AIR TRAINING CORPS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 85, 29 June 1943, Page 5

AIR TRAINING CORPS

AIR-MINDED YOUTH

MEETING AT TANEATUA

On ihursday night a meeting was called at Tancatua hi order to acquaint those boys interested, with puiticulars of enlistment in the A.T.C. Mr F. M. Abbott (Flight Commander) and Mr Hubbard (Educational Officer), who botfi addressed the meeting afterwards formed a selection committee for the purpose of interviewing live more bo.ys who wished to enlist in the corps.

Mr Abbott, fW (Outlining to the hoys in which they-'might ciilist m the A.T.C. He .pointed out that the technical; tra,de« .Wj^'chlrie'lude ilight mechanics!'/Mllit 'riggers, ■: wireless operators, litter armourers,' ar'mourei's, radio mechanics, pay accounts and equipment assitants., were in reality just as,, if not more important than the air crew which included .pilots naivgators, # ws - elfss operator air gunners, and air gunners as it is* tlie| trained; technicians that are needed urgently fpr the R.N.Z.A.F. The syllabus of work covered liecontinued was fairly wide and included educational subjects, together, with sig-; raclio, basic fitting, drill, P.T., A.li,J? ? . ; isati oij $nd administration of the j R.N.Z.|A.i r ., armament lirst aid, aircraft; recognition and also visits to different R.N.Z.A.F. stations. It •has been arranged, stated Mr Abbott I that Monday and Wednesday evenings will be the educational and drill nights respectively, the first parade being on Wednesday, June 30 at the Winter Show Buildings. The Winter Show Buildings will xirobably be used for drill etc. while the; school will be the educational centre. Occasionally week-end parades will also be held with trips to Tauranga and Rotorua air force stations whenever possible. Arrangements are at present being made to enable country boys to come into parades and for this purpose cadets may claim special travelling and petrol allowances. Physical training will occupy half of the time devoted to drill and discipline and for this purpose a spccial officer avIH come through from Rotorua each night to instruct in it.. It must be. noted that when a boy joins the A.T.C. he is not committed to join the R.N.Z.A.F. but he must obtain a transfer from the Home Guard or the E.P.S. in order to enlist in the A.T.C. Also, it was stated, each boy would receive half, an hours actual flying time, (with their parents' consent) and range practice to the extent of 75 rounds of rifle ammunition per year. I hanks are due to the Tancatua Domain Board for the use of their pavilion in which to hold the meeting. J here was not a very large attendance, but this, was due more to the inclemency of the weather than to any lack of enthusiasm on the part of the boys themselves.