AIR TRAINING PLAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 2 October 1944, Page 4

AIR TRAINING PLAN

NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE 7511 AIRCREW GRADUATES A VAST ENTERPRISE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. With the cessation ot the British Comm :nwcaith Air Training Plan it was now possible to review its phenomenal progress and disclose something of the Dominion’s share in its dev lopmcnt, said the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) to-day. The closing-down of the training plan marked the fulfilment of a vast military enterprise, the importance of which could be measured by the growth anc success of Er - ire aerial might.

The total number of New Zealand airmen who had passed through Canada for aircrew training was 7511. according to the latest figures available, said the Minister. This was a «ood contribution for a small country and the Dominion had undei'taken a big task for its size and resources. Since the scheme began more than 100.000 airmen had been trained in Canada for flying duties.

“Of the 7511 men who went to Canada from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 5721 had graduated by the end of last May,” continued Mr Jones. “Of this number 4845 had been posted to the Royal Air Force, 113 were awaiting posting. 204 were on duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force, and 452 were returning or had returned to New Zealand for duty. There were also many undergoing operational training.” Those figures, added the Minister, did not tell the whole story of New Zealand’s aircrew contribution to the Empire. For example, many hundreds of flying personnel had been fully trained in New Zealand. Since the outbreak of war the Royal New Zealand Air Force had trained 11,529 airmen for flying duties. That total included those who trained completely in the Dominion and those who went to Canada for further training. The majority had taken part in operations against the enemy in Great Britain, Europe, India, the Far East, and the Pacific. Of the 11,529 men trained. 3652 were pilots who received all their instruction in New Zealand, 2910 were pilots who began their training in the Dominion before going to Canada. 4601 were wireless-operator/air gunners, navigators. and air bombers who trained first in New Zealand and then in Canada, and 366 were navigators and air gunners who were trained in the Dominion to meet local and Pacific requirements. BUILDING UP AIR STRENGTH “One of the most important and effective military measures of the war, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, which has realised all its original aims and played a large part in turning the scales in the Allies’ favour, deserves much credit for the brilliantlysuccessful Second Front invasion.” said the Minister. “The preliminary soften-ing-up of Germany’s military and industrial centres and the invasion itself were made possible largely by the might of the Allied air offensive, which in turn owed much to the Empire Air Training Plan. “The thorough training given to tens of thousands of young men from Great Britain. Canada. Australia, and New Zealand, and many other branches of the Commonwealth, and the speed with which the schools maintained their output, enabled the Empire to build up a formidable aerial army,” continued Mr Jones. “Many of New Zealand’s most distinguished airmen were trained in Canada under the Empire plan and their successes against the enemy are a tribute to their own initiative, skill and courage, and to the thoroughness and effectiveness of their training. Among them are Flight Lieutenant A. E. Umbers, D.F.C. and bar, of Dynedin, who was the first New Zealand pilot to shoot down a flying-bomb and who has the highest score of Dominion pilots with 28, and Flight Lieutenant Perrin. D.F.C., of Invercargill, who went to Canada with Flight Lieutenant Umbers in February, 1941, and who has an excellent record too. Others who trained in Canada, to mention only a few, were the late Flying Officer L. A. Trigg, V.C., D.F.C.. whore exploits are welt known, and the late Flight Lieutenant G. Stenborg, D.F.C.. who accounted for 11 German aircraft." PART . PLAYED BY A.T.C.

Back in the Dominion the R.N.Z.A.F. had, in line with other countries of the Empire, been busy developing the Air Training Corps which, in supplying the Air Force with a steady flow of recruits, had made an important contribution to the Air Training Plan. The value of the A.T.C. as a means of hastening training and of reducing wastage in aircrew had been readily appreciated and much importance had been attached to the work of this branch of the service. Since its inception the A.T.C. had provided over 3000 recruits for the R.N.Z.A.F.. more than half of whom were aircrew. Many former cadets had finally passed through Canada as pilots, navigators or WOAGS; not a few were already flying warplanes in European and other combat theatres and were meritoriously maintaining the high traditions which had been established by New Zealand airmen abroad.

Reviewing the development of the Air Training Plan, the Minister said it was launched following proposals made in September, 1930. and owed its establishment to the joint enterprise of the British. Canadian. Australian 'and New Zealand Governments of that year. In announcing the signing of the agreement by the four countries, the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr Mackenzie King) had told the Canadian people in December. 1939. that the cost of the Air Training Plan programme was estimated at 600.000.000 dollars over the next three and a-quarter years. In addition to the 20 airfields which were available in Canada another 60 would be required. Sixty-seven training schools would also be needed. Fourfifths of the airmen who were to take advanced training in Canada would be Canadians and nearly one-fifth would come from Australia and New Zealand.

These, said the Minister, were the main points which emerged from the agreement. It was no small enterprise, obviously. The agreement was to run until 31st March, 1943, but provision was made for its earlier termination, or an extension beyond that date if necessary, by mutual consent. In November, 1941, the Canadian Minister of Air (Mr C. G. Power) had told the House of Commons that the plan would last for the duration of the war. The other Governments had given assurances of their determination to carry out their obligations under the scheme and on sth June, 1942, another agreement was signed in Ottawa whereby the four countries signified their willingness to extend the scheme until March. 1945. As was now well known, it had been found possible to discontinue training in Canada some months earlier because aircrew casualties during the invasion had been fewer than was expected and as good reserves of manpower were in hand. “The principal objective of the Air Training Plan in 1939 was to establish

a training organisation on which we could create air forces superior in size and quality to those of the enemy,” said the Minister. “This objective has been reached. As the schools turned out their aircrew graduates in tens of thousands, so has our air superiority increased in every theatre of war. In reviewing the present satisfactory position in Europe, who should always remember the hard and difficult road over which we have travelled. The Empire Air Training Han, a great co-ordinated network extending from flying training stations such as Ashburton to the very heart of the Empire and thence to every storm centre of the war in the air. has put our ascendancy over the enemy in the air beyond challenge and had been primarily responsible for our successes in the war. It will be remembered for all time as one of the foundation stones of victory.**