KEEN TO SERVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 303, 23 December 1941, Page 3

KEEN TO SERVE

R.N.Z.A.F. APPLICANTS

INTERVIEWED BY COMMITTEE

Applicants for the Royal New Zealand Air Force who passed through the hands of the selection, committee (air crew) in Auckland) yesterday and to-day were of all ages and occupations, from just over the minimum age to just under the maximum, from farmer to medical student. Some had attended university while others had received no 'schooling above the sixth standard, but all had one thing in common— keenness. The committee, which consists of Squadron-Leader A. C. McArthur, Air Headquarters, Wellington, as chairman, and an educational officer, has just returned from a selection tour of North Island centres, and while in Auckland interviewed some 200 recruits. The committee will be in Auckland again on January 12 to consider further applications. In the congenial atmosphere of friend talking to friend, each recruit was in turn interviewed. Questions were asked as to the applicant's education, age, occupation and height— the latter proving a difficulty for one or two men. Then the recruit was asked whether he could drive a car and what sport he had followed. Most of the applicants could drive and most had played some sport. Football, cricket, shooting, rowing and yachting, golf—nearly all applicants had taken part in one or more of these sports. Lacking such qualifications should not, however, deter anyone from applying for entry into the air force. One young recruit yesterday had no education beyond sixth standard, could not swim, and had not followed any sport since he played rough and tumble football at primary school. He was not considered suitable as a pilot but was placed on one of the other courses. Young Recruit's Request One young applicant had left school only at the end of this year, but he had thought about joining the air force ever since war started He had helped to build model aircraft, and knew the different types. An-

other young man asked SquadronLeader McArthur if he could give him some sort of written assurance that he would not be called up for months, otherwise his parents would not give their consent to let him join. The request was complied with. Eagerness to serve was by no means confined to the younger* men. One applicant, close to the maximum age border, had applied for a pilot's course. The squadron-leader warned him that he would probably find the physical strain of a pilot's life telling, but the applicant said he was Jceen to be a pilot and realised that £e would have to avoid late nights ttnd such things as would knock his physique more than they would that of a younger man. He kept comparatively fit, he said, and did not smoke at all or drink to excess. He was posted to the pilot's course. To a man who stated that he had had training at gliding with an aern club, the squadron-leacer said he had followed the careers of men who had come from gliding clubs and they had acquitted themselves well.

Applicant's Fine Spirit

Many of these men will, no doubt, when they are on active service, do heroic deeds and gain well-deserved commendations, but there was one applicant before the committee yesterday who, by the very act of his applying, was showing that spirit which is regarded as the greatest thing in British character.

He was lame—handicapped from childhood by infantile paralysis — but he had brought af number of references with him to help him to get into the force, and had gained private instruction in flying, having had several hours at dual control. He said that he was able to move fast enough on his feet to enter into a boxing contest. If he came through the war he wanted to take up commercial aviation. Such an outlook on life and on service cannot be commented upon. It may be regarded as typical of the spirit whicT. nervades the air force. •