PILOTS WANTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21970, 23 May 1941, Page 4

PILOTS WANTED

Air Force Recruiting Campaign 62 Examined Yesterday “It is pilots we want most—we want four pilots to every gunner,” said Squadron Leader A. C. McArthur, chairman of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Selection Committee to a “Timaru Herald’’ reporter yesterday when discussing the recruiting campaign in connection with which the committee is visiting Timaru at the present time. “We have been particularly pleased with the promising type of men offering themselves to-day at Timaru, especially as the men we last examined at Timaru were the best we saw in New Zealand.” he added. "They were of excellent type and as a result 46 were selected for training as pilots, four as air observers and 12 as air gunners. Men classified as air gunners will, in most cases, have an opportunity to graduate as pilots if their work in the educational classes is of sufficiently high standard.” A few of the men offering were not up to the usual education standard, said Squadron Leader McArthur, but they were keen and determined and, given the chance of studying to improve their education to the standard necessary for pilots, he could say from experience that many of them would make the grade. There would be much hard work in front of them, but their keenness should carry them through. Men tried out in that manner in the past had been, on the whole, successful. The men in charge of the educational classes would give all the help they could to those who had not had the advantage of a secondary education. “It has astonished me how the keenness of some of those with little education has carried them through the educational courses,” said Squadron Leader McArthur.

The response throughout the country had been very good, he said, and the recruits had been of a pleasing standard. In Auckland between 600 and 700 came forward, there were plenty of men offering on the East Coast, in Christchurch there were 420, in Dunedin 242, in Invercargill 150, and in Timaru yesterday 62 were examined and they had enlisted before the recruiting campaign. With the number its was hoped to obtain as a result of the campaign yesterday, he hoped that Timaru would reach the century mark. Names of Men Examined The following candidates were examined:— Timaru—A. R. Bennett, N. H. Gould, B. L. Chapman, D. R. Aitken, R. A. B. Cooper, K. B. Ramsay, M. J. Drake, T. E. Dunn, E. M. Izzard, W. G. Cowie, C. R. Kelly, A. L. Ewart. H. H. Kingham, J. Greig, F. R. Wilks, B. A. Murray, J. L. McKinnon, D. A. McLeod, F. G. Sanders, N. A. Shanks, A. J. Shirtcliff, H. N. Hewson, P. T. Knowles. Temuka—L. A. Grant, R. B. Smith, A. J. Donehue, R. C. Gates. Geraldine—A. B. Dixon, H. E. Kettle, A. B. Chisnall, A. C. Stephens, G. D. Budd. St. Andrews—M. A. W. Jarvle. Maungati—W. F. J. Eggleton, D. W. G. Squire. Pareora East—E. P. Smith. Glenavy—W. J. Winter. Fairlie—H. H. Foster, C. R. Ellis, P. F. Carter, S. C. Jones. D. Stanley, M. W. Cosgrove, O. C. Willetts, B. L. Whyte, N. M. Glenday, K. C. Tubb. Pleasant Point—S. F. Jackson, C. B. Thoreau. Washdyke—R. E. Hay. Taiko—A. G. Jamieson. Waimate—A. J. Leach. W. S. Mcllraith, L. A. Thompson, M. G. N. Rattray, F. A. J. Scott, D. B. Samways, A. E. Woods. Ashburton—W. R. Tacon. The Selection Committee will be sitting at the Borough Council Chambers again to-day, when more men will be examined. The committee will also receive enlistments from men wishing to join up, the Council Chambers being the recruiting office in the present campaign. The following trainees on educational courses passed the Air Force Preliminary Examinations held in Timaru on May 5 and 6: A. W. Direen, F. G. Hide, W. J. G. Knox, E. J. Morrison, T. E. Neave, B. W- O’Connor, D. W. Riddler, J. R Rodgers, D L. Shears, F. G. Shears.