Growing Air Strength of Dominions

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 192, 14 August 1941, Page 5

Growing Air Strength of Dominions

Australia’s Pilots and Planes SOUTH AFRICA AIMS AT 50,000 PERSONNEL (British Official Wireless.) Received Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 12. The steadily-mounting strength ol the Dominions ia reflected in recent news of the Australian and south African air programmes. Australia’a export of aeroplanes in 1942 will exceeu Ji12,000,000 in value with a total production value ot £20,000,000, according to Mr. John Storey, Commissioner xor Aircraft Production. A large percentage Ox tiie aircraft produced win be Beaufort medium torpeao bombers, the lastcsl ox tueir type in the world. ihe opening ox additional schools enaibnng a constantly-increasing nuni ber of Australian airmen to bo trainee in their own country. ihe ground crews are now trained entirely in Au? tralia. Une-fiith of the pilots and h quarter of tne air-gunners, observer** and wireiCss operators still finish their training in Canada under tne air training scheme and some are sent to Rhodesia, but these proportions are growing less. Speaking at the coming-of-age of the South African Air Force on Monday, Field-Marshal Smuts said South Africa which started tho war with an air force of only one squadron and a total of 1500 pilots and mechanics, to-day has over 2000 pilots and an additional personnel of at least 25,000, of which about 3000 are women.

In co-operation with the British Government, South Africa is building up a far more powerful air force, which will involve a total of 50,000 men and women.