AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1943, Page 4

AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION

♦ CANADIAN WOMEN ENROLLED. NEW TRAIL BLAZED. OTTAWA. The Royal Canadian Air Force blazed a new trail when it announced that women as well as men are being enrolled for instruction at the recently formed No. 1 School of Aircraft Recognition at Rockcliffe, near here. When they graduate from the school after a six weeks’ course in aircraft and ship recognition, these members of the Women’s Division of the R.C.A.F. will be posted to schools all over Canada to instruct members of air crew how to distinguish at a glance between enemy and friendly airplanes. No women however are in the first class, which is made up largely of air force and army officers, but they will be included in ever-increasing numbers in subsequent classes. The school is staffed by experienced aircraft recognition instructors. In addition to teaching recognition of aircraft, of which there are now more than 200 operational types, the school is teaching recognition of ships, so that R.C.A.F. bomber crews can pick out friend from foe in the waters below. A most important innovation has been the introduction of eye exercises to increase the sharpness and speed of airman’s eyesight. Exercises calculated to develop night vision for night fighter pilots will also be taught.