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FORCE
 Issued on the authority of
THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF
Royal Canadian Air Force
Vol. 7, No. 11 DECEMBER 195 5

* * * CONTENTS * * * This Month's Cover

page
A Message from the Minister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A Message from the C.A.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
ARTICLES # ',% ·
North of Fifty-Four. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Memoirs of a Canadian in the R.A.F.: Part Ten . .
3
7 • d' \
Clear Writing..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Party Line: Ground-Crew Selection in the
R.C.A.F...................................
15

18
y kl}kt
-iyt 'i4
"What Possibilities We Had!". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
What is Air Power?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Erected outdoors during the
REGULAR FEATURES Christmas season of last year, this
What's the Score?. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . ... . . . . .. 26 Nativity scene was designed, con-
structed, and painted by the per-
Pin-Points in the Past.... . . .... ... ......... .. 28 sonnel of R.C.A.F. Station Sea Island.
R.C.A.F. Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . . 37 It was floodlit after nightfall, and
Christmas carols were played through
Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . 47 a concealed amplifier connected with
o record-player in the nearby firehall.
MISCELLANY
No. 22 Wing Girls Step Out... . . . . . . . . . . .... .. 14
New Air Cadet Badge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Band Competition at Baden-Soellingen. . . . . . . . . . 24
A Yule-Tide Pelt from Shatterproof.... . . . . . . . . 25
Jet Decibels..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Progress Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
The "Sky Lancers" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
"But What Good Came of it at Last?"... . . . . . . . 41
Submerged Canopy Ejection..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Royal Co-operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ·. 46
Cold Stern Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
EDITORIAL OFFICES:
Leadership...........---··-··-·······-····.. 47
Team-Work Saves Sabre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ··. 48 R.C.A.F., Victoria Island,
Ottawa, Ont.

Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa.

 John Griffin Library

l #lessage from
the {llinister

The Royal Canadian Air Force throughout 1955

continued to build for the defence of Canada. You
formed new squadrons and put them in the air,
and you strengthened the Air Force at home in
many other ways. You made excellent progress on
the early warning radar systems, and you streng-
thened the Air Division beside our N.A.T.O. allies.
These are achievements in which you may well
find satisfaction. The excellent accomplishments
of this year are the result of hard work and devo-
tion to duty, and I sincerely commend you for
your achievements.
Let us always keep foremost in our minds the
reasons for these efforts the need for constant
vigilance in a troubled world. You work and fly
that men may live in peace and security.
At Christmas-time we are reminded afresh of
life's values which we cherish and guard. Among
the greatest of these is peace, to which you are
dedicated. So to all members of the R.C.A.F.
and your families, at home and abroad, I extend
my warmest greetings for Christmas and my
sincerest wish for a peaceful, happy New Year.

(Ralph Campney)
Minister of National Defence
 tlye

ccasion on which I have had

the opportunity, in these pages, of wishing my
comrades in the R.C.A.F. a Happy Christmas and
a Prosperous New Year. For most of us, the hopes
of 1953 and 1954, have, by God's grace, been
fulfilled beyond our expectations. The first two
years have been happy and prosperous to a
degree probably never surpassed in our country's
history.
This past year has also seen significant advances
in the cause of world peace, advances that point
encouragingly towards a better and more secure
life for all people of all races. We may take great
heart from this fact and feel proud of our contri-
bution to it. Let us hope that the progress that has
been so patiently achieved will continue on into the
future.
To the Service and Civilian men and women of
the R.C.A.F., and to their families, I send my
heartfelt wishes that for them this Christmas may
be a joyous one, and that the New Year may
bring happiness and prosperity.

(C. R. Siemon)
Air Marshal
Chief of the Air Staff

2
 By Flight Lieutenant J. D. Harvey, D.F.C., Air Transport Command.

hE aircraft of Air Transport Command have been C-119 freight-carriers. Two A.T.C. squadrons,
penetrating the Arctic Circle ever since the Com- No. 435 at Edmonton and No. 436 at Lachine,
mand's early days as No. 9 (T.) Group, in 1947. now join forces on the job. In the spring and fall of
Lately, however, the growing interest in Canada's 1955 the re-supply operations airlifted more than
Northland has added impetus to flights tracking a million and a quarter pounds of all types of
360 degrees. The northern shores of Canada cargo.
remain uppermost in the minds of defence During these flights, landings are made on ice-
planning-teams when they. discuss the most strips or crude runways scraped out on land. The
probable routes for bombers in the event of
Four litters are set up in an Otter about to leave on a
another war. mercy flight
A.T.C. bases at Resolute Bay (74°N.) and
Frobisher Bay (64°N.) are among the most
northerly bases operated by the R.C.A.F. Goose
Bay, Lab., considered a far-northern base during
the Second World War, has now become only a
semi-northern station.
k k k
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Leading A.T.C.'s parade of northern flights is
No. 426 Squadron, based at Lachine, P.Q., which
operates the only Canadian scheduled run as far ,
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er
I
north as the above mentioned latitudes. Twice-
monthly flights to Resolute Bay, carrying supplies
and personnel, are supplemented when necessary
by special flights.
No. 426 Squadron also carries out many special
I
operations throughout the year to the joint U.S.- s ,, .
Canadian weather stations, R.C.M.P. detach-
ments, and Dept. of Transport weather and radio
bases, scattered throughout the Arctic. Among
these operations, of course, are the annual Christ-
mas supply drops.
The spring and fall re-supply of the arctic bases,
formerly carried out by No. 426 Squadron only, ,,
has been handed over to squadrons equipped with - A
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 The squadron's shoran (short-range navigation)
programme, which it began in 1949 and which has
been carried out simultaneously with its photogra-
phic work, now needs but two more summers to
finish its complete chain of shoran stations, and so
lock the map firmly into world charts.
The past summer proved a big one for No. 408
in that it photographed the last remaining portion
of Ellesmere Island which had escaped the cam-
era's eye for more than thirty years. Each summer
the Lancasters, Cansos, and Otters take to the
field, operating small detachments wherever ade-
quate landing facilities exist. Contouring and
profile-recording, by means of radar, have recently
® 3 been added to their work. No. 408 was responsible
~ for photographing the entire Mid-Canada Line
'·T
"® preparatory to the actual installation of the
radar sites. It has also used Dakota aircraft,
equipped both with wheels and skis, to make a
comprehensive on-the-spot survey of the entire
Arctic pixies. Line, taking ground parties into the actual radar
operating-sites for soil and topography checks,
and conducting tests to determine the thickness
spring-time landings are usually made on the sea- of ice and snow. This winter, ski-equipped Dakotas
ice, while the autumn re-supply runs, when the will back up the main civilian airlift of Mid-
ice is not thick enough, use the land-strips Canada Line materiel.
Although such landings call for extreme care and The Cansos of No. 408, still droning dependably
skill, they are not considered unduly risky. over the Northland, have now discontinued their
Lately, however, landings have been made during former summer task of magnetic operations
the dark periods, with make-shift lighting usually (tracing the North Magnetic Pole), but they con-
provided by flarepots fashioned from tin cans. tinue to give support to shoredetic (coastal land)
With this type of illumination, approaches and and shoran survey parties. The Canso air crew
landings over high hills on to small runways make
for extremely tricky flying. The treeless wastes.
In any summary of northern flying, No. 408
(Photographic) Squadron, based at Rockcliffe,
Ont., should be given special mention. Much of
our northern flying would be greatly curtailed
without the excellent maps and charts which are
now used as a matter of course, but which did not
exist six or seven years ago. No. 408 has, in fact,
opened up Northern Canada not only for the
aviator. but also for civilian business as well.
Mining and forestry, to mention only two indus-
tries, have been enormously aided by the accurate
maps produced from the thousands of aerial prints
taken each summer by No. 408.
4
 and the taking of National Defence College and
Staff College students on the tours which form
part of their respective courses. Before the
unfortunate grounding of the Comets, however,
No. 412 Squadron carried out many northern
flights in co-operation with Air Defence Command
and its radar units across the Pinetree Chain.
No. 435 Squadron, based at Edmonton, carries
out scheduled runs to Whitehorse, stopping at
Fort Nelson. It also takes care of the winter sup-
port runs into Cambridge Bay, on Victoria Island,
An Otter landing on choppy water. to supply the Winter Survival School. In addition,
the squadron supports the Army units stationed in
Western Canada throughout their many northern
manoeuvres.
have visited more virgin territory than any other Over on the other side of the continent is Goose
R.C.A.F. air crew during their many trips to Bay, Labrador, another A.T.C.-controlled base.
remote areas of the North. Landing the big am- Although much of the flying is done by the
phibians in the uncharted waters of the arctic U.S.A.F., which occupies half the base, the
islands takes no mean degree of skill. R.C.A.F. flies many hours on mercy missions and
The winter months find A.T.C.'s Lancasters emergency flights of various kinds. For such pur-
on regular scheduled ice-reconnaissance patrols poses it uses a Dakota (on wheels and skis) and
throughout the Arctic. Such flights demand navi- an Otter (on wheels, skis, and floats). Lately the
gation of a high order, and in this regard the Goose Bay flight has concentrated on those mercy
R.C.A.F. has been largely self-sufficient. Constant
use is made of the Twilight Computer and other Arctic detachment. Norseman and Canso aircraft of
No. 408 Squadron.
devices designed by Wing Commander Keith
Greenway three or four years ago.
Arctic flying in the R.C.A.F. owes much of its
present efficiency to the in-line Merlin engine,
whose unmistakable growls have brought reassur-
ance to everyone living in those treeless regions.
The Merlins of our Lancasters and North Stars
have actually been started, without preheating of
any kind, at temperatures as low as 45° below
zero.
No. 412 Squadron, now based at Uplands. does
not ignore the Arctic, although its flights into
areas above the Circle are less frequent than those
of the other squadrons mentioned. Training flights
are carried out as far north as the Pole, with
landings usually at Resolute Bay, Thule (Green-
land), and Goose Bay or Coral Harbour. The ;

