CALL TO YOUTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 January 1942, Page 4

CALL TO YOUTH

MANNING AUSTRALIA’S AIR FORCE. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SCHEME. In view of the outbreak of war in the Pacific, and the immense importance which the air arm has assumed in modern warfare, the Acting Australian Trade Commissioner, Mr J. L. Menzies, has supplied the following information regarding steps taken in Australia to recruit suitable personnel for the new Air Training Corps which is designed to provide reserves of air personnel to enable the Commonwealth to fulfil her commitments under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

The British Empire wants 70,000 airmen by March, 1943, and Australia, from her seven millions, must provide her share of 16,000 trained air-crew and 27,500 ground staff. The demand does not stop there. After March, 1943, 200 pilots, gunners, observers and wireless operators must be turned out each week for every year of war. To make this output possible, the Cimmonwealth is looking to the youth of the country. Since recruiting began, over 200,000 young men between the ages of 18 and 32 have volunteered for the Royal Australian Air Force and about a quarter have been accepted. Now the organisers of Australia’s part in the Empire Air Scheme, which is drawing the finest types from Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand as well as Great Britain, must look to the future supply.

An Air Training Corps for lads between the. ages of 16 and 18 has been formed to make sure of this, reserve.