AMERICAN FLYERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1941, Page 6

AMERICAN FLYERS

ANXIETY TO SERVE IN WAR ENLISTMENTS IN CANADA. HUNDRED EVERY MONTH. American fliers are enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force at the rate of 100 a month, wrote Kenneth Wilson in the London "Evening Standard" recently. Not one of these men is a learner; they have an average flying time of 1000 hours each. When they cross the border to fight for the British Empire these Amerii cans do not regard themselves as soldiers of fortune, but as loyal United States citizens serving their own country. They believe that America must stand or fall with Britain. VETERAN’S SACRIFICE. Flight Lieutenant Sterling C. Campbell, Hollywood, who threw up a I £6OOO a year job in the film industry to go to Canada and enlist "as a private or anything," is representative of the Americans who have made deep personal sacrifices to participate actively in the Empire’s struggle. Back in 1915, when he was 16, Campbell left the United States and enlisted as a private in the 18th Battalion of the London Ontario Regiment. He was wounded in France and repatriated after the war. On September 5. 1939, two days after Britain declared war and before Canada’s declaration, Campbell left the film industry and hurried to the Dominion to enlist. He was unable to get into the army, even as a private. However, word of his experience and ability reached staff officers of the air force in Toronto, and he was offered a commission. Now he is third in command of a manning pool, where men are assembled before being detailed to training centres. DEFENDING OWN IDEALS. When he arrived last year. Campbell swore allegiance to the King and lost his American citizenship for the second time, but fliers enlisting in recent months have sworn .allegiance to the Air Force only and remain American. "Meeting those men who are now coming in almost daily from every part of the Union, I can see a steadilygrowing demand on the part of the American people for active participation in the war," Campbell says. "When I left Hollywood, the fundamental concern of the public seemed to be how they could best ensure staying out of the war. This feeling has : progressively changed. Like a huge pendulum swinging slowly but stead- i ily toward the other side, public opinion in the United States is now concerned as to how Britain’s victory may best be effected. The . people seem 1 ready to join in if that seems to bo the best, way of promoting the victory. t “These fliers coming up here do not , see themselves as adventurers. They ( consider that by enlisting in the Royal j Canadian Air Force they are defend- A ing their own country, their own ideals of freedom, and the American way of j life. They realise that Britain gave us our ideals of liberty and that we must stand or fall with her." HOLLYWOOD STUNT PILOTS. Campbell does not talk about himself —1 was obliged to pump his ; friends. He would rather discuss his ; compatriots. He will tell you about i Flight Lieutenant Homer Barrie, Cali- ‘

forma, who, as test pilot for the Bell Aircraft Company, helped to perfect the Airacobra pursuit ship. newly adopted by the United States Air Corps. He went to Canada last June to offer his services. Now he is in ’ Ottawa with a special Canadian Air Foice mission. There are a couple of Hollywood stunt pilots, one of whom. Flying Officer Eddie Anderson, is now an advanced instructor. Flying Officer A. S. Knickerbocker is doing gunnery work in another camp. Two Americans who have just arrived owned flying schools. E. T. Henninger. aged 27. ran a school for five years at Cedar Rapids. lowa. C. G. Harville, a tall, handsome Texan, had a "society" school at Seal Beach, California. where most of his flying pupils were debutantes and younger girls. ’