MOUNTING STRENGTH

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 86, 22 August 1941, Page 5

MOUNTING STRENGTH

Dominion Air Forces

AUSTRALIA’S EFFORT

The steadily mounting strength of the Dominions is reflected in recent news of the Australian and South African air programmes. Australia’s export of aeroplanes in 1942 will exceed £12,000,000 in value, with a total production value of £20,000,000, according to Mr. John Storey, Commissioner for Aircraft Production.

A large percentage of the aircraft produced wil be Beaufort medium torpedo bombers, the fastest of their type in the world.

The opening of additional schools is enabling a constantly increasing number of Australian airmen to be trained in their own country. The ground crews are now trained entirely in Australia. One-fifth of the pilots and a quarter of the air gunners, observers, and wireless operators still finish their training in Canada under rhe Air Training Scheme, and some are sent to Rhodesia, but these proportions are growing less.

Speaking at the coming-of-age of the South African Air Force on Monday, Field-Marshal Smuts said South Africa which started the war with an air force of only one squadron and a total of 1500 pilots and mechanics, today had over 2000 pilots and additional personnel of at least 25,000, of which about 3000 were women.

In co-operation with the British Government South Africa was building up a far more powerful air force which would involve a total of 50,000 men and women.