ROYAL AIR FORCE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 6

ROYAL AIR FORCE

Success of Two Young New Zealanders FINE RECORD IN TRAINING It is not unusual for some of the young men of New Zealand undergoing the hard training in aircraftsmanship in England, where competition is keen, to do well and quickly to find full recognition of their efficiency. Cabled advice received yesterday shows that two more New Zealanders —Cecil Dunn Milne, son of Mrs. K. Milne, Woodcot, Te Aroha, and Joffre Gordon Fraser, son of Lieut.-Colonel E. G. Fraser, V.D., formerly of Auckland and now of Rotorua —have achieved a flue record in their training examinations . Both Milne and Fraser were nominated by the Defence Department in 1931 for entry into the Royal Air Force as aircraft apprentices. Entering No. 1 School of Technical Training, Halton, in January, 1932, the young students completed the three years’ course in December last. Both have been awarded cadetships and are, therefore, eligible for entry to the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, to follow the full normal course of training for pilot officers. The Minister of Defence. Hon. J. G. Cob'be, stated yesterday that the officers of the Defence Department were naturally pleased at the success of Milne and Fraser. The young men, he said, well merited the congratulations they had received. In addition to being awarded a cadetship, Milne took the first prizes for the grand aggregate and educational subjects, and was awarded the Lord Wakefield Scholarship. That was a monetary scholarship of £75, which might be awarded to the aircraft apprentice who obtained the highest place in what was called the “passing out” examination from the training establishment at Halton and was awarded a cadetship at the Royal Air Force College. The scholarship was tenable for the first year of training in the college. Mr. Cobbe said that while at the - Cadet College the expenses of the training of Milne and Fraser would be the same as those of King’s cadets, who paid no educational fees and were provided with authorised uniforms and books up to a total value of £lOO, any charges incurred in excess of that amount being payable by the parents or guardians. “The success of Milne and Fraser," added the Minister, “is all the more pleasing because it is known that cadetships in the Air Force are difficult to obtain and are only awarded to apprentices who show most outstanding ability. Reports before me show that in some years no cadetship is awarded. Three were granted to the Halton entry of 82 apprentices who ‘passed out’ of the training establishment last December."