TRAINING AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1940, Page 3

TRAINING AIRMEN

WORK IN NEW ZEALAND INTAKE POINT AT WERAROA. PRELIMINARY COURSE. Tlie Kiwi of the air stations —it possesses no “wings"—Weraroa is the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s "intake” point for all pilots, observers and air gunners. It is the place where the men who will have wings are grounded in the first steps of their training. For this preliminary course the Air Force took over from the Education Department one of its training institutions, a mile or so outside Levin, equipped with well-planned gardens, plenty of green sward and good permanent buildings. For additional accommodation new dormitories and streets of boarded tents have been spread over the adjoining paddocks. Immediately on arrival the recruit makes a complete break with his old life by packing up his “civvies” and donning the Air Force blue uniform. In an article Charles E. Wheeler gives the initial issue to the recruit, the complete total of his official possessions: one greatcoat, two complete uniforms, two pairs socks, two pairs boots, two shirts and four collars, clothes-brush, button brush and stick, tie. gym. vest, canvas gym. shoes. two caps and badges, five blankets (more can be obtained at choice), one pair of sheets and a pillow slip (regularly replaced as they require washing). At first parades of new recruits, uniforms are closely scrutinised, suggestions for improvement noted, and a visit to the camp tailor eventually produces a smart fit. MUCH STUDY REQUIRED. “Training makes you one step better than the enemy,” is the axiom learned at the first lecture. There is so much study in the air force that the men are relieved of most fatigues. The course is intensive. Men must keep their uniforms clean, and modern facilities including a drying-room are available for their personal washing. But there are no cook-house fatigues, nor is the recruit required to clean up the camp grounds—he has quite enough to do with his studies, varied by some early morning physical exercise, and breaks between lectures. Most of the young men get to bed by 9 p.m. Every man has a wardrobe, and sleeps on a spring mattress. He must be tidy. In the morning bed clothes have to be folded into a neat pile like a sandwich at the end of the stretcher. The men come to mess with their own cups and cutlery; they line up io be served, and find the tables laid for the rest.

Diet is planned to include raw and cooked fruit, and fresh vegetables such as lettuce. The men are represented on a messing committee, where with the camp officers, including the doctor, the dietary scale is decided periodically. FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPED. Recruits are immediately formed into flights of convenient number for lectures, possibly 30 in a group. They go through the course together, and are sent as a flight to their next station. They elect two of then’ number to exercise control, marching them to meals and making sure that every member of the flight attends lectures. This system assists in their development of friendships and builds a disciplined body with some idea of Air Force traditions and obligations. The course for pilots is six weeks, for observers two months, and for gunners about a month. Most of the air gunners and observers go straight to Canada, under the Empire air training scheme. The “rough spots” have been knocked off. They then know a good deal about the guns used on aircraft, understand much of the technical side of radio transmission, and have a sound groundwork in navigation. So much has to be taught in this first month that only one weekend leave is given during the whole period.

POWERS OF OBSERVATION. Experienced officers, from knowledge of the young airmen and records of their examinations, can determine what they can best do in the Air Force; that an individual is marked out for a pilot, an observer, or that he will develop into a skilled gunner. The station has many' lecture rooms, and a large staff of qualified officers who invite questions and test the attention of the class by occasional discussion. A generous amount of diagrammatic material is available, which the Home authorities have provided. Some of the subjects are best taught through talkie films, others by long series of good photographs. For instance, the young airmen arc shown in that way numberless tell-tale features of the landscape as seen from the air. There are points of importance in. the landscape which show up vividly, from a height, and the pupil is taught to interpret them. His general power of observation is tested.

An example of this is seen in a photograph of part of a typical English city, with a large church showing in the centre. “At what time of the day. and on what day of the week was this photograph taken?” is asked. The east window of the church provides a clear guide to compass direction, and shadows suggested the answer ”3 o'clock in the afternoon.” But there is still the day of the week to discover. Not till attention is caught by family washing hanging from many lines in back gardens does one realise the answer must be Monday. “What makes a good soldier or an airman?" recruits are asked in an introductory address by the station commander, Squadron Leader R. J. Sinclair. on their first day' in uniform. He tells them that the answer is: Patriotism and esprit de corps. Discipline. Physical fitness —clean living. Technical skill.

“Your training." he adds, “is aimed at bringing out all these attributes."