CANADIAN RECRUITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1943, Page 3

CANADIAN RECRUITS

PRIORITY FOR AIR FORCE.

OTTAWA, October 16. Speaking at Windsor, Ontario, the Canadian Minister of National Defence for Air, the Hon. C. G. Power, announced plans to secure an increased supply of air crew in the Royal Canadian Air Force. There was a time, Mr Power said, when we were producing air crew faster than planes , were available. But with Allied aircraft production increasing with snowball acceleration, with Canada’s own contribution of Lancasters and Mosquitoes, there was a possibility the time might arrive when aircraft would be grounded because there would be no one to fly them. Under the new plan, manpower will be recruited on a cooperative basis between the Army, Navy and Air Force. The effect will be that all men for. air crews, even though presenting themselves to an Army recruiting centre, will be given an opportunity to enlist as air crew. No men fit for overseas service or possessing specialist qualifications foi air crew will be permitted to enlist in the Air Force for ground duties. In practice all recruits whose age qualifies them for service overseas in the Army will be referred first' to an R.C.A.F. recruiting officer as possible air crew. If interested in air crew and if acceptable the recruit will be taken over by the Air Force, otherwise he will be returned to the Army.