EMPIRE AIR SCHEME TRAINEES

Southland Times, Issue 24357, 11 February 1941, Page 5

EMPIRE AIR SCHEME TRAINEES

(British Official Wireless) RUGBY, February 9. A large contingent of Royal Air Force trainees from this country will return to a Scottish port today having gained their wings in Canada under the Empire training scheme. After a brief period of further training they will be posted to their service stations and they are looking forward eagerly to early participation in the air battle for Britain. They are the forerunners of thousands of other pilots who will augment the Royal Air Force at regular intervals from the Canadian training schools. The scheme is now in full operation and it is training potential pilots from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon and practically every corner of the Empire. In addition to British pilots today's party includes a Canadian contingent and another composed of Australians. Most of their instruction has been given by Canadian pilots, who before the war were employed in flying and carrying machinery and supplies to remote parts of North-West Canada and Alaska. The keenness and skill of the trainees are indicated by the fact that the entire group completed its training without a serious mishap. Indeed, the only damage recorded during that period was one bent propeller.