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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0838.PDF
MAY 5TH, 1949 FLIGHT 547 SERVICE AVIATION R.A.F. AppointmentT HE Air Ministry announces that A.V-M. VV. E. Theak, C.B., C.B.E., has been appointed Air Officer in Charge of Administration, R.A.F. Mediter- ranean and Middle East, with effect from April 16th. Since October, 1945. A.V-M. Theak has been Director-General of Signals at the Air Ministry. He had previously served as A.O.C. No. 60 Group, and as Chief Signals Officer of Bomber Command. Born in 1898, he was commissioned in the R.F.C. in 1917 and transferred to the R.A.F. in 1918. Cadet Exchange Scheme TpOLLOWING a tripartite conference -*- which was opened by the Secretary of State for Air in the Air Council Room at the Air Ministry on April 27th, details were announced of a three-way inter- change of British, Canadian and U.S. air cadets. In August, 25 members of the A.T.C. will leave for America in the same aircraft that, a few hours earlier, will have brought 25 of their U.S. counterparts of the Civil Air Patrol to this country. In a three-week stay in America the A.T.C. cadets will visit the White House, and the Texas plant where Convair B-36S are produced, spend five days camping in Arizona and fly to Hollywood to meet members of the film colony. A.T.C. cadets in Canada will visit the Northern gold mining area, Ottawa, Montreal, and the Niagara Falls. Simultaneous acti- vities planned for Canadian and U.S. cadets include gliding, and a tour of the British Zone of Germany. W.R.A.F. Cadets QraduateT HE first women to acquire the title of pilot officer,* and the first to receive R.A.F. commissions, graduated from the W.R.A.F. Depot at Hawkinge, near Folkestone, on April 26th. Taking part in the ceremonial parade were the ten graduating cadets and the personnel * Although officers originally commissioned in theW.A.A.F. retain the titles " Assistant Section Officer" and " Section Officer," the equivalentR.A.F. rank titles o\ "Pilot Officer" and "Flying Officer" are being introduced for those commis-sioned since the W.R.A.F. was inaugurated on February 1st. A )5 of the Depot, consisting of one R.A.F. and two W.R.A.F. flights, together some 300 strong. Music was provided by the Central Band of tjie W.R.A.F. from Henlow, which, although in pro- cess of re-forming, gave a competent performance. After inspecting the graduating flight, Air Marshal Sir Arthur P. M. K.B.E., C.B., the Vice-Chief V« of Air Staff, V presented the Certificate of Merit to the best cadet (P/O. E. J. Uren). Sir Arthur was accompanied by Air Com- mandant Felicity Han- fa u r y, the Director of the W.R.A.F., Air Marshal Sir J. W. Wrhit- worth Jones, K.C.B.X.B.E., and A.V-M. C. W. Weedon, C.B., C.B.E., Air Officer Commanding and Senior Air Staff Officer, respectively, of Technical Training Command. Following the march-past, at which he took the salute, the Vice-C.A.S. addressed the newly commissioned offi- cers iri the O.C.T.U. lecture room. In coming on to the R.A.F.'s '' board of manage- ment," he said, the cadets would find that their responsibilities would in future be greater than their privi- leges. He advised them to undertake their new- careers as officers in a General Spoatz, Air Marshal Sir Alan Lees and Mr. C. D. Taylor, President of the Canadian Air Cadet League, who took part in the confer- ence on the Cadet exchange scheme outlined on this page. P/0. E. J. Uren, who was awarded the Certificate of Merit at the Hawkinge porade. Royal Air Force and Naval Aviation News and Announcements AIRBORNE EXCHANGE: An R.A.F. Dakota recently provided means of changing the guard at Berlin, when troops of the Royal Norfolk Regiment were replaced by the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. spirit of "organized unselfishness." Hawkinge, which is the only station under the command of a W.R.A.F. officer (G/O. N. Dinnie), is responsible for training women officers and N.C.O.s, and also provides refresher courses for re-joining N.C.O.s The syllabus of the three-month O.C.T.U. course is parallel with that of the R.A.F. officer training -wfeblishment at Spitalgate, except for the inclusion of such subjects as " cur- rent affairs '' in place of arms drill and fieldcrait. Candidates for commission- ing are at present selected from serving airwomen, or those who are profession- ally qualified in certain occupations, but me allowing direct entry into the may be introduced later. Service experience of last week's graduating entry—varying from one to nine years—should stand its members in good stead. R.A.F. Rifle Team's Success IN the final shoulder-to-shoulder shootbetween 28 divisional team cham- pions at Baker Street Station on April 23rd, the City of London Rifle League Challenge Cup was won by R.A.F. Station Biggin Hill. The trophy, which is valued at 500 guineas, has thus been won by a Service team for the first time in 39 years' competition. Each team claimed a handicap before shooting. Scores of the Biggin Hill team were: A/C. Abbot, 99; W/O. Hey- wood, 98; Cpl. Kennedy, 97; F/L.
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