AIR CADETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 10

AIR CADETS.

10,000 ENGLISH BOYS TRAINING. More than 100 squadrone of the Air Defence Cadet Corps in England have now been formed. A similar number remains to be formed, but squadrons are coming into existence so rapidly that the limit of 200 squadrons will probably be reached without much difficulty. This, will mean (reports "The Times") that the full 20,000 cadets whom the Air League set out to organise will be receiving the preliminary training in air matters ■which should make them the more valuable to the auxiliary and volunteer sections of the Air Force as they get older. Each squadron consists of 100 cadets between the ages of 15 and 18. They receive instruction in elementary aircraft engineering and maintenance, workshop practice, the theory of flight, signalling and meteorology. Each equadron ie affiliated to a unit of the R.A.P. or of the Auxiliary Air, Force, and visits are paid to E..A.F. and civil aerodromes. Summer canijie at the aerodromee are being arranged, and a grant has been made by the Air Ministry for gliding instruction this year at special camps where it is hoped to send "00 boys of the senior squndrone. Funds for tliitt work arc supplied from three sources. A central fund of .i-2."i,000 has l>oen raised l»y (lie Air League for the administration and supervision of the scheme and also for assisting to defray the colt of special activities. A grant of :>/<! a cadet is made by the Air Ministry, but every squadron depends primarily on local support and a sum of about £200 is' required to cover the cost of formation before a squadron is registered. When a equadron lias been formed it is supplied with instructional equipment, including an aeiooniriiip, a course mid distance calculator, a wireless set and various aircraft parts.. Tho boys wear a special uniform of Air Force blue wliich eoists about 28/ for each cadet. The boys are expected to contribute a small weekly sum towards the maintenance of their kit, biit in sjwc'ml areas the Air League makes a grant of 5/ a cadet to help in providing uniforms.