TRAINING PILOTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 89, 10 August 1942, Page 2

TRAINING PILOTS

AUSTRALIAN METHODS

WORKING WITH AMERICANS

Batches of Australian piiots are aLlached to American Air For-ee squadrons operating in the Anzae area. After having served a certain period with the Americans, the Australians are transferred back to Australian squadrons and their places taken by fresh batches. This is being done to make the .Australians familiar with the faster American planes. It is a first step in the policy, fore east by the Commander of the Allied air forces in the South-West Pacific, Lieut-General George H. Brett, of bringing the Australian and American air forces more closeiy together, and of providing a mixture of the two in the initial stages of transition "for the one urgent purpose of repelling and destroying the enemy." Lieut-General Brett has indicated that as the organisation develops lie proposes I hat each squadron should be a national unit, and that whole stations may become national units. The new system will be immensely valuable in training Australian pilots in the handling of the fast fighters with which many more of their own squdarons will be equipped. Far More Advanced Methods By infiltrating Australians into American operational squadrons. Australian pilots will receive supplementary conversion training of a far more advanced type than ever before, and this will hasten the influx of Australian-trained pilots into battle zones. The new liaison system also gives our pilots direct operational experience under baltle conditions. At present, Australian pilots, on receiving their wings, are drafted lirst into operational training units before going to their squadrons, where normally there is little opportunity for training of raw pilots. In the 0.T.U., the new pilot undertakes a conversion course from advanced training planes to combat types. He also learns formation flying, battle order and squadron taeties. During this course he becomes familiar with the more complex cockpit "driil" —the use of retractable undercarriages and greater range of instruments in the fast modern fighters. The attachment of Australian trainees to U.S. squadrons will supplement this training.