scheduled Dakota flight to the R.C.A.F. unit at ~

Fort Churchill has been deleted from the squa- ;±
dron's list of duties. Its chief tasks are, at present, »
the airlifting of "V.I.P.s" throughout the world
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 out the north. Quartered at Bagotville, P.Q.,
No. 108 has been training its pilots on H-19 and
H-21 helicopters and has been charged with lifting
the fuel supplies (delivered to lake-head sites by
civilian contractors) to the actual radar sites of
the Mid-Canada Line. The Flight has conducted
two cross-country runs on the Mid-Canada Line,
carrying scientists on their top-priority work. This
winter, No. 108 will be busy airlifting construction
men and materials into each site.
Not long ago the Flight began to make use of
H-34 Sikorsky helicopters, the big brothers of the
A Janesway hut being erected by R.C.A.F. personnel already proven S-SSs. With more than thirty
during a joint Army/R.C.A.F. exercise. pilots, No. 108 is now the biggest helicopter opera-
tor in Canada, and the majority of its work is north
of fifty-four.
Another A.T.C. unit, No. 1 Overseas Ferry
missions which are beyond the range of civilian Unit, crosses part of northern Canada during its
operators in the area. Since the civilians have only "Random" operations across the Atlantic. Res-
single-engined aircraft, the R.C.A.F.'s Dakota ponsible for the delivery of jet fighters to No. l
takes care of the flights into Baffin Island and the Air Division, No. 1 O.F.U. goes through Goose
Hudson Strait area. Bay, Greenland, and Iceland. Since its aircraft
Moving back towards the centre of the conti- cross the 64th parallel of latitude, it is, in effect
nent, we find another A.T.C. detachment at Fort carrying out one of the R.C.A.F.'s most northerly
Churchill. Equipped with Otters, this unit con- single-seater fighter operations.
ducts searches, emergency evacuations, and Also periodically engaged in northern flying is
limited tactical operations throughout the region. No. 4 Operational Training Unit, located at
Operating over the barren lands north of Churchill, Trenton. Each course must participate in flights
its aircraft roam as far afield as Baker Lake. to Goose Bay, Whitehorse, and overseas and,
In the past year, helicopters of No. 108 Com- when time permits, it usually manages to cover
munications Flight have begun operations through- Churchill and Resolute Bay as well.

4al' upon
,«Tse Rour° ,¢ +he
yessed Ir {e views ±s-
views ®",g%ts are" 3,% net ne®,
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 emoirs of a Canadian in the
R.A.F.
PART TEN
By Wing Commander A. L. Bocking, D.F.C.

(Part Nine of these memoirs brought us to Greece in the winter of 1940, before the inter-
vention of Germany so disastrously turned the tide of that particular phase of the war.
EDITOR.)

[% was inevitable, I suppose, that some of my old A Sunderland flying-boat brought me from
Middle East friends should have ended up in the Suda Bay, in Crete, to Alexandria. The sight of
Postings and Careers Branch at Air Ministry. that sweeping waterfront, the tall white buildings
That, anyway, was my immediate thought when, glistening in the brilliant sunlight, and the awe-
on 1 December 1940, I was suddenly promoted to some might of His Majesty's Mediterranean Fleet
the rank of Squadron Leader after only eleven riding at anchor in the West Harbour, gave me a
months as a Flight Lieutenant. Another possible sense of security and personal well-being that had
reason may have been the fact that a promotion been missing for many a weary day.
would necessitate a posting and a posting would I planned only a short stop in Alexandria before
reduce the number of Canadians in No. 30 Squad- proceeding first to Ismailia, in order to pick up
ron by one. Such a reduction must certainly have my wife, and then on to Jerusalem, where I would
been a relief to the "Old Man", who liked Cana- get my feet planted under a solidly anchored desk.
dians individually, but who probably not
The author leading a raid on Damascus.
without very good cause found us a bit trying
collectively. After all, pilots who, when faced with
the choice, would rather go on a raid than visit
the Acropolis on an organized sightseeing-tour,
were open to suspicion.
Be that as it may, I was about due for a posting
after having been on operations almost conti-
nuously since October 1938, with only brief
periods of respite in what I considered to be the
more dangerous occupation of all, that of instruct-
ing. So, in the spring of 1941, I was posted back
to the country I knew so well Palestine. I was
to be Senior Air Staff Officer to the A.O.C.
Palestine and Transjordan, Air Commodore S. D.
Cully, D.S.O.
7
 later, as they were driving along the Rue Negrelli,
Ismailia's main street, he leaned over with a leer
and said: "Madame, ·may I kees you?" No French
scholar, my wife none the less managed to convey
to him rather forcefully the immediate necessity
that he "ouvrez the ruddy porte and scram, if he
! ~ valued continued possession of his dents." It must
s y- <+st&el have been quite a scene.)
To get back to money matters I paid a visit
< v- " I to the bank manager. He was a rather pompous
individual, and he immediately treated me to
# a lecture on the thoughtlessness of young officers
who left their wives with very little money and
,__. then went gallivanting (his very word) off to
Greece! I caught the drift of his dissertation long
before it ended, and it came as no surprise when he
A Blenheim shot down by Vichy French fighters over announced in a voice of doom that a healthy over-
Bey routh, June 1941. draft existed and what was I going to do about it?
Eventually, a bit of financial juggling sorted things
out more or less satisfactorily, but the interesting
That desk was a symbol and a dream. Over many fact emerged that it appeared from records that
an enemy target I had said to myself, over and not one cent, piastre, or penny of Middle East
over, "Let me get home just this once more. Let allowances had been deposited to my account
me get my feet firmly settled under an H.Q. desk. since I had set foot in Greece. H.Q. Cairo later
Then never again!" Well, I had it now a confirmed that this was so: "After all, old boy,
desk located in a splendid office on the top floor of the Balkans isn't the Middle East, you know.
the swank King David Hotel, with picture- There's no regulation to cover such payments."
windows overlooking the Mount of Olives. I This bit of chicanery was matched only by the
determined that my first action would be to visit a Army pay-system that cut off the soldiers' Middle
very expensive tailor and order a new uniform of
the best and lightest-colored gabardine in his A Blenheim at dispersal in Palestine.
stock. Thus accoutred, I would join the "gabardine
swine" in their rounds of cocktail parties in the
backwaters of the war.
Thoughts of new uniforms, however, brought to
mind the inevitable question of finances. Before
going to Greece, I had arranged for my rather
miserable Middle East allowances to be paid into
an Alexandria bank. This money, upon which my
my wife could draw in addition to her personal
allowance, was just sufficient to keep the four-
legged kind of wolf from her door while I was in 0
Greece. (With the two-legged variety she seemed
well able to deal. On one occasion she stopped to
pick up a "Free French" officer in her car to give su %
him a lift to Ismailia. He accepted the offer with a
small bow, and climbed into the front seat. A little
8
•

