AIR TRAINING CORPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1943, Page 2

AIR TRAINING CORPS

RECRUITING DRIVE BEING ORGANISED DISPLAY AT WAIRARAPA MANY BENEFITS FROM COURSE “The Air Training Corps is most important as the Royal New Zealand Air Force is relying on it for recruitments, stated Flight Lieutenant R. A. Stedman, Commander of the Wellington Wing, when speaking at a preliminary meeting convened by the Mayor, Mr I. Jordan, in Masterton yesterday at which it was decided to call a public meeting to set up a committee to foster and assist the Air Training Corps in Masterton.

The meeting will be held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms on Monday, October 18, at 7.30 p.m., to which the public is invited.

Flight Lieutenant Stedman said that the R.N.Z.A.F. had grown tremendously in size and to keep up a supply of pilots, air crew, and ground staff a large number of recruits were required each month. A recruiting drive was the best way to increase the units and it was intended to hold a drive in Show Week. A well-equipped mobile unit consisting of three lorries would be at the Carterton Show on both days and arrangements would be made for a local display. Examples of precision work would be shown and with the written consent of both parents, recruits would be given a flight. Cadets who brought a recruit would be given an extra flight.

Flight-Lieutenant Stedman said that the cadets were themselves the best recruiting officers, as they knew of the splendid benefits of the training. It was the parents, he said, who had to be educated as they did not know how valuable was the training. Lads from 16 to 20 years were wanted. With the consent of parents, boys of 18 could join the Air Force but by joining the A.T.C. they were not committing themselves. The lads were keen to join but the parents held them back. FlightLieutenant Stedman emphasised that in the A.T.C. the cadets continued their educational and cultural training. The cadets were made better citizens and taught self-discipline. The training gave them a basic training for the Air Force which was most essential, as in the Air Force all members had to be experts in their own departments. On the ground staff it took many months to turn out a first class tradesman. There could be no guesswork and the men had to be first-class in their work. In addition to the educational training each week, part of the time was devoted to valuable physical training.