AIR TRAINING

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23013, 3 October 1944, Page 4

AIR TRAINING

A Vast Enterprise Britain’s Aerial Might Part Played By Empire

Scheme

(N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. The closing down of the British Commonwealth air training plan marked the fulfilment of a vast military enterprise, the importance of which could be measured by the growth and success of the Empire’s aerial might, said the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) this morning in a statement reviewing the phenomenal progress of the plan and disclosing something of the Dominion’s share in its development. The total number of New Zealand airmen who had passed through Canada for aircrew training was 7511, according to the latest figures available, said the Minister. That was a good contribution for a small country, and the Dominion had undertaken a big task for its size and resources. Since the scheme began, more than 100,000 airmen had been trained for flying duties in Canada. “Of the 7511 men who went to Canada from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 5721 had graduated by the end of last May,” added Mr Jones. “Of this number 4845 had been posted to the Royal Air Force, 113 were awaiting posting, 204 were on duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force, and 452 were returning or had returned to New Zealand for duty. There were also many undergoing operational training.” These figures, explained the Minister, did not tell the whole story of the Dominion’s aircrew contribution to the Empire. For example, many hundreds of flying personnel had been fully trained in New Zealand. Since the outbreak of war, the Royal New Zealand Air Force had trained 11.529 airmen for flying duties. That total included those who trained completely in the Dominion, and those who went to Canada for further training. The majority had taken part in operations against the enemy in Britain, Europe, India, the Far East, and the Pacific. New Zealand Trained Pilots Of the 11,529 men trained, 3652 were pilots who received all their instruction in New Zealand, 2910 were pilots who began their training in the Dominion before going to Canada, 4601 were wire-less-operator air-gunners, navigators, and air bombers, who trained first in New Zealand and then in Canada, and 366 were navigators and air-gunners who were trained in the Dominion to meet local and Pacific requirements. “One of the most important and effective military measures of the war, the air training plan which has realised all its original aims, and played a large part in turning the scales in the Allies’ favour, deserves much credit for the brilliantly-successful second front invasion,” said the Minister. “The preliminary softening-up of German military and Industrial centres, and the invasion itself were made possible largely by the might of the Allied air offensive which, in turn, owed much to the training plan. “Many of New Zealand’s most distinguished airmen were trained in Canada under the Empire plan and their successes against the enemy are a tribute to their own initiative, skill, and courage, and to the thoroughness and effectiveness of their training. Among them are Flight Lieutenant A. E. Umbers, D.F.C. and Bar, of Dunedin, who was the first New Zealand pilot to shoot down a flying bomb and who has the highest score of Dominion pilots with 28, and Flight Lieutenant D. P. Perrin, D.F.C.. of Invercargill (recently reported killed on air operations), who went to Canada with Flight Lieutenant Umbers in February, 1941, and who also has an excellent record. “Others who trained in Canada, to mention only a few, were the late Flying Officer L. A. Trigg, V.C., D.F.C., and the late Flight Lieutenant G. Stenborg, D.F.C., who accounted for 11 German aircraft.” Air Trair.lig Corps Back in the Dominion, the R.N.Z.A.F. had, in line with other countries of the Empire, been busy developing the Air Training Corps which, in supplying the Air Force with a steady flow of recruits, had made an important contribution to the air training plan. The value of the A.T.C. as a means of hastening training and of reducing wastage in air row had been readily appreciated and much importance had been attached to the work of that branch of the service. Since its inception, the A.T.C. had provided more than 3000 recruits for the R.N.Z.A.F., more than half of whom were aircrew. Many former cajets had finally passed through Canada as pilots, navigators, or wire-less-operator air-gunners. “The Empire air training plan, a great co-ordinated network extending from flying training stations such as Ashburton to the very heart of the Empire and thence to every storm centre of the war in the air, has put our ascendancy over the enemy in the air beyond challenge and has been primarily responsible for our successes in the war,” concluded Mr Jones. “It will be remembered for all time as one of the foundation stones of victory.”