"
ua
,
East allowances every tim e they advanced out of R.A.F. had two stations in Iraq: one at Habbani-
Egypt into Cyrenaica. One is tempted to wonder yah, forty miles west of Baghdad, and one at
whether some of the early retreats from Benghazi Shaiba, near Basra. There were no operational
may have been caused, not by the Italians or squadrons based in the country at that time: the
Rommel, but by pressure from home that neces- largest R.A.F. unit was No. 4 FT.S. at Habbani-
sitated a quick withdrawal across the Egyptian yah. Iraq was then under the regency government
border and back into the land of Middle East of the Emir Abdulla Ali. A change of government
allowances in order to ward off a third enemy in brought into power Rashid Ali Ghailani, who was
the form of financial disaster. known to British Intelligence to be in the pay of
k k the Axis. Behind Rashid Ali were four Iraq Army
generals with pro-Axis leanings, popularly known
We arrived in Jerusalem by train. The slow trip as the 'Golden Square''.
across the Sinai Desert to Lydda, and then through From these events arose the attack on Habbani-
the Judean hills over the twisting line to Jerusa- yah which took place on May 1st. Soon the whole
lem, brought back many memories of the days of Iraq was aflame. The Regent fled to Basra and
(how remote they seemed!) when I had flown air- took refuge on a British warship, whence he was
cover over this very train during the Arab rebel- flown to Lydda, in Palestine. On May 4th, I was
lion. But now all was quiet. Jerusalem was a haven ordered to proceed to Lydda to fly the Regent, in a
of peace in a world of turmoil. My wife and I Proctor aircraft, to H4, a pipeline landing-strip.
moved into a cool and pleasant pension, and There he had consultations with other refugee
settled down to a routine existence. members of his deposed government, and later the
Air Commodore Cully was an excellent boss. same day I flew him to Amman, in Transjordan,
He had earned his D.S.O. in the First World War where he was met by the Emir Abdullah.
for shooting down a Zeppelin over London. Like The Iraq troubles, while no direct concern of
Air Commodore Collishaw, he was a Canadian our H.Q. in Jerusalem, resulted, before they were
who had remained in the R.A.F. He set himself the finally quelled, in the appearance in Vichy-
task of making some sort of a Staff Officer out of controlled Syria of German aircraft being ferried
me, and, if he succeeded to any degree at all, it through to Iraq. This did concern us. and we
was a powerful tribute to his own administrative began to take a good look at our operational
ability. My new duties as S.A.S.O., of course, airfield situation. It was not good. We had recently
required that I have a secretary. My wife got the completed an airfield with hard-surfaced runways
job, and, in modern parlance, we never had it so at Aquir, near Tel Aviv, and we also had the civil
good. Nevertheless, within a month I was bored airport at Lydda. This latter we now took over. and
stiff and started a determined campaign to get I was appointed as C.O. during the take-over
back on operations. It took five months to do it, period. A determined effort was made to find other
and all that eventually turned the trick was the suitable locations for landing-strips. To this end I
growing unrest in the Arab countries. was given a group of engineers, an aircraft requisi-
Trouble arose in Iraq, Syria, and Iran (in that tioned from Palestine Airways. and instructions to
order). Iraq had been mandated to Great Britain- survey the country and write an appreciation on
a mandate that had ended with Iraq's admittance the airfield situation in Palestine.
to the League of Nations in 1932. After the war A word about the aircraft we used. It was a
began in 1939, the Iraq government broke off Short ''Scion Senior'', a high-wing monoplane
diplomatic relations with Germany, but did not with fixed undercarriage and four Pobjoy engines
declare war. Iraq did not, however, break off of about 90 h.p. each. It was a lovely aircraft to
diplomatic relations with Italy when that country fly, and I believe it served as the original flying
entered the war; and in 1941 the Italian Legation model for the Short Sunderland flying-boat.
in Baghdad was a hive of anti-British agents. The (There also existed in Palestine at this time a
9
Short ''Scion Junior'',with two Pobjoy engines.) subject weren't too crystallized, but I believed it
Before the survey was finished, my already fairly to be an American aircraft. I added that it didn't
comprehensive knowledge of the topography of really matter, though; if it had wings, I'd be glad to
this country had been greatly enhanced. I came fly it. The Air Commodore's ensuing remarks led
to know every village and nearly every stone as we me to think that he pictured the Tomahawk as a
visited the far corners of the country by 'plane or twin-engined fighter. When I ventured to suggest
car. I also received my first lesson on how to get on that it was a single-engined fighter, probably built
in the Service. I worked hard on the paper-work by Curtiss, he instantly floored me by saying:
of my report, and, with sound advice and help from ''Bocking, you're a Canadian. Tell me, what is a
the Air Commodore, I was able to present a Tomahawk?' I said that, to the best of my
reasonably sound and detailed appreciation to knowledge, it was a sort of Indian axe. He pressed
H.Q. Cairo on the Palestine airfield situation. his point. "But what kind of an axe, eh? A two-
Imagine our chagrin when, about four weeks later, headed axe, what? So two heads, two engines."
we received from Cairo a verbatim copy of my Against such irrefutable logic I was lost. As it
report, signed by a Group Captain, with a cover- happened, No. 3 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron got the
ing letter stating that the attached report, pre- Tomahawks (one engine), and I became C.O. of
pared by experts of the H.Q. staff, was forwarded No. XI Squadron, which was equipped with
for our information and action! I promptly Mk. IV "long-nosed" Blenheims (two engines).
redoubled my efforts to get back on operations.
k k k
k j

Towards the end of May, the Air Commodore I took over command of No. XI squadron on
called me into his office. He stared at me fixedly 6 June 1941, at Aquir. I did a 20-minute circuit
through his monocle and said: "How would you and bump to become familiar with this type of
like to command a Tomahawk squadron?" I aircraft and also to get to know my new crew,
replied immediately: "Yes, Sir." He studied me Sgts. Mason and Winship. Two days later, and on
for a moment, then said: "Do you know what a our second flight with No. XI Squadron, we led
Tomahawk is?' I admitted that my ideas on the nine Blenheims on a bombing-raid against the
Vichy French aerodrome at Damascus. The team
of Bocking, Mason, and Winship was a happy one.
The Residency of General Dentz after the
raid on 29 June 1941. We eventually flew more than fifty raids together,
and somewhere along the way His Majesty was
kind enough to honour us, as a team, by awarding
the D.F.M. to Winship and Mason and a bar to
my own D.F.C.
Our first bombing-raid on Damascus was the
opening of the air offensive against the Vichy
French in Syria. As long as Syria lay open to
German forces, Palestine and the vital Suez Canal
were in danger. It was a war for aerodromes; and
the British, for once, struck first. Anglo-French
forces converged on Syria, making their main
thrust up the coast towards Beyrouth. We
bombed around the clock; and No. XI Squadron
was over Syria every day but three from the 8th
until the 31st of June. July was just as hectic,
culminating in a victory flight of 27 3in:eims
10
from Nos. 211, 45, and XI Squadrons on July The only way to be inconspicuous in such a
16th. picture was to barge in in a stealthy manner. We
Syrian operations were entered into at least, turned on our navigation lights and joined the
by the Blenheim crews with a rather casual circuit. When our turn came, we signalled a '"B"
disregard for the opposition. Most of us were (which was our legitimate call-sign) and promptly
veterans of the Western Desert and Greece, and received a green light from the No. 1 flare, giving
we felt that this campaign would be a breeze. us permission to land! As I swung into the cross-
The Vichy French Air Force, small as it was, wind leg and got ready for my final turn, Sgt.
quickly disabused us of that idea. After three Mason armed the four 250-pound bombs and made
Dewoitine fighters had sliced upwards from Bey- ready to drop them. At about 600 feet, I opened
routh and shot down three aircraft out of a nine- both engines wide, swung over the line of hangars,
Blenheim formation, despite the presence of a and let go the bombs. The results were most
(rather lax) fighter escort, we began to take things satisfactory. As the lights winked out around the
more seriously. airfield, the hangars blazed up, and the following
This small theatre of the Second World War Blenheims made their bombing-runs over a
was a real Mad Hatter's Party. On 28th June, we thoroughly disorganized bunch of Vichy French-
were briefed for a raid on the fort at Palmyra, in men. We tried the same procedure the next night,
Northern Syria. I, as a Canadian, was leading a but with no success: the whole area was as black
British squadron normally stationed in India. Our as the pit.
J
target was a French fort held by soldiers of the
Foreign Legion who were in turn being attacked on The harbour and the oil storage tanks at Bey-
the ground by the Transjordan Arab Legion led routh were among our favourite targets. Beyrouth
by Glubb Pasha, a British brigadier. In the air, we itself was an open city, and we avoided dropping
were given fighter escort by No. 3 Squadron of the bombs on the civilian population. On June 28th,
Royal Australian Air Force flying American however, upon our return from a raid on Palmyra
Tomahawks (one engine), and over the target we Fort, we found a most distinguished visitor await-
were attacked by American Mary lands. Normally ing us at Aquir. Air Marshal Tedder, the A.0.C.-
light bombers, the Marylands were now being in-C. of the Middle East, had flown in from Cairo.
used as fighters by Vichy French pilots. He had a special target for us in Beyrouth -
Marylands from the aerodrome at Aleppo General Dentz's official residence.
were making the odd raid on our oil installations General Dentz was the Vichy French com-
at Haifa. It was decided to return the compliment mander, and he was certainly a worth-while
by bombing the Aleppo strip just as they were target. The Residency was, unfortunately, right
returning to land. Accordingly, on the night of in the centre of the Beyrouth residential area.
June 10th, we took off individually, about three Air Marshal Tedder briefed us personally. After
minutes apart, and set course for Aleppo. As we poring over photographs of the target area, and
passed Haifa, we could see A.A. fire and multi- having noted the fact that the Residency faced a
coloured tracer and incendiary arching up into the race-course (a circumstance that would take care of
sky, so we knew that the Vichy aircraft were any bombs which might overshoot or hang up
active. After a two-hour flight we arrived in sight momentarily), I was able to assure him that we
of the enemy aerodrome. The place was lit up like could guarantee to hit the Residency without
a Christmas tree. A full moon clearly outlined the damage to other civilian areas. I asked for, and
mountains in the background, the hangar lights received, permission to bomb from 3.000 feet, with
were on and the hangar doors open. The flare-path four Blenheims in diamond formation all bomb-
sparkled gaily in the blackness of the airfield, and ing on the leading bomb-aimer, Sgt. Mason. I also
several aircraft, with navigation lights a-twinkle. got nine Tomahawks of No. 3 (R.A.A.F.)
were signalling impatiently to land. Squadron as fighter escort to keep the Dewoitines
I
 off our necks. W e bom bed with four 250-pound customary to display them on the notice board for
bombs each a total of sixteen bombs -- with a week or so in order that the recipients' friends
short delay fuses in order to permit penetration of could append their opinions of such faithfulness.
the Residency roof before they exploded. The letters could then, at the discretion of the
The raid went well. Of the sixteen bombs, thir- owners, be sent back to their originators. Most of
teen went through the roof, one exploded in the the comments, however, were of such a nature that
courtyard in front, one fell on the race-course, and it was too dangerous to send them through the
one failed to drop at all. Thanks to imperfect mails; and they remained, yellowing with age, as
intelligence, we missed the General by fifteen a reminder to succeeding generations of the fic-
minutes, but his staff was sadly depleted and his kleness of the female heart.
Residency was gutted. I understand the General All sorts of tricks were tried in order to get a
was very upset. I met him later in Jerusalem, posting back to the U.K. before completion of a
where he was being held in custody in the King tour of duty. One of the more elaborate was that
David Hotel, but I did not mention the incident. of the airman who appeared on the tarmac at
In an aerial offensive lasting some five weeks, Shaiba one morning, complete with fishing-rod.
the R.A.F. destroyed or damaged four fifths of the He sat himself on the hood of a Hucks starter,
opposing air force at a total cost of twelve aircraft. and, as the sun crept up and the temperature
On July 12th, an armistice ended the whole un- climbed into three figures, he continued to cast out
happy business. Lebanon and Syria were free of on to the blazing tarmac and then slowly reel in
Germans, and a cleaner tricolour waved over a his line. Despite the urgings of his buddies, he
new Residency in Beyrouth. General Dentz went refused to come into the shade. Eventually he was
back to France, where he was arrested in Paris in removed to the hospital by force, but any attempt
September 1944, tried, and condemned to death. to deprive him of his fishing-rod resulted in
His sentence was subsequently commuted, and he hysteria.
died in prison in 1945.
k *

