N.Z. Trained Pilots For Royal Air Force

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 5

N.Z. Trained Pilots For Royal Air Force

FURTHER DETAILS OF SCHEME Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jne 30. Trailed pilots sent from New Zealand to serve with the Royal Air Force at the rate of 220 a year under the expanded aviation schemo announced yesterday by the Minister of Defence, Hon, F. Jones, will be worth £374,000 annually fo the Government.. It was explained to-day bv Mr. Jones, in discussing further details of tho scheme, that New Zealand would receive £I7OO for each trained pilot sent to England instead of an allowance of £1550 ruling up to the present. “The maximum number of pilots we will send overseas when we get the whole of our arrangements ready, wi)l

be 220 a year," Mr. Jones said. “The second flying training school at Blenheim will be functioning fully by September next year and by December next year we will have sent 150 pilots to England. Thereafter wc will send them at the rate of 220 a year. We will train 140 pilots a year at both Blenheim and Wigram and a total of 220 of these 280 young men, after eight months' training, will go to the Old Country. The rest will be further trained for our own requirements in New Zealand. Of course, till we get both Wigram and Blenheim fully developed, we cannot increase to the maximum."

The Minister explained that the Government was already obtaining instructors from England and these officers would take a share of the work of training the young fliers. Under the expanded scheme the Government was also offering engagements to some of the members of the Royal Air Force who, in company with the New Zealanders sent to England for the purpose, would fly to the Dominion the thirty VickersWellington long-range bombers on order. The vacancy caused by the early departure for England of Group-Captain L. M. lsitt, Air Board member, will be filled by the temporary appointment of Squadron-Leader E. G. Olson, till recently officer commanding tho Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Ilobsonvillc. Squadron-Leader Olson has already arrived at Wellington.