Wichita Aero Commandos

The Wichita Aero Commandos were an American football team that played in 1942. Located in Wichita, Kansas, the team's players consisted of employees from the Aero Parts Manufacturing Company. Many of the team's opponents were from military installations that were established during World War II, though they also played two games against National Football League franchises.

The team maintained a partnership with the Chicago Bears that turned the Commandos into a de facto farm team. Former Bears player Frank Bausch served as head coach.

In 1942, with the United States fighting in World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged sports programs to continue operating. John MacCullough, a former USC Trojans football player and the owner of Aero Parts Manufacturing Company, was inspired by Roosevelt's words and formed a team consisting of his employees. In announcing the team's founding on August 2, MacCullough explained, "We feel that inasmuch as Wichita is an outstanding defense city it is important that the workers be provided with clean, wholesome sports recreation. We are hopeful that our sponsoring of the professional football team will accomplish that purpose."

To lead the team, MacCullough appointed Aero Parts assistant chief of police Frank Bausch as head coach. A Wichita native, Bausch was an All-Pro center for the Chicago Bears during his NFL career in the 1930s, and was an assistant line coach with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941. The hiring was endorsed by Bears coach George Halas. In a phone call with MacCullough on August 8, Halas agreed to provide the Wichita team with developing players from the Bears; Halas cited Bausch's presence as a key factor in making the deal as the Bears and Bausch both used the T formation offense. Bears assistant Gene Ronzani joined the team as a player-coach. Other staffers included E. E. "Dutch" Scheufler as athletic trainer; Scheufler previously worked in the same position for the National Baseball Congress and the Henry's Amateur Athletic Union basketball team.

When assembling a roster, Bausch emphasized that although many college students were being hired at war plants, he would not recruit players who were still eligible to play college football. Among the team's signings were former Kansas quarterback and Aero Parts personnel department employee Ralph Miller, Miller's high school teammate and running back Burt "Red" Hayes, Wichita University fullback and punter Doug McEnulty, and Tennessee fullback Chet Robertson who lost a finger in an accident at a Boeing plant later in August.

On September 5, the team was formally dubbed the Wichita Aero Commandos. Some official NFL records refer to the team as the Aero Commanders like the Arizona Cardinals' media guide.

The Aero Commandos played eight games, six of which were against military teams. The final two games came against the NFL's Chicago Cardinals and Cleveland Rams, both of whom had bye weeks and scheduled the games as additional preparation. Wichita's season was initially supposed to begin against Lowry Field, but a military order prevented them from playing teams outside the base. Waco Army Air Field, the original Week 3 opponent, canceled after a string of blowout losses.

Lawrence Stadium hosted every game. Although primarily a baseball park, it was completely resodded for football and bleachers were constructed. The seating capacity was also increased to 12,500. Season tickets were not sold to avoid clashing with Wichita University's own sales, though fans were able to reserve single-game tickets for the entire season. The team held preseason practices at Friends University.