The first week of August, 1941, saw No. XI

Squadron packing up for a move to Iraq. On
August 15th, the air party took off for Habbani-
yah, while the ground party, several hundred
strong, began the long haul by truck across the
desert road to Rutba Wells and thence by the old
caravan trail towards Baghdad and Habbaniyah. = H in
By August 20th we were well settled in. Our ,.
I A.O.C. was an officer whom some of us knew well "IA' ,
I
.J
from the Greek days, Air Vice-Marshal D' Albiac.
Iraq, earlier known as Mesopotamia, was a A
'1
country that most of the old-timers liked to stay
I away from particularly during peace. No wives 7

:1 were allowed, and girl-friends left in England

I seemed to find it very difficult to remain faithful 's
·"2-.°-
and true for the two long years during which their
Air Force boy-friends or fiances had to remain in
Mesopotamia. "Dear John" letters (then referred
··
·-=, ?

er
to as 'Mespots") were frequent, and it was - - . :. --
12
 i<
For several days, while the medicos watched
!
suspiciously, he cast out and slowly reeled in over
the foot of his hospital bed. Finally they decided
he was really "round the bend'', and he was put
on a road-convoy heading for Egypt and Port
Said. All the way across the desert his escort
watched him cast out into the desert, then slowly
reel in. Finally, he was marched up the gang-
plank of the troopship Somersetshire. Half-way
up he stopped, heaved a happy sigh, and tossed
his fishing-pole into the greasy water. The escorts
were astounded. "Don't you want your fishing No. XI Squadron moving from Syria to Iraq.
pole?'' they asked. "Not bloody likely, old boy!"
he replied, as he stepped on to the deck of the
"Blight y "-bound ship. "I've got what I've been The other squirmed. ''But, Sir "
fishing for." The A.V.M. cut him short: "I asked you what
I should mention that I had been promoted to you called me."
Wing Commander (June 1941) on assuming com- ''But but-"
With some finality the A.V.M. said: '"Stop
mand of No. XI Squadron. One of my officers, a
Squadron Leader, was a most gullible gentleman
making noises like a motor-boat. This is an order.
Tell me what you called me!"
on whom people just loved to play practical jokes.
Sadly, and with an air of resignation, the Squad-
Spurious telephone calls, purporting to come from
ron Leader gave up the unequal contest. "A
the A.O.C. personally, would send him scurrying
bloody fool, Sir," he blurted.
around doing the most unlikely jobs. It was clear
There was several seconds of pregnant silence.
to everyone else that the calls came from jokesters
Then the A.V.M. said: ''You may leave now.'°
in the other two Blenheim squadrons, Nos. 45
When the door had closed, he turned to me with a
and 211, but eventually the inevitable happened:
twinkle in his eye. "Do you think he needs any
one day the A.O.C. did 'phone him. That, of
further punishment?' I said quickly that in my
course, was the occasion when the Squadron
opinion sufficient punishment had already been
Leader decided to smarten up, and his reply to
meted out: and the matter ended there. As on
the A.O.C. ("Don't be such a bloody fool, old
several previous occasions. I was moved to reflect
boy!") and the slamming-down of the receiver
privately on the curious fact that the more senior
really started the wires humming.
an R.A.F. Air Officer became, the more human and
My instructions to report forthwith to the
understanding he seemed. Or perhaps that was
A.O.C.'s office, bringing the guilty wretch with
why he got to be an Air Officer in the first place.
me, came as no surprise. We sat in the outer office
for nearly three quarters of an hour, during which
time the Squadron Leader talked away to himself,
rehearsing what he was going to say. Passers-by On August 25th, operations against Persia
looked at us suspiciously as he stared off into space, began. It had become clear that, if the hard-
mumbling "Of course, Sir, I didn't realize ..", pressed armies of the U.S.S.R. were to hold the
"I've been in the air all morning, Sir ... ", and Germans, British and American supplies were
other similar gambits. badly needed. To that end, the route through
Eventually we were ushered into the presence. Persia must be kept open, and, so long as Persia
The A.V.M. fixed the Squadron Leader with a remained a field for enemy activities, this route
stern eye. was in jeopardy. An Anglo-Russian ultimatum
'·What did you call me on the 'phone?" was followed by joint military action. While the
13
Russians moved in from the north, British fo rces On the evening of August 26th, a combined
landed at the head of the Persian Gulf. force of Blenheims, constituting the greater part
My squadron supported these land operations of No. 3 Squadron and led by No. XI, carried out
and carried out several pamphlet-raids. One of the a raid on a reported concentration of 10,000
longest raids we were to make took place during Persian troops in the Pai Tak Pass. We were
this campaign. Taking off from Shaiba, twelve carrying 1,000 lbs. of anti-personnel bombs on
strong, we set course for Isfahan, in the interior of each Blenheim, and, as I gave the order to
Persia. We flew over some of the most rugged release this load of destruction on the troops and
country it is possible to conceive. After dropping tents huddled so far below in the shadows of the
pamphlets on Isfahan, we set course south for deep valley, it crossed my mind that I had never
Shiraz. The area between these two cities was actually seen a Persian.
shown on the maps as a flat blank area with The Persian campaign came to a successful
"unsurveyed" written across it. The barren stone conclusion on August 28th, 1941, and it was with
peaks, devoid of vegetation, life, or even snow, some relief that, soon after this date, we received
reached more than 10,000 feet into the air. We our orders to move back to the Western Desert.
were glad to find Shiraz, and set course for home. Greece and Crete, Iraq, Syria and Persia-all these
When we arrived back at Shaiba, after five hours campaigns had passed into history since we had
and ten minutes in the air, we agreed that the originally left the Western Desert; and it was
country over which we had just flown was the almost like going home.
wildest and most desolate we had ever seen any-
where in the world. (Go be concluded)

