, No. 1 British Flying Training School (BFTS), was located in Terrell, Texas, east of Dallas. Tom Killebrew explores the history of the Terrell Aviation School and its program with RAF pilots. Most of the early British students had never been in an airplane or even driven an automobile before arriving in Texas to learn to fly. The cadets trained in the air on aerobatics, instrument flight, and night flying, while on the ground they studied navigation, meteorology, engines, and armaments–even spending time in early flight simulators. By the end of the war, more than two thousand RAF cadets had trained at Terrell, cementing relations between Great Britain and the United States and forming lasting bonds with the citizens of Terrell.

In 1984, a Moroccan national named Abdelkrim Belachheb walked into Iannis Restaurant, a trendy Dallas nightclub, and gunned down seven people. Six died. Despite the fact that the crimes occurred in a state that prides itself on being tough on criminals, the death penalty was not an option for the Belachheb jury. Even though he had committed six murders, and his guilt was never in question (despite his insanity defense), his crimes were not capital murders under 1984 statutes. As a direct result of this crime, during the 1985 regular session the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 8--the “multiple murder” statute--to make serial killing and mass murder capital crimes. Belachheb’s case serves as an excellent example to explore capital punishment and the insanity defense. Furthermore, Belachheb’s easy entry into the United States (despite his violent record in Europe) highlights our contemporary fear over lax immigration screening and subsequent terrorism. The case is unique in that debate usually arises from an execution. Belachheb was given life imprisonment and is currently under maximum security--a fate some would argue is “worse than death.” He is scheduled to have his first parole hearing in 2004, the twentieth anniversary of his crime. “This is a …

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Kenton Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Kenton Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Kenton Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

Guest artist and faculty recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Master of Music (MM) degree.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

Opera presented at the UNT College of Music Lyric Theater.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Main Auditorium.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Main Auditorium.

Interview with Ben Moody, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Kilgore, Texas, who served with the 112th Cavalry in the Pacific. Moody discusses his family, surviving the Great Depression, his jobs and education, joining the 112th and mobilization, deployment to New Caledonia, Woodlark Island, staging at Goodenough Island, the Battle of Arawe, the Battle of Driniumor River, spending the remainder of the war in the hospital, and reflections on the 112th.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.