AIR FORCE POSITIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 48, 25 January 1939, Page 3

AIR FORCE POSITIONS.

ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, J-an. 24

Though men only are required for the Royal New Zealand Air Fores?, even women have inquired for admission to the Civil Reserve of Pilots. Applications were called on January 12 for the 1939-40 quota of trainees, but so great is the interest being taken in aviation that 380 inquiries were made within the first week for the hundred vacancies available. The Air Department called applications from young men of good education and physique who were willing to devote their spare time to learning to fly. in addition to 380 inquiries in the first week there were 30 held over from the previous year. The closing date for applications, however, is not till Febriv'.ry 10. Candidates are also required for short service commissions in the Royal Air Force. An announcement to this ■effect was made on January 14, and here again there is no shortage of applicants. The closing date is February 15. but in the first week 180 inquiries were made, in .addition to which 100 were received before the announcement. The nuralrr of short service commissions available to New Zealanders will not be known till the Air Ministry makes its, allocations, but last year 150 direct entry candidates were received from the Dominion by the R.A.F. In addition to these, 50 candidates were trained at the flying training school, Wigram, also for the R.A.F. The first batch will leave for England in the near future.

No women have actually applied for acceptance as trainees in the Civil Reserve of Pilots, hut a number have made inquiries from the Air Department. They have been told, however, that men only are wanted.