No. 22 Wing Girls Step Out

A drill team of airwomen from No. 22 (Aux.)
Wing carried off the Jesse Clewlow Trophy on 1 7
September Warrior's Day at London's
Western Fair. The trophy, donated by Mr.
Clewlow, a veteran of the First World War, is
awarded annually for the best marching by
Service women's units on the Warrior's Day
Parade. Also competing were W.R.E.N.s from
H.M.C.S. Prevost and C.W.A.C.s from Wolseley
Barracks. The Air Force girls were members of
No. 3049 Technical Training Unit and had
recently returned from their summer training.
Flt. Sgt. MacIntosh directed the preparatory
two weeks' drill sessions, while Cpl. Terry Peers
relentlessly beat away on the drum during re-
hearsals.
Our photograph shows (left to right): L.A.W.
A. Duncan, Flying Officer F. Rapley, Cpl. F.
Mahoney, and Cpl. K. Gilleno.
14
 It is worthy of note that again and again the
TH E W RITT EN W O RD
term "scribe" or "writer" has been synonymous
]_oc before the discovery of the telephone, the with 'civil servant''. The Honourable East India
telegraph, the teletype and radio, the written word Company governed India for many years: their
was, next to speech, the most basic means of com- civil servants were known as ''Writers to the
munication. Ancient civilizations crystallized their Honourable East India Company". Even today,
culture and their law on stone, so that a permanent the classification of "writer" in the Navy provides
record could be established and referred to. the basic training for commissioning in the Ad-
Others put their official rulings on brick, so that ministrative Branch of the R.C.N.
they could be filed. (It would appear that, in Many famous men have stated that the greatest
those days, the preliminary qualification for a basic invention underlying our civilization was
filing clerk was an extremely strong back!) the development of the printing press. This dis-
In earlier times speech alone had served to pass covery brought about the widest dissemination of
custom and law from generation to generation, the written word. It is a fact that we have hardly
which inevitably caused great changes in interpre- any record of the speech, manners, customs, or
tation through the years. In this respect the writ- laws of our ancestors during the Dark Ages. One
ten word was immeasurably superior to speech, of the major reasons for this great gap in our
and it is noteworthy that many of the great direc- history was the loss of the art of making writing
tives that founded our civilization, because they materials, and the consequent deterioration of
were written, have come down to us today scholarship and government. When we came into
practically intact. the Middle Ages, and paper and inks again became
The discovery of paper, in the ancient form of available, civilization again flourished, and with
papyrus, and an indelible form of ink, went hand Caxton and his press it flourished at a rate unique
in hand with the greatness of the ancient Egyptian since the ancient Greeks.
civilization, a brilliant era famous for one of the Let us remember that today this Department is
most efficient civil service organizations in partially operating on directives written by
history. During the Roman Age, even the heads parliaments and civil servants now dead. Their
of departments were technically slaves of the written word still lives.
Emperor, but they gained great power for them-
DICTATION
selves by the invention of a shorthand method
known only among the scribes. They operated a You will remember that during your course you
saw a short movie on the subject of ''Dictation".
vast civil service organization by means of
minutes and memoranda in this secret shorthand. This picture gave some very graphic interpreta-
15
 tions of the main "don'ts" on this subject. There ...GLUMPH SLG ERGH
was the man who could not find his previous cor- ELSKH SHOON ALSTY
SHNEESH....
respondence and had only the haziest idea about SNEW PARAGRAPH...
what he wanted to dictate; there was the speed-
shark with the 200-word-a-minute delivery; the
mumbler "bumbling" away behind his cigar; the
walker, aiming dictation out of the window, at the
walls, the carpet, everywhere except at his secre-
tary; the man who liked to day-dream while giving
dictation; the one who held a stenographer through

• lengthy telephone calls; and all the others. These

scenes represented definite dictation errors which
] occur often in many offices. Here is a resume of
the constructive facts on dictation that we dis-
cussed at the time.
Be clear and decisive, both in thought and
speech. The worst dictation of all is a series of
frantic little rushes, mixed up with vague correc- constantly while dictating. It will help your steno-
tions, such as, "No, I don't mean that" or "Wash grapher to accustom herself to your methods, and
that out," etc. Such remarks leave a stenographer will increase your speed and clarity of thought.
uncertain as to how much is cancelled. Take a good look at your present method of
Remember the difficulty of making insertions in dictation and consult your stenographer. You may
shorthand notes. find that unknowingly you have allowed one or
Instruct the stenographer to tell you if the more "little habits" to creep in, which not only
dictation is too fast or too slow. Aim at a pace and make the work more difficult for the person accept-
tone that is fairly even without being a monotone. ing your dictation, but which also may cause you
If you have a piece of straight reading occurring yourself to be annoyed by a seeming lack of effi-
in the middle of dictation, read the extract at a ciency in your stenographer.
slow pace, otherwise you may jump from 70 or 80 No stenographer can efficiently take down
words a minute to 130. shorthand at speed in an uncomfortable position:
Give names, place-names, references, technical have the stenographer seated within easy hearing
terms, and unusual terms slowly, as they are distance.
normally taken down in longhand. State the number of copies required, always
The amount of punctuation detail that should be remembering to order as few as possible as a saving
given depends on your material and the ability of in time and paper.
your stenographer, but you should always indicate Give the stenographer full instructions about
paragraphs, sub-paragraphs, and sub-sub-para- spacing and general layout.
graphs. If you are dictating a short letter or simple
Help your stenographer by indicating the draft,' you should be able to dictate without notes,
urgency and priority of your work, and by provid- or at the most from a few key words jotted down
ing letters or files so that addresses and references in orderly sequence. If the matter is long or com-
may be verified. plicated, you should dictate from a skeleton of
Always remember that stenography is a difficult paragraph numbers and headings, with important
and exacting job, and that helpfulness and con- or complicated sentences jotted down in rough.
sideration can make the difference between good If possible, give the stenographer the document
and poor stenographic work in your unit. to copy rather than dictate a piece of straight
Adopt permanent procedures which will be used reading.
16
 AS SHE IS WRITTEN
Not inappropriate for publication as an error which was not noticed."
appendix to Mr. Wood's foregoing article, is When Sgt. Backhoe, the Foreman of Works, re-
the following Jetter from Flt. Lt. R. W. ceived the letter in the Orderly Room, he seriously
Butcher, of No. 14 Training Group H.Q., believed that it had been written sometime during
Winnipeg. the early years of the Air Force, when "boys" were
in vogue, and he almost referred it to Personnel
Not long ago we received from Flying Officer
Staff before he realized that it was a construction
Manhole, the Construction Engineering Officer at engineering letter.
a western unit, a rather remarkable communica- That evening, over a much-needed pre-prandial,
tion, which I quote in part:
he arrived at the conclusion that the structure
"2. Please find attached the a/m A for P revised under discussion was a refuelling tender garage
and re-estimated ask requested in accordance with and that para. 2 should have read " ... as re-
drawing SK-32-11-1,for officers and nine boys only. quested, in accordance with drawing SK-32-11-1;
"3. The original estimate should have read for offices and nine bays only." It apears ironic
$32,916.00 and not 9,216,00 due to a typigraphical that para. 3 apologized for a typographical error.

NEW AIR CADET BADGE

A new official badge, approved by Her Majesty r;
the Queen, has been presented to the Royal
Canadian Air Cadets. The Chief of the Air Staff
made the presentation recently to Mr. George Will,
president of the Air Cadet League of Canada.
The badge is surmounted by St. Edward's
Crown and is supported by a wreath of ten maple
leaves, representing the ten provinces. Across the
centre of the badge is a falcon which, being a ?
smaller bird than the eagle, symbolizes the re-
lationship between the Air Cadet movement and
the R.C.A.F.
The new badge will be used on all official docu-
ments and publications of the League, and it may
be worn on blazers by League members. It will
not, however, be worn on the Air Cadet uniform.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal C. R. Slemon,

C.B., C.B.E., compares the new Air Cadet badge with
that of the R.C.A.F. Or left: Mr. G. A. D. Will,
President of the Air Cadet League of Canada.
17
 GROUND-CREW SELECTION IN THE RC.A.F.
By Pilot Officer S. G. French
(In December 1954 we published an article entitled "Air Crew Selection in the R.C.A.F.",
by Sqn. Ldr. E. P. Sloan, C.O. of No. 1 Selection and Training Analysis Unit. The present
article is, in effect, its sequel. The writer wishes to acknowledge the considerable assistance
he has received from both Sqn. Ldr. Sloan and Sqn. Ldr. G. L. Robertson, O.C. No. 1 Personnel
Selection Unit (Airmen).-EDITOR.)

