AIR TRAINING CORPS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 287, 1 September 1941, Page 6

AIR TRAINING CORPS

Active Operation Soon In Main Centres BOYS TO HAVE UNIFORMS “Within the next week or two, units of the Air Training Corps will be in active operation in the four main centres of New Zealand, and other units will be formed in the smaller centres as soon as possible,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, last night. “The corps has two objectives,” Mr. Jones said. “First it will prepare lads for entry to the Air Force, and secondly it will provide useful instruction for those intending to take up a career in some branch of civil or commercial aviation. It will also help to develop character and initiative, and this, combined with the training in discipline given, will be of material value to every lad in no matter what occupation or profession he may later be engaged.” , . Mr. Jones said that no actual flying training would be given the boys, and though possibly many of them would be a little disappointed, it was essential that they should complete the preliminary training given in tho corps before any' flying was attempted. The instruction would therefore be confined to ground subjects. The Minister said that members of town units of the corps would receive uniforms with distinguishing buttons, badges and patches. College units and those taking correspondence courses would receive special badges. Classes would be held at night'and where possible the .lads would be given the. opportunity” to visit air force stations from time to time to see some practical aspects of the things they had learned. Skilled instructors were now being appointed and arrangements had been made to provide instructional equipment such as engines, airframes, radio apparatus, and so on. The fine record of New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force was mentioned 'by the Minister. He said that so far 120 decorations had been won Dy Dominion flyers for outstanding bravery and devotionkto duty. “We must not be lulled into any form of inactivity because the comlined air forces of the British Commonwealth are steadily moving forward to an air supremacy which, I think, need never be in doubt,” Mr. Jones continued. “The indications of relative strengths have already been made plain by results. There is a vast difference between the position today and the situation a year ago, and every month takes the Empire nearer to complete, supremacy in the air, day and night, and to ultimate victory. We may regard the trend of progress and achievement with satisfaction, but there is no justification for any slackening of our air effort. On the contrary it is all the more reason for doing everything possible to turn an increasing advantage into a decisive factor for victory. That is our determined policy. We must maintain and increase production of materials and tiained personnel. We must look ahead and keep on preparing for eyery possible emergency. This policy is in operation.”