SYSTEM EXPLAINED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 63, 17 March 1943, Page 4

SYSTEM EXPLAINED

COMMISSIONS FOR AIR-CREW ) PERSONNEL J (P.A.) Wellington, March 16/ In an interview, Air-Commodore L. M. Isitt, who shortly will take up the duties of Deputy-Chief of Air Staff, explained the system of granting com-' missions to air-crew personnel. Many New Zealanders could not understand, he said, why non-commis-sioned pilots should have commissioned officers as members of their flying crew, and why such pilots should not themselves be granted commissions. Given a specific case, an answer could probably be supplied, said AirCommodore Isitt. It was difficult to generalise, but it has now been agreed that all pilots who were considered suitable for commissioning and who are so recommended by their commanding officers would be granted a commission after they had spent a reasonable period on operations. It must not be supposed that a non-commissioned officer could not receive a commission. Very large numbers of n.c.o.'s were being commissioned. To be considered suitable for a commission, however, a pilot must show that he had more than ability to fly. In particular, a pilot must show qualities of leadership and organising ability. Air-Commodore Isitt pointed out that it was possible that in some cases commissioned members of a crew might be considerably more experienced than non-commissioned pilots. They might be. in fact, gunnery leaders or navigation officers checking up on the ability of the crew. "It is of interest that more responsibility is being placed on other members of air crews." said Air-Commo-dore Isitt. "We find that to-day observers are commanding flights and, in due course, may command squanrons. It is a mistake to think pilots occupy the place of greatest importance in air operations. Other aircrew' personnel have equal, and at times even greater, responsibilities. They work as a team and the question of rank is not necessarily related to their duties as individual members of the team.” <