R.C.A.F. PERSONNEL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

the Directorate of Personnel Manning, located in
'[,% .c.A.F. operates two distinct personnel Ottawa at R.C.A.F. Headquarters. This Direc-
production systems - one for air crew (officers), torate controls twenty-two R.C.A.F. recruiting
and the other for technical tradesmen (airmen). units which are located in cities throughout
The aim of both systems is to produce personnel, Canada. Although their primary function is pro-
in specified numbers, who meet with specified curement, they are also responsible for the pre-
performance standards. The R.C.A.F. personnel liminary stages of the selection process.
production systems involve interrelated procure-
ment, selection, classification, assignment, and Procurement
training processes. These factors are so closely All military organizations are, when recruiting
interrelated that a change in any one process pro- personnel, governed by a number of factors and
duces effects throughout the whole system. conditions. What number of personnel will be
Organizationally, both R.C.A.F. personnel pro- allowed by a compromise between the national
duction systems consist of three basic elements. budget and the country's defence requirements?
As an individual progresses through either of these What is the size and distribution of the available
systems he reports to a recruiting unit, from which manpower pool in the country?
he proceeds to a personnel selection unit, and The R.C.A.F. is endeavouring to establish and
thence to training schools. The only element com- maintain an unprecedented peace-time strength.
mon to both systems is the R.C.A.F. recruiting The population of Canada is relatively small
organization. At recruiting units candidates are compared with that of other major powers.
divided into air crew and ground crew. Air crew Canada is a bilingual country, and French is the
candidates proceed to the Personnel Selection language spoken by a large proportion of its
Unit (Officers), P.S.U. (O.), at London, Ontario, people. For the R.C.A.F., in which the operational
and then to aircrew training schools. Ground crew language is English, this means bilingual recruit-
candidates proceed to the Personnel Selection ing and selection procedures, and - later
Unit (Airmen), P.S.U. (A)., at St. Jean, Quebec, language training. Military service in Canada is
and then to appropriate training schools. The voluntary; hence, the R.C.A.F. is in direct com-
organization of the two systems is shown in Fig. 1. petition for manpower with the other Canadian
Services and with the ever-expanding and pros-
R.C.A.F. RECRUITING UNITS pering industrial and professional life of Canada.
Responsible for the procurement of manpower Two principal methods are used to interest
for the R.C.A.F. personnel production systems is qualified young men and women in joining the
18
R.C.A.F. These are advertising on a national and
local scale and an extensive personal contact
programme conducted by serving personnel. By
means of newspaper, magazine, radio, and televi-
sion advertisements, and by contact with members
of the R.C.A.F., young men and women are
encouraged to apply at one of the R.C.A.F.
recruiting units. The process of selection begins
even at this stage of the proceedings, when the
people who are considering joining apply to them- 4, r
selves those prerequisite qualifications which are
listed in the advertisements. Documentation at the Reception Centre, R. C.A.F.
Station St. johns.
Selection
The individual who voluntarily applies at an
R.C.A.F. recruiting unit has already selected All more complicated tests and interviews are
himself as an applicant. He has probably compared left until the recruits arrive from the recruiting
those qualifications which are stated in the adver- units at the Personnel Selection Unit (Airmen).
tisements with his own qualifications. Recruiting
PERSONNEL SELECTION UNIT (AIRMEN)
advertisements specify only very broad standards
of acceptability which the applicant may impose Airmen and airwomen who have been accepted
upon himself during the process of self-selection. for technical training at recruiting units are sent
The next step in selection is when the self- to R.C.A.F. Station St. Johns, St. Jean, Quebec,
selected applicant is interviewed by an officer at near Montreal. With the exception of those who
the recruiting unit. In this interview the officer require instruction in the English language, per-
determines which type of training the applicant is sonnel spend the first eight weeks of their Service
interested in, and confirms from the applicant's careers at St. Johns. During this period they are
personal documents whether or not he or she processed through P.S.U.(A.) and undergo basic
satisfies the minimum requirements for such military training at No. 2 Manning Depot. The
training. If this check is satisfactory, the applicant recruits requiring instruction in English are
removed from the main flow of the course after
is given an intelligence test (known as a Classifica-
the first four weeks. They are given basic language
tion Test) and a medical examination. The mini-
training at the R.C.A.F. School of English, which
mum score on the R.C.A.F. Classification Test for
is also located at Station St. Johns. When they
ground crew applicants at the present time is 31.
are sufficiently proficient in English to take further
At this stage acceptance-rejection decisions are training they are injected into that course which
based on characteristics for which relatively is currently beginning its fifth week.
simple objective methods of assessment are avail- The operation of P.S.U.(A.) is closely co-
able and for which rigid cut-off levels may be ordinated with that of the other two units at St.
established. For example, an applicant who gets Johns. Its staff is responsible, not only for the
less than 31 on the Classification Test, or who assessment of candidates, but also for their selec-
cannot meet the minimum eyesight requirement tion, classification, and assignment. The proce-
for ground crew, is immediately dismissed. The dures of P.S.U.(A.) are integrated with basic
problem of standardization dictates that no military training throughout the eight-week period.
attempt be made, other than through the inter- During his or her first week at St. Johns the new
view, to assess interests, personality defects, or recruit is processed through the Reception Centre.
temperamental suitability. Here the initial issue of clothing is made, and the
19
 PERSONNEL SELECTION
UNIT (OFFICERS) - AIRCREW TRAINING
SCHOOLS

RECRUITING UNITS

PERSONNEL SELECTION
UNIT (AIRMEN) - TECHNICAL TRAINING
SCHOOLS

Fig. 1. The two personnel production systems.

many documents are completed. This first week success and satisfaction and in which he will
also finds the recruit writing the series of tests contribute most capably toward the efficiency of
known as the Airman Classification Battery. He the Service. In this sense classification is a positive
then proceeds to No. 2 Manning Depot, where he process where the emphasis is on maximum
undergoes basic training in all aspects of the economy in the use of available manpower
Service from drill and general Service knowledge resources.
to a series of lectures and movies designed to Selection and classification, as carried on by
enlighten him on the various types of training and PS.U.(A.), is divided into five phases:
employment available in the R.C.A.F. I. Airman Classification Test Battery.
2. Medical Selection (Personality).
Selection and Classification 3. Assignment.
4. Interview.
Selection may be defined as the process whereby S. Trade Information.
a total group of applicants is divided into two sub-
I. Airman Classification Test Battery.
groups: those who are considered acceptable for
Approximately thirty technical training courses
service in the R.C.A.F., and those who are to be
are given by the R.C.A.F. Graduates from many
rejected and returned to civilian life. Selection in
of these basic courses are further subdivided and
this sense is essentially a negative process where
given advanced specialist technical training. An
the emphasis is on the elimination of unsuitable
material. The term classification" differs from unskilled airman or airwoman entering the
"selection" as defined above. It can, indeed, be R.C.A.F. must be given training in one of the
viewed as the reverse process of selection. Instead basic trade schools before he or she can be em-
of comparing the measured characteristics of the ployed in any capacity.
man against established standards (as in selection), The present R.C.A.F. Airman Classification
classification compares the requirements for va- Test Battery has been in operation since 1951.
rious trades against the measured characteristics The battery consists of five pencil-and-paper tests:
of the man. Theoretically, in classification, all the mechanical knowledge, clerical aptitude, rapid
people under consideration are suitable for service calculation, science information, and spatial rela-
in one trade or another. The problem is to place tions. By means of weights (developed through
each individual in the particular area of employ- pass /fail validity analyses and multiple regression
ment wherein he will achieve maximum personal techniques), scores of these tests are combined to
20
yield three aptitude indices: clerical, electronic, In the R.C.A.F., quotas are unstable, and require-
and mechanical. The majority of trades in the ments for the different trades and branches of the
R.C.A.F. have been grouped in one or the other of Service may differ each week. Such instability is
these three aptitude clusters. reasonable, since operational plans and commit-
These tests measure aptitude or kind of ability. ments change with every development in strategic
There is another breakdown made within each or tactical techniques and with every change in the
aptitude cluster in terms of amount of ability international situation. An important factor is the
(i.e. intelligence) required. On the basis of validity recognition that assignment has priority over both
data for the Classification Test, trades have been selection and classification. Selection standards
categorized as requiring either ''A, ''B", or "C" may be lowered when requirements are large and
levels of ability. The application of the results of raised when requirements decrease. Classification
these tests will become more explicit later when may produce quite valuable information which
we discuss assignment and give an example. will have to be ignored or even contradicted when
2. Medical Selection (Personality). A per- R.C.A.F. requirement quotas do not agree with
sonality assessment is formulated on all trainees in the numbers that have been placed into trades on
an endeavour to determine their suitability as the basis of classification data.
permanent members of the R.C.A.F. While at When aptitude indices and ability levels have
PS.U.(A.), they complete a psychological ques- been computed, this information, along with
tionnaire which is called a Personal Inventory. certain background data, is presented oil a "test-
The answers which the trainee puts to the ques- ing and assignment record card" (see Fig. 3) to
tions on the Personal Inventory are clarified by a the Assignment Officer. This officer uses the
process of medical screening done by the Medical following pertinent factors for evaluation: physical
Selection Officer. The M.S.O. rates the recruit in fitness, educational background, age, previous
terms of his emotional and temperamental suita- Service and civilian employment, temperamental
bility for Service life. suitability for Service life, learning-ability as
3. Assignment. Assignment is the term which indicated by testing, aptitudes as indicated by
has been chosen to cover the process whereby testing, and the requirements of the R.C.A.F.
selection and classification information is inte- The problem of assigning 200 men and women to
grated with Service requirements. Assignment is a approximately 30 different trades in order best to
non-technical administrative task, the purpose of further the efficiency of the Air Force is a very
which is to ensure that the proper flow of trainees complex one.
into trade schools is maintained so that opera- The two-dimensional classification system which
tional commitments may be met on target dates. he uses is illustrated in Fig. 2. All trades fall into

Fig. 2. Classification of R.C.A.F. Trades.

