EDUCATION OF AIR FORCE MEN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 175, 19 April 1940, Page 11

EDUCATION OF AIR FORCE MEN

Special Instruction

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

OF DEFENCE

Dominion Special Service. DUNEDIN, April 18. Fuller details of earlier statements regarding the education of airmen pilots, air observers and air gunners were given by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, in a statement. About 750 men, all selected as airmen pilots or air observers, the Minister said, were at present undergoing instruction, either in one of 20 classes already in operation in various towns of the Dominion, or by correspondence from Air Force Headquarters.

These men were in two. groups, No. 1 short course, and No. 1 long course. Short course trainees were all men who had reached the necessary educational standard some five or six years ago, but required a short refresher course. Long course men were never at any stage up to the required Air Force standard for pilots or observers, and were being given a course of some five months in order that, this standard might he attained. Short course trainees would complete their preliminary mathematical training in May, and long course trainees at the end of June.

At the end of each period the men would be tested to determine their standard and to’ascertain whether the initial classification of pilot or observer could be sustained. Instructors would, however, be asked for a recommendation in cases in which a man failed to reach the necessary standard, and an extended course would be given if it were felt: that an extended course would enable the man to qualify himself educationally for the position for which ho had been originally chosen. Air Gunners. Those men going in as air gunners constituted another problem, which had to be met. It was naturally not necessary for those men to have the same educational qualifications as those men selected as pilots or observers, for they would never at any time be required to navigate. Up to the present no instruction had been given by the Air Force to those men prior to their entry into the ground training school. He himself, however, had been so well satisfied with the success of the present educational arrangements that he had for some time felt the advisability of drafting to preliminary classes in mathematics and science all men who were to enter the ground training school at Levin, not only those entering as airmen pilots and air observers, but also those entering as air gunners. Cabinet had now decided, the Minister said, that this preliminary instruction was to be given in all cases to men selected for the aircrew section of the Air Force, and arrangements were at present being made by the Air Department. It would not, of course, be necessary to bring gunners to the same standard as that required for pilots and observers, and the preliminary course to be followed by them would be a modification of that being followed by those men selected as airmen pilots or air observers. As far as possible gunners would be drafted into a separate class.

Educational Staff.

In order to amplify educational arrangements at headquarters, a total staff of 11, including seven education officers, was handling this side of the work, and, with increased numbers to be trained under the new scheme, increased staffing would of course be necessary. When those men receiving instruction in the present No. 1 short and No. 1 long courses completed their educational training, others would take their places. It appeared that in -No. 2 short and long courses 700 men would require instruction in classes, and some 500 by correspondence. Those numbers were by no means final, as Wellington applicants had still to be interviewed by the selection committee iu its second tour of the Dominion. 'The Minister stated that a certain number of applications were being received'for the aircrew section from men who had not completed their primary school education. Those applications could not be entertained, as such men could not in the limited time available be brought up to the standard required.for the Air Force. The Minister also stated that be did not expect the slightest difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of instructors, either for evening classes or for correspondence work. School teachers,were co-operating wonderfully well with the Air Force in connexion with this instructional scheme, and dozens of offers of assistance had already been received from teachers other than those helping at present.