AIR FORCE CREWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24101, 21 October 1941, Page 8

AIR FORCE CREWS

PRE-ENTRY TRAINING SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME CONSTANT FLOW OF RFXRUITS [BY TELEGHAJ'FI PIIKSS ASSOCIATION*! W E LLIX G T ON, Monday The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. J ones, in an interview to-day outlined the present position in regard to pre-entry Air Force training, which, he said, had begun in New Zealand in January, HMO, long before other portions of the Empire had commenced similar training. "The course given to prospective airmen-pilots, air-observers or nirliiinners before they report for training at Ihe initial training wing at Levin contains their basic requirements in mathematics and in elementary science, together with a certain amount ol elementary air navigation, theory ol (light, meteorology and signalling," said the Minister. "The course is available without cost to all men between the ages of 17.} and 3:4 who have been accepted, and is an essential part of their training." Since the outbreak of war pre-entry air-crew training had been given to a large number of men, actually well into five figures, said Mr. Jones, and the number in training still continued to be large. At present 3758 were under instruction, 1755 in classes from Whangarei to Invercargill and 200.'] by correspondence from the education services branch of the Air Department. Classes Over the Air Signal training, either in classes or over the air, still continues to be a valuable part of pre-entry training, and Mr. Jones stated that he wished to express deep appreciation of the work being done by officers of the Post and Telegraph Department who were co-operatuig with the educational services branch in rendering this form of instruction possible. The pre-entry training scheme was originally put in hand to afford opportunities for all suitable men to qualify for an air crew, but so effective was this method that it was being extended to other sections of the Air Force and to other branches of the service. The special basic needs of these men were mathematics, magnetism, and electricity and radio theory. A programme of instruction had been prepared in these subjects, and for some months now some hundreds of men_ enlisted as radio mechanics for the Nayv or for the Air Force had been receiving preentry training along those lines. Many School Units The Minister stated that a wonderful response had been received from schools in the formation ol school units of the Air Training Corps. Already 35 schools, secondary, technical and private, had indicated that units of the corps were being formed. The total enrolment to date was 1500 cadets, covering the age group 15-18. Mr. Jones referred to the large number of boys who had left school but who were residing outside centres in which town units of the Air Training Corps had up to the present been formed and yet were anxious to join the corps. For these bovs the educational services branch had arranged an interesting instructive correspondence course, so that they, too, could, if desired, qualifv themselves for entry to the Air Force by the time they reached the age at which they could be accepted. The Minister said he was satisfied that in no country was the Air Force more assured of a continuous supply of recruits of the right type ;.ud proper educational standard.