John LeGrand was born in Franklin, Kansas in 1919. LeGrand entered the Army Air Corp. in October of 1941 and was assigned to the Advanced Navigation School at Turner Field in Albany, Georgia. At the outbreak of war, he and 12 cadets, who were now 2nd Lts. were to instruct other cadets. Because of his "colorful" style and flair for illustration, the director of training told him to do for the rest of the men, what he did for his classes.
LeGrand was told that people and materials were no object and that an empty building was available. Thus, "Reproduction" was born. A large pool of draftees was assigned to him. Among those cadets were found Lou Ravielli and Lou Vidor. LeGrand and his department did not really expand until they reached Selman Field. They then had a print shop with offset presses. Because most of the early navigation texts were maritime units and had to be redesigned for air application, the presses at Selman never stopped. All cadets who passed through Selman Field can appreciate the talents and initiative of John LeGrand and his crew.
LeGrand spent many years in the Air Force working on projects that were secret in nature and had very important consequences (like polar grid navigation and cybernetic computer designs). He became a Master Navigator (1941-1969), taught as a professor in Air Science (1954-1957), was Chief of Productions and Graphics, Hdqs., AFROTC (1957-1960), and was Chief of Cybernetic Applications in Tactical and Administrative Practices, USAF (1960-1964).
