AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1940, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN

FIRST CONTINGENT REACHES CANADA ’ EMPIRE TRAINING SCHEME. THOUSANDS MORE TO FOLLOW. The first contingent of Australian airmen for training under the Empire air scheme is now in Canada. Its ranks include university students, seamen, radio announcers, wool-classers, bank clerks, architects, and hotel workers. The trainees’ ages range from 18 to 28 years. A statement released by the Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand (Mr C. E. Critchley), says that these men are the first of many thousands of young Australians who will be sent to help the sister Dominions man a great air fleet, a fleet that will crush Nazism. “Each one of you,” said Air Commodore A. T. Cole, C.8.E., M.C., D.F.C., in a farewell address to the contingent, “is tangible proof that the Empire scheme is in operation, and that reinforcements are being prepared to assist the magnificent fighting pilots of ; the R.A.F. “Immediately you leave these shores,” j he said, “you will be carrying the flag • for this service, and for this country. . Upon your ability technically we will

be assessed in Canada. Furthermore, retain the smartness you already have. ( Your training, as far as it has gone, has equipped you and brought you to , a standard which is equal to the standard reached at youi’ stage not only anywhere in the Empire, but in the j world. j “Don’t be over-confident. Always ; be full of respect for the care and • maintenance of equipment. "Remember,” said the air commo- ] dore, “that our service is really the i best, because much is left to individual e initiative, and your training and t equipment will be better than your c enemy’s.” Q “There are many thousands to come after you. They will follow your f tracks, and join you over there, and i

give you a well-earned spell. They will envy you. Among the envious are most of youi’ fellow members of the R.A.A.F.” The members of the contingent, the future ■ pilots of Hurricanes, Spitfires, Defiants, Blenheims, Beauforts, and Wellingtons, were not officially told of their destination until 24 hours before they sailed. Then the camp resounded with the cheers of the delighted men. Before leaving Australia each man had many hours’ flying experience to his credit. In Canada, where they will complete their flying training, they will qualify for officer rank In addition to learning to handle an aircl aft at Australian schools, the trainees were instructed in instrument flying, aerobatics, elementary navigation, theory of flight and engineering. In Canada the trainees come under the control of the Royal Canadian Air Force, although they will retain in full their Australian identity and uniform. They will fly in the most modern type of aircraft to prepare them for the front line fighters and bombers which they will man later. Further weeks will be spent at a bombing and gunnery school. Finally there will be a short conversion course, either in Canada or England, when they will actually fly the type of machines that they will use in action.

Although confined aboard ship, the airmen continued their training across the Pacific. Flying lectures and gymnastics occupied much of their time. The smallest trainee in the batch 1 was a bell-boy at the Australia Hotel before he joined the Air Force. This youngster once saved his tips for flying lessons, but as he put it, "the Royal Australian Air Force not only gives you free tuition, but an adventure into the bargain.” Now, of course he is a qualified pilot. The butt of many a joke is a trainee who is six feet five inches and a half tall and 19 years old. He hails from Hobart. "I can take it,” he said, with a good-natured grin when one of the contingent declared that arrangements were in hand for the building of a special plane for him. One airman was a prominent long distance athlete at a public school. He was a wool-classer when he joined ■ up. "I’ve always liked speed," he said. Perhaps that's why I am so attracted to aviation." Another was an assistant manager at a Queensland sheep station, bui he was "getting fed up,” and he wanted ‘some thrills.’ "By all accounts I’m going to get them,” he said.