AIR FORCE TRAINING

Grey River Argus, 31 July 1940, Page 9

AIR FORCE TRAINING

Educational Course OVER 2000 MEN ENGAGED. WELLINGTON, July 29. Further details of Air Force preliminary educational training and the signal’ training being given in conjunction with it we?e g-ven by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. i*. Jones) in an interview to-night. The Minister said that although the educational scheme had been in operation only since the beginning of the year, nearly 500 men had already completed their educational' course. Of these, less than 10 per cent, had failed to measure up to the standard required. These men were being given a slightly extended educational course to enable them to do so. At present 2249 men were undeigoing educational training in classes or by correspondence, 129(X had been selected provisionally as pilots or observers, and 959 as gunners. These classifications were contingent upon the satisfactory completion of their educational course. Since his previous statement, sain the Minister, the necessary arrangements for a course of signal training had been completed. He must, pay tribute to the keenness and enthusiasm of the instructors providers by the Post and Telegraph Department. The Director of Educational Services (Mr E. Cardus) had already had an opportunity of visiting a number of these classes, and had reported his extremely favourable impression of the work being done. Some 65 signalling classes were novv in operation throughout the Dominion. in 36 centres. Arrangements which it was hoped to make with the National Broadcasting Service had now been completed, and from Monday, August 5 classes in Morse signalling wotucl be broadcast from 2YC, with rebroadcasts from IYX and 4YO. In thi§ way it wa s hoped that not only men in the larger centres, but also those m country districts would be. able to get the necessary signal training A complete text-book for the educational course was now in process or being reproduced. This text-book was based upon assignments of work prepared for men - on correspondent c courses during the first five montns of the year. Every man attending A.r Force classes, or on the Air Force correspondence course, would b e pro\«d< d with a