R.A.F.'S UNIVERSITY AIR SQUADRONS

Chronicle (Levin), 2 December 1946, Page 2

R.A.F.'S UNIVERSITY AIR SQUADRONS

Eleven universities, including Manchester, are taking part in tne Air .Minister's new sciieine for Unixersity Air Scxuardons, states the Manchester tinardian. It is designed for two classes oi' students — xiriuiariiy for those who liave not served in anv of the urmed forces, and, iu the secoud piave, for ex-R.A.F. jiilots. To the iormer the basic flying training syllabus will be a valuable iutroduction, enabling them to xjrePar0 Ithemselves for commissions in the regulur and non-regular Air Forces. For their part, ex-R.A.F. pilots will be able to keep in flying x»'actice and in touch with current developments. Members of a squadron will be requlred to coniplete at least 20 liours' flying training a vear in term-tiine and 13 days' continuous training at an R.A.F. station during vacation. Men witliout provious .Seryice experience will liave the rank of cadet jiilol anil the status of oflicer cadet; cx-oihcers will be conintissioned as flight lieutenants or below, and ox-ainnen as pilot oflicers, Tliere has been a good response at Manchester L'niversity, although tliere are still a few vaeancies to lill before ihe squadron reaches its cstablishment strenglh of -13, about a lliird of whom will be cx-Hcrvice airmeu. Next session the strenglh Avill be raised to ()0. (Iroulid training is doue at tlie university, flying at Barton Aerodrome. The other universities taking parl in the sclieme are Abenleen, Ikdfast, Birminghaui, Cambridge, Kdinburgli, Clas gow, Londnn, Noltingliani, Uxford and bouthampton.