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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0691.PDF
FLIGHT, 29 May 1953 685 The Queen's Air Forces . . . training school—in the same way as in the R.A.F. Reserve training, also a feature of the current programme, includes an interesting "Chipmunk scheme" by which up to 600 veteran pilots are being given refresher flying and ground training. The R.C.A.F. supplies the Canadian-built Chipmunks and the money; flying clubs provide the actual instruction. Other training schemes include courses for university students (giving instruction up to wings standard for pilots and to a comparable level for other aircrew and groundcrew) and a very close liaison with the Air Cadet League of Canada, which has a membership of over 22,000 cadets. Furthermore, since July 1951, women have been eligible to serve in the R.C.A.F., and several thousand have now joined. In contrast to the members of our W.R.A.F., they fit into the general personnel-pattern, and there is no special women's corps. A scheme has recently been introduced whereby aircrew from various NATO nations are trained in Canada. The first trainees arrived in late 1950, and about 1,400 are now being turned out annually, making the total present aircrew training commitment approximately 3,000 per annum. Apart from the usual activities of any air force, the R.C.A.F. performs duties of a more peaceful nature. Largest of these in terms of strength involved has been the aerial photographic coverage of Canada, carried out by the Lancasters and Dakotas of the Air Transport Command photographic squadrons based at Rockcliffe, near Ottawa. Another valuable responsibility is the R.C.A.F.'s search and rescue organization. The primary object is to fulfil the Dominion's I.C.A.O. commitment, whereby an organization must exist capable of rendering aid to aircraft in distress on the east and west coasts. The scope of the organization has been increased—as a purely domestic arrangement—so as to help aircraft in inland areas, and frequently—where a matter of life and death is involved—crews are dispatched on errands which are not concerned with aircraft at all. A number of doctors, medical orderlies and nurses have been trained to make parachute drops to injured persons. In conclusion, further regular tasks are the flying of aircraft into the arctic conditions of the far north and the maintenance of the Winter Experimental Establishment. Royai Australian Air Force THE first Australian air unit was formed in 1912, when a Central Flying School was established, at Point Cook, with two officers and 50 other ranks. In 1915 the unit was mobilized and sent to Mesopotamia. The following year a squadron left for service in Egypt and Palestine, and by the end of the war three other squadrons were operating in France, backed by a training wing in England. When the Armistice was signed, the entire Air Force was disbanded. Australia had been the only Dominion with her own Air Force : total strength had been about 3,000 men, including 259 pilots, and these between them had destroyed over 400 enemy aircraft. There were 260 casualties, 144 of them fatal. In March 1921, the Force was re-created, utilizing more than 100 aircraft presented by Great Britain as well as a number already available in Australia. Later in the same year the title of Royal Australian Air Force was conferred. A gradual expansion took place, and by 1937 eight squadrons existed, equipped with Wapitis, Bulldogs, and Demons. In the following year orders were given to replace these aircraft by Ansons, Battles and Hudsons, and Australian manufacture of Wirraways (basically Harvards) and Beauforts began. After war was declared, Australia became a major participant in the great Empire Air Training Scheme. Her commitment was to train seven-ninths of her own personnel, the remainder being sent to Canada for instruction. Tiger Moths, Ansons and Wirra ways were used and, later, O.T.U.s were set up. In all, 373O87 aircrew Australians were turned out under the scheme, some of whom served in the R.A.F. and others in R.A.A.F. squadrons. They were in action both in the European theatre and in the Far East. The total number of casualties was 13,988; of these, 10,939- lost their lives. Since the war, Australia has preserved a modern force of considerable size. The total number of regular officers and men employed will soon be 16,000, and to these must be added some 5,000 National Servicemen. Chief of the Air Staff is Air Marshal Sir Donald Hardman, K.C.B., O.B.E., D.F.C. Senior Australian officers are A.V-Ms. [J. E. Hewitt, C.B.E., and F. M. Bladin, C.B., C.B.E. The first Australian Nene-Vampire: Note the intakes for supplying air to Meteors of No. 77 Squadron, R.A.A.F., over typical Korean scenery. Future fighter equipment will be Australian-built Avon-Sabres, the first of which are already under construction; but at the present time squadrons are using Australian Nene-Vampires and a few remaining Mustangs. The two squadrons serving in Malta have English Vampires. One Australian fighter squadron not equipped with Vam pires is the famous No. 77, which has been in operation in Korea since 1950 on air-to-ground fighting and escort work. For a year from July 1950, Mustangs were used, then Meteor 8s were acquired. The squadron was the first non-American or non- Korean unit to take part in the fighting. The tour for pilots is 6-9 months, that for ground personnel naturally rather longer. Turning now to larger aircraft, bomber squadrons have until recently been equipped with Australian-built Lincolns, and one such unit is at present serving in Malaya (a description of a bandit strike in a R.A.A.F. Lincoln is given on page 667 of this issue). Avon-engined Canberras, however, are being built in Australia, and re-equipment with this type is about to begin. For coastal work, Lincolns and Neptunes are used, and transport duties are undertaken by Dakota squadrons, one of which is at present stationed in Japan, whilst another recently completed a tour in Malaya. R.A.F. exchange personnel are serving with some of the Dakota units based in New South Wales. At Mallala, in South Australia, is a squadron equipped with Bristol Freighters and Percival Princes as well as Dakotas, and their aircraft are used for the bulk of the services between Adelaide, Melbourne and the Woomera rocket range. Training for pilots has, until recently, been on Tiger Moths and Wirraways, but two-seat Vampires are now being introduced. For the moment, at any rate, these aircraft will constitute a third stage, and will not be a replacement for Wirraways. It is intended to replace the Tiger Moths, and to this end the Australian- designed C.A. 22 Winjeel has recently been put into production. Royal New Zealand Air Force THE beginnings of an Air Force in New Zealand occurred in 1923, when a small air arm, under the supreme control of the Army, was formed at Wigram. In 1934 the title of Royal New Zealand Air Force was granted, but by early 1936 the total regular force still comprised only 20 officers and 107 men; additionally, however, there was a Territorial Air Force corresponding to our Auxiliary Force. In late 1936, when the international situation was already deteriorating, W/C. the Hon. R. A. Cochrane (lately, as Air Chief Marshal Sir Ralph Cochrane, V.C.A.S. of the R.A.F.) made a tour of the existing units and subsequently submitted a report which led to the passing of the Air Force Act on April 1st, 1937, thus authorizing the R.N.Z.A.F. as a separate force. He became first C.A.S. of the new Service, with the rank of group captain, and the R.N.Z.A.F. still owes much to his organizing ability. A training programme was put in hand, to produce pilots for the R.A.F. rather than for the R.N.Z.A.F., owing to the darkening political situation in Europe. By September 1939, some 300 pilots had been so trained. When war was declared, the Empire Air Training Scheme came into effect, and a large number of pilots were subsequently trained in New Zealand. During the war, six R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons were formed to operate with the R.A.F. in Europe. These units did magnificent work, but New Zealand's greatest contribution was undoubtedly the rear of the compressor. (Right) a Bristol Freighter of the R.N.Z.A.F. "Flight" photographs i r * * SlMlk
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