APTITUDE AREA
ABILITY
LEVEL. CLERICAL MECHANICAL ELECTRONIC

B X
C

21
 TESTING AND ASSIGNM ENT RECORD CARD MD Crse ..
PRE -INT E RVJE W
Rank Init. Name TEST RESULTS APTITUDE AREA
wmsee,3/6 '54 rsr MECH. 4£ <kek
2 _
Age 1$36 xr
Ru.(G/NP cAT KxXXx
XXXX I. 0. Re commendation
pate Ears1.{946._55. \sR
sauce. 82 209D SAS R.CAL • 4z \[@
RU/cr Sc
IPSU(A)/CT SI C D
Pers Inv"A" 4? Ability Index
APTITUDE AREAS 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 17 18
"B11 __ ~rf'~-- Clerical
CVN CDS CDU Electronic
fiE G E Eif sYRs. Mechanical

ASSIGNMENT AREA
TRADE,
DATE Assignment Officer (Over)

Fig. 3. Testing and Assignment Record Card.

one or other of the nine squares shown in this the meeting of quotas, all reassignments are
diagram. Aptitude indices and ability level subject to his confirmation.
derived from the testing programme are available 5. Trade Information. Trade information is
for each recruit. Airmen or airwomen can only be given both before and after assignment. During the
considered for assignment to trade training in first and second weeks of basic training, the recruit
those trades for which they possess both the receives trade information lectures from P.S.U.(A.)
minimum aptitude and minimum ability levels staff officers. By means of the film "Ground Crew"
established by R.C.A.F. Training Command (see "The Roundel", May 1954), specially pre-
Heardquarters. pared for the R.C.A.F. by the National Film
The Assignment Officer makes a tentative Board, the trainees are given an insight into the
assignment of each recruit, which he enters on the make-up of the Service trades to which they may
individual's assignment record card. This, in turn, be assigned. This film is followed by more lectur-
is passed on to the Interviewing Officer. ing, projected pictures, and discussion, in order to
4. Interview. When the tentative assignments provide the recruits with as complete a picture as
have been completed, each candidate is interviewed. possible. In the past, at this point in the trade
The interviews are conducted in a friendly and information programme, the recruits were given
informal atmosphere. The primary purpose of this a trade preference form upon which they listed, in
interview is to inform the candidate of the trade order of preference, the four trades that most
to which he has been assigned. The interviewer interested them. This method is no longer followed,
attempts to stimulate the candidate's interest in because it was found that the recruits would base
the chosen type of training so that he will be their preference on personal factors ("My friend
successful in his training during the ensuing is going to be an A.F. Tech., so I want to be an
months. It is possible for the candidate to be
A.F. Tech.") rather than on abilities and aptitudes
reassigned if he wishes, as long as the change will
of which they themselves were not aware.
be beneficial for himself and for the Air Force.
Nowadays, after the recruit has been assigned
Because the Assignment Officer is responsible for
to the trade which will best advance his own and
22
the R.C.A.F.'s efficiency, he is given further trade
information on his own particular trade. In cases
where it is possible, recruits are taken to view
their own newly assigned trade in operation at
Station St. Johns. Those trades (mostly technical)
which are not exemplified at St. Johns are repre-
sented to the recruits by means of elaborate static
displays.
The trade information lectures and training aids
are designed to give the recruit a picture of the
ground-crew team working together to carry out
the R.C.A.F.'s primary function flying. In
doing this, it is hoped that the recruit will leave
St. Johns highly motivated to make a success of
his training for himself and for the R.C.A.F.
Flying Officer A. R. Erwin supervises recruits during
trade test at R.C.A.F. Station St. johns.
SELECTION AND TRAINING ANALYSIS UNIT
Since this system was introduced, a continuous
check has been maintained on its predictive written the six P.S.U.(A.) tests named above. He
efficiency. Vitally important in the improvement has obtained the scores recorded on the Testing
of selection and classification techniques is the and Assignment Record Card (Fig. 3).
work done by the Selection and Training Analysis His Classification Test score is recorded as 51
Unit, at R.C.A.F. Station Toronto. The function and is converted into an Ability Index "B" by
of S.T.A.U. is research in the development and using a conversion chart (not shown here). The
refinement of selection and classification tech- raw scores (R.S.) of each of the five aptitude tests
niques, and a continuous validation of the Airman are recorded in the first column from the left. In
Test Battery. This unit follows the progress of all the next column these scores have been converted
airmen and airwomen in order to see how accu- into stanines, also by means of tables not shown.
rately the R.C.A.F.'s tests do in fact predict For instance, A.C.2 P. Marshall received a raw
success, not only on the trade courses, but on the score of 46 on his Mechanical Knowledge Test and
actual job. this has been converted to a stanine of 7.
The results achieved with the present relatively The stanines are then transferred to the appro-
simple classification system have been very satis- priate spaces in the Aptitude Area columns. The
factory. Continuous experimentation with new reader can see that, under each column (Clerical.
test materials, such as the U.S.A.F.'s ACB Electrical, and Mechanical), three of the five
Tests, has been conducted. The results of these squares have been blocked out. This is because it
studies indicate that little if any increase in has been worked out that the two squares left
predictive efficiency would be gained by elabora- blank represent those two tests which, in combina-
tion of the present system. In other words, the tion, provide the greatest predictive efficiency for
system now in use at P.S.U.(A.) is working well for the particular aptitude concerned. Marshall's
the R.C.A.F.'s current plans and commitments. Occupational Indices are obtained by adding the
stanines in each aptitude area column. As may
CONCLUSION be seen, he has a clerical aptitude of 8. an elec-
Let us conclude this study by giving a hypothe- trical one of 11, and a mechanical one of 14.
tical example of the assignment of an airman to a
The term 'stanine'', which is used to describe aptitude ratings, is a con-
trade. Assume that the airman has already passed traction of the cumbersome expression 'standard nine-point scale''
St@nines are computed by dividing the range of scores for a test or group
through the recruiting unit in Regina and has of tests into nine intervals.

23
 square marked ''X". Among the trades available
To be considered eligible for training in a trade,
in this square are those of Munitions and Weapons
an airman should have an occupational index of at
Technician, Aero-Engine Technician, and Air-
least 5 in the area in which the trade has been
listed. Marshall has an occupational index of 14 frame Technician. The Assignment Officer, using
in the mechanical area, and his ability index is the methods and criteria listed above under
'B". Therefore, with reference to the chart Assignment, decided that A.C.2 Marshall would
showing the classification of R.C.A.F. trades best satisfy his own desires and capabilities, and
(Fig. 2), we discover that A.C.2 Marshall is best the requirements of the R.C.A.F., by assigning
qualified for assignment to training listed in the him to the trade of Aero-Engine Technician.

BAND COMPETITION AT BADEN-SOELLINGEN

Last September witnessed (and heard) the first
inter-station band competition of Canada's Air
Division. Locked in diatonic conflict were the
bands from Nos. 2, 3, and 4 (Fighter) Wings and
No. 30 Air Materiel Base.
But despite the blares, thunderings, and
chimings of the R.C.A.F.s trumpets, drums, and
glockenspiels, the show was almost stolen by the
fifes and drums of a boys' band from the nearby
town of Buehl. Though No. 4 Wing's band has
played in Buehl on a number of occasions, this was
the first time that the talented group of eight-to-
twelve-year-olds had put in a guest appearance on
the station. They performed with a gusto and a
precision that brought them enthusiastic applause
from the large audience.
Sgt. J. W. G. Fortier receives the trophy from Wing
Cdr. ]. F. Allan.

]]® 'g
@@er of the boys' band is_congratulated by Sqn.
r. ..A.Kirkwood, the R.C.A.F.'s Supervisor of Music.

