AIR TRAINING CORPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25852, 24 May 1945, Page 6

AIR TRAINING CORPS

SUCCESSFUL CADETS PRESENTATION OF FLASHES An exhaustive period of instruction and preparation came to an end for 13 members of the Dunedin Squadron of the Air Training Corps last night, when they were presented with the Blue Flash of the corps which marks the passing of the pre-entry examination. The presentations were made at a parade ceremony in the A.T.C. headquarters in Dowling street by Wing Commander A. E. W. McDonald, Commandant of the Dominion Air Training ! Corps. The Mayor (Mr D- C. Cameron) briefly addressed the squadron, and congratulations on the work being done in Dunedin and throughout New Zealand were voiced by Squadron Leader Harvey, of the Australian Air Training Corps, who is at present on an official tour of the Dominion. The list of successful cadets was as follows:—Flight Sergeant R. E. Mansfield, Sergeant G. V. Lorimer (credit pass), Sergeant J. G. Scott (credit pass). Cadet D. Munro (credit pass). Cadet S. R. Quennell (credit pass). Cadet J. Lousley (credit pass), pass). Cadet J. Lansley (credit pass). Cadet G. R. Ayres (credit pass), Cadet R. C. Macdonald, Cadet J. G. Skinner, Cadet V. N. Brightwell, Cadet P. S. Martin, Cadet W. B. Paton, Cadet J. Scragg. Possession of the Blue Flash indicates the attainment of that degree ,of training which fits cadets of the Air Training Corps to take their place “ on station ” in the R.N.Z.A.F., and follows on an intensive course of instruction and the passing of an examination in which the standard is always high. The Mayor, addressing the squadron, offered the congratulations of the people of Dunedin to the officers and cadets representing the corps and Dunedin, and assured them that the excellence of the work carried out in the past few years had not passed unnoticed. They had achieved a great deal for the national war effort, and also for the R.N.Z.A.F., and they were deserving of the good wishes and thanks of the people of Dunedin. Commandant’s Address ' Wing Commander McDonald, before presenting the flashes, extended his congratulations to the . successful cadets and also to the squadron. He said the cadets who'had' passed the examination had. done... well. The test they had been set was not easy, arid their success was something in which they and their parents could take great pride. They had obtained an important objective in their training, and the opportunity was new before them to tackle the next stage. In congratulating them on what they had achieved so far, he urged them to retain their enthusiasm and apply themselves with just as great diligence to the next phase of training, for it was only by that means that they hope to be successful. It was a healthy sign of the efficiency and progress of the corps that so many cadets had made the grade in the aircrew preentry examination. - Each of these presentation ceremonies was a mark of progress. Each showed that the efficiency of the corps was being maintained and that the steady work of the instructors was bearing fruit. Each also showed that , New”; Zealand still had a reserve of youth on which she could call to see her through her paft in the present campaign. “ The best advice I can give to all of you,” Wing Commander McDonald said, “is to stick together, remembering you wear a uniform that has won a creditable place for itself in the history of your country. The Air Training Corps is building up a fine tradition. It has already sent many thousands of recruits into the ranks of the R.N.Z.A.F., and these lads have given outstanding service. Though the dAy of victory is much nearer, the world is still at war. There is nothing wrong with the country and nothing wrong with the democracy that can produce young men like these—-volun-teers all of them, who have given up their leisure hours to the pursuit of knowledge, training,: and experience. New Zealand must continue to play its part in the conflict and it is to the A.T.C. that the R.N.Z.A.F. is looking urgently and with confidence for the bulk of its recruits... In presenting these blue flashes to the cadets successful in the recent examination I am certain that that confidence, is fully justified.” Much to Learn Squadron Leader Harvey, in a few brief remarks, said he had been 10 days in New Zealand studying the extent and methods of the A.T.C. in the Dominion, and all that he had seen had been most impressive. He felt that Australia had much to learn from New Zealand in the matter of thip kind of training, and on his return he would lose no time in trying to have put into operation some of the things he had seen working so effectively m New Zealand.