RUSSIA'S FLYING TROOPS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4805, 3 July 1939, Page 6

RUSSIA'S FLYING TROOPS

MASS PARACHUTE DROPS. TRAINING IN THE SOVIET.* Following the completion of a series of experimental mass parachute drops by Soviet Army soldiers, it is claimed in Moscow that Russia now possesses 60,000 "air infantry." This is by no means a surprisingly large estimate, and refers, in all probability only to men actually serving in the army and who have been trained in parachute jumping. In addition to these there are many thousands of civilians including women, who have received the aerial portion of a training which will enable them, in the event of war, to act as an "air infantry" reserve. Two years ago the French aviation journal,~"L'Aero," published a detailed review of the progress of the Russian air arm, in which it was stated that there were 75,000 trained parachutists in Russia, and that the number was being rapidly increased annually.

Air-minded Thousands.

The training by the Soviet Government of its air-minded civilians, together with a proportion of army reservists, is in the hands of an organisation known as the Osoaviachim, which also organises civilian defence against air attacks. This remarkable department of State comprised at the bend of 1936, more than 13,000,000 members; consists of 122 aero clubs, and has 1500 aerodromes at its disposal. In 1935 the Osoaviachim trained 3500 flyers, who enlisted for active

service, or we're placed in the reserve. In 1936 the total thus trained was increased to 8000. The-same organisation founded 241 gliding schools, which from 1934 to 1936 trained 300 gliders. Its parachute training is given by means of no fewer than 420 jumping towers, together with a large number of training machines. The usefulness of air infantry in war has yet to be proven, but strategists believe they could be employed with success, especially in surprise attacks. The idea is that they should be used for raids, and also for enabling bodies of troops to be placed unexpectedly'behind enemy front lines in order to create disruption during frontal attacks.