TRAINING AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1940, Page 6

TRAINING AIRMEN

“GIGANTIC SNOWBALL” EMPIRE SCHEME. AUSTRALIA DOES HER PART. The Empire's air training scheme fs compared by a recent Australian Information Department broadcast to a gigantic snowball, gathering weight and momentum as the Dominions begin to contribute their manpower strength. “It will not be long,” says the department, “before this weight is strongly felt by the Nazis.” Australia’s part in the scheme is described by the Department in a bulletin issued in New Zealand by the Australian Trade Commissioner (Mr C. E. Critchley). The bulletin emphasises the fact that comparatively little is heard of the steps being taken by the Empire to train an ever-increasing number of men for the Royal Air Force. "To realise the immensity of the effort Australia is making in the Empire Scheme,” says the bulletin, “one should remember the size of the pre-war Air Force. The pre-war programme of the R.A.A.F., due for completion in June, 1940, aimed at the following: An establishment of 19 squadrons, with 212 first-line aircraft and a total personnel of 5,542 including 403 flying officers.

, “What is the position today? Under the new scheme, the number of service aircraft was to be increased at least sevenfold —and in terms of men, Australia’s strength was to be multiplied eleven times. And these are not simply paper figures. Already the programme is a fair way towards being completed. “Of the 58,000 men wanted by 1943, 33,588 have already been accepted for service; 18,144 men are already in training for ground staff, and over 3,000 for the air-crews. More than half of the schools required for the scheme will be open by the end of this year, and more than nine-tenths of the total ground staff required have already enlisted. Meanwhile Australian Air Force men are already in service in the Near East, and in England, and 18 of them have already been decorated in addition to one mentioned in despatches. “What are these schools like which are training Australia’s young flyers? They are situated all over the country, but the two chief initial training schools are at Somers (Victoria) and Bradfield Park (N.S.W.) After graduating from these, the men go to an elementary flying training school, and then finally to the various Air Force stations.

“The work is hard, but it is extremely interesting. The men get up at 5.30 arid go to bed at 10.30—the day being filled with lectures and demonstrations as well as actual flying practice, though a certain amount of time is free for sport. Usually, two nights a week are given to the ‘movies.’ “A feature of the training schools is the organisation of a number of satellite aerodromes. These are used by separate squadrons during instruction, and are linked with headquarters by telephone; and greatly reduce the congestion of planes landing on and taking oif from the main air field. And, in addition to these are forced-landing places for use in emergency. “Recently at the school at Narromine in N.S.W.. a thick mist came down when a number of training planes were in the air. The main aerodrome was completely blotted out, but all the planes landed successfully on one or other of these emergency fields, where they could wait until the mist lifted. “There satellite aerodromes and emergency landing grounds are all built on private property, which has been lent to the Government free of charge for the duration. The owners have at their own expense cleared, harrowed and rolled the fields and painted white boundary posts to mark them clearly. “The comfort of the men is looked after too. Nearby residents have given games to the schools, as well as many minor luxuries such as hand-knitted socks, scarves and pullovers, and have offered their, homes as billets for men on leave. Those who go to the capital cities for the leave are not lonely either. Melbourne has built an Air Force House, which the men can use as a club, or stay the night if they wish too—and the money for this was entirely provided by voluntary subscription.

“For Australians realise not only the importance of the work of air men, but its danger, and they honour those who have so enthusiastically volunteered for the R.A.A.F. Their job lies both at home and overseas. Already a powerful force for home defence has been created, and some units have gone abroad.”