“BE PREPARED TO WAIT”

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1931, Page 10

“BE PREPARED TO WAIT”

. 1 APPLICANTS FOR THE RA.F. “I should like to warn, all young men who wish to enter the Royal Air Force that they must be prepared to wait for some time when they arrive in London,” said Mr. G. M. Easton, who recently returned to New Zealand, and who is at present in Hawera. i Mr. Easton, who formerly lived at Hawera and New Plymouth, obtained, a commission in the Royal Air Force about two years ago, but after 18 months of service had to relinquish his commission as a result of a serious crash while he was flying a Bristol fighter at Holton Ije Moor, Lincolnshire. He was in hospital for over seven months, and has now been invalided out on pension. Mr. Easton held the rank of pilot-officer. A prospective trainee should have between £5O and £lOO in his pocket, for he would have to wait five or six weeks at least before he could be admitted to a training camp. After filling in an application form one must go before a selection committee consisting of a president and usually four others, all of whom are officers of the Air Force. If the applicant is successful he must then be examined by a medical board, which conducts a very thorough examination. After satisfying the medical board, the prospective 'airman must await advice from the Air Ministry as to when he is to commence his training. He is first sent for a fortnight to Uxbridge, where he attends lectures, is taught mess etiquette and undergoes a course of physical drill. He is also provided with a kit, though his full flying outfit is supplied later. From Uxbridge the trainee goes to a training school, four of which are in England and a fifth in Egypt. By means of a “read-test” conducted at the school the instructors can generally tell whether a man will make a good airman, or not. Flying training is commenced immediately and continues for 12 months. The daily instruction consists of two hours’ flying, two hours’ lectures, and again two hours’ flying. Prowess in some kind of athletic sport is practically essential.

A commission is terminated if a trainee cannot fly solo within a reasonable length of time. On the average, a man will get through after between five and 12 hours’ dual flying. “Watch your step before involving yourself’in the expense of going Home to join,” was Mr. Easton’s advice to those who might wish to join the Air Force. He would be pleased to give any information to anyone who had thoughts of making application.