PILOTS FOR R.A.A.F.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1940, Page 6

PILOTS FOR R.A.A.F.

COMMERCIAL MEN SOUGHT. NEW GUNNERY SCHOOL. Civil pilots holding commercial licences are being sought by the Australian Air Department for service with the Royal Australian Air Force. The co-operation of all civil aircraftoperating companies in Australia has been requested. Commercial pilots accepted for service (says the Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand) will be given the initial rank of pilot officer in the general duties branch of the citizen air force. Normally promotion to the rank of flying officer could be expected after six months’ service.

The rapid expansion of the air force due to the Empire training scheme and the accelerated programme of development has made heavy demands upon the experienced R.A.A.F. pilots available at the outbreak of war. Many have received senior flying and Staff appointments and more men could readily be placed to augment the numbers of splendid trainees now serving in operational and training units.

Pilots in civil air lines are in a reserved occupation, so only those released by their employers will be accepted. A pilot officer received 16s a day, and a flying officer 19s 6d. and a Flight Lieutenant 27s 6d. Each married officer receives an allowance of 3s a day plusrls a day for each child under 16 years of age. These amounts are dependent upon an allotment of 5s a day being made to the officers’ wives. Australia's first bombing and gunnery school, under the Empire air training scheme, was formed recently at Evans Head, New South Wales. When fully developed it will accommodate 1000 men —159 trainees and a staff of 850. The formation of this school is a further development in the R.A.A.F. training progamme. All types of air crew trainees will pass through the school. Air observers and gunners will receive ground and armament training courses of eight weeks and four weeks respectively, and pilots from service flying training schools will receive bombing and air gunnery training for two weeks towards the end of their advanced courses. Within the next three months the first air navigation school under the Empire air training scheme will be established at Parkes, also in New South Wales. This will be the first of three schools for the advanced training of air observers. The syllabus will provide a course of advanced navigation which will include astonomical navigation. This school when fully developed will accommodate 40 trainees.