'P The band of No. 4 Wing, playing on home

ground, won by a narrow margin, and the hand-
some trophy was presented to Bandmaster Sgt.
f;;.
w. G. Fortier by the station's acting C.O.,
ing Cdr. J. F. Allan. The pipe band of No. 1
Wing,, n ow stationed
t · at Marville, was unable to
compete, on account of a sudden outbreak of polio
in the Marville area.
(Flying Officer T. D. Nelson.)
7pp''he Commissionaire stopped me at the entrance it was brought by a little Eskimo character
~ to Victoria Island. "Got something for you, driving a dog-team. Gave him quite a turn, it did."
Sir," he said; and disappeared into the Guard
He paused, eyeing me thoughtfully. "He's a
House. Emerging a moment later, he handed me
through the car window what appeared to be the teetotaller, too, George is. Got a silver plate in
skin of some small fur-bearing animal. "It came his head." I have not yet had a chance to question
last night, not long after quitting-time," he said. George, but this is what was revealed when I
''George he's the chap that was on duty says unrolled the skin. EDITOR.

Map blubber neber be lacking in pour

igloos, anb may the reat p-spirit
keep the seal-oit eer ffotuing in the
stobes of pour prosperity
'

25
 ?
(Here is the second instalment of Sgt. Shatterproof's several thousand questions about
the Commonwealth of Nations. In the Jetter with which they were enclosed, he remarks:
'As you will note, Sir, this month I am pottering around in the Pacific. I regret the occasional
intrusion of my own family into this series, but the record of history may not be ignored."
The answers, also supplied by the old potterer, appear on page 48.--EDITOR.)

6. Australia was probably first sighted by white

1. The land-surface of the earth is roughly
men in 1522, but the first systematic explora-
52,000,000 square miles, of which the Com-
tion of its coast was made by:
monwealth's 600,000,000 people inhabit about
(a) Captain James Cook (1770).
14,435,000. Canada's share of the total area is: (bo) Dirk Hartog (1616).
(a) 6,000,010 sq.m. (c) Henry Shatterproof the Navigator (1654).
(b) 3,845,144 sq.m. (d) William Dampier (1699).
(c) 2,565,482 sq.m.
(d) 1,997,633 sq.m.
7. A programme of assisted immigration to
2. Spurred, no doubt, by the example of Six- Australia (from Great Britain) began in:
Brush Shatterproof, the Botticelli of Beaver (a) 1788.
Bend, several distinguished artists formed (b5) 1912.
(c) 1840.
themselves into the Group of Seven, Canada's (a) 1867.
first "national" group of painters. Not one of
them was the celebrated artist:
8. During the First World War, 400,000
(a) Tom Thompson.
(b) Frederick Horseman Varley. Australians enlisted out of a population of less
(c) A. Y. Jackson. than five million. By the end of 1939, the
(d) Lawren S. Harris.
population had grown to almost 7,000,000.
3. Nor, among the names of Canada's poets, is Australia's gross enlistment during the Second
that of: World War was:
(a) Louis Fr&chette. (a) 401,800
(b) Oliver Goldsmith. (b5) 850,000.
(c) Frederic Horseman Varley. (c) 993,000.
(d) "Tekahionwake." (d) 605,000.
4. Australia (which includes Tasmania) has a
population of almost 9,000,000. It possesses 9. Suggested by the name of Australia's largest
two cities: city was the name of:
(a) Inhabited entirely by "black fellows"- i e b (a) The now-obsolete aircraft, the Vickers Victoria.
gines. · · a on- (b) Dame Nellie Melba (Mrs. Helen Armstrong).
(6) Which have (between them) 47 theatres devoted to (c) Britain's Jet bomber, the Canberra.
hve drama. (d) lorence Austral, the operatic singer.
(c) Each of which contains less than lOOO p 1
(d) poth of which are larger in population ', ener
greater Montreal or greater Toronto (ac di 10. 234,000 New Zealanders either voluntarily en-
the 1951 census). accor mg to
listed or w ere ca ll ed up during
. the Second
5. The area of Australia is approximately: World War. The country's present population
(a) 870,563 sq. miles less than Canada's. is about:
(b) Twice that of Ontario (363,282 sq. miles) (a) 3,400,000.
(c) Half that of Canada. ·
(b) 2,102,580.,
(d) 654,862 sq. miles greater than that of Quebec (c) 4,200,000.
(523,860 sq. miles).
(d) 2,450,000.
26
11. Although Tasman sighted the Southern Alps covered by the British 199 years later. A
of New Zealand in 1642, Captain Cook was the much-publicized island in this protectorate is:
first white man to circumnavigate its two (a) Midway.
islands (1769-1770). The people whom he (b) Guadalcanal.
(c) Leyte.
found there, the Maoris, now number about (d) Guam.
100,000. They are related to the:
(a) Mongolians. 16. Pitcairn Island, a tiny British colony (2 sq.
(b) Melanesians. miles) mid-way between Australia and
(c) Indo-Europeans.
(d) Polynesians. America, was first settled in 1 790 by mutineers
from H.M.S. Bounty, a vessel commanded
12. Of the 80 seats in New Zealand's House of by the celebrated Captain:
Representatives, the number held by Maoris (a) Nordhoff.
(b) Laughton.
is: (c) Christian.
(a) 4. (d) Bligh.
(b) 0.
(c) 8.
(a) 15. 1 7. The total area of the archipelago known as the
New Hebrides is about 5,700 sq. miles. It is
13. Closely allied (racially) to the Maoris are the administered by an Anglo-French con do-
50,000 natives of the Tonga (or Friendly) minium. A distinguished visitor in 1790 was:
Islands, a self-governing British protectorate (a) Our old friend Captain Cook.
(b) Captain Laughton, after being set adrift in an open
with an area scarcely larger than the Isle of boat by the Bounty's mutineers.
Man. Ruled by their sovereign in accordance (c) Captain Bligh, after a similar experience.
(d) Captain Nordhoff, in search of material for a book.
with a democratic constitution, the Tongans
are completely autonomous: 18. Hong-Kong, with a population of 2,250,000 is:
(a) In all matters. (a) A British protectorate.
(b) Save in time of war. (b) A British colony and leased territories.
(c) Except that British consent is required to the em- (c) Held by Britain in trusteeship.
ployment of Europeans in the Tongan government (d) An independent republic allied with Britain.
service.
(d) Apart from the fact that they may not make use of 19. In volume of trading, the second largest stock
the Tongan Air Force for commercial transport in
international air-lanes. exchange in the world is that of:
(a) London.
14. New Guinea, an island about 100 miles north (b) Hong Kong.
(c) New York.
of Australia, is divided politically between (d) Toronto.
the Nether lands and the Commonwealth.
Australia holds the trusteeship of 93,000 sq. 20. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands, scattered over
miles. Such a trusteeship: 2,000,000 sq. miles of ocean, have a combined
(a) Is held, under an agreement with the United area of only 369 sq. miles. Though, with one
Nations, on behalf of a backward people. exception, all of them are mere coral atolls,
(b) Is a form of absolute rule.
(c) Entitles its holder to certain commercial rights in the natives are remarkably evolved politically.
return for an annual payment to the Crown. The official discoverers of the islands were:
(d) Obliges the territory in trust to furnish the U.N.
with a predetermined number of men in time of war. (a) The various British naval officers who sailed those
waters between 1764 and 1924,
15. The British Solomon Islands, first visited in (b) Captains Laughton and Bligh.
1568 by Alvaro de Mendaria, were redis- (c) Captain Cook and William Dampier.
(d) Captains Gilbert and Ellice.

JET DECIBELS
The sound creatd by twenty-six jet planes warming up is roughly equivalent to that made by 1,000
symphony crc±sit.: +wring simultaneously, according to a study by the United States Navy. (''The
New Ye+ T:35° )
 ?
(Here is the second instalment of Sgt. Shatterproof's several thousand questions about
the Commonwealth of Nations. In the Jetter with which they were enclosed, he remarks:
'As you will note, Sir, this month I am pottering around in the Pacific. I regret the occasional
intrusion of my own family into this series, but the record of history may not be ignored."
The answers, also supplied by the old potterer, appear on page 48.--EDITOR.)

6. Australia was probably first sighted by white

1. The land-surface of the earth is roughly
men in 1522, but the first systematic explora-
52,000,000 square miles, of which the Com-
tion of its coast was made by:
monwealth's 600,000,000 people inhabit about
(a) Captain James Cook (1770).
14,435,000. Canada's share of the total area is: (bo) Dirk Hartog (1616).
(a) 6,000,010 sq.m. (c) Henry Shatterproof the Navigator (1654).
(b) 3,845,144 sq.m. (d) William Dampier (1699).
(c) 2,565,482 sq.m.
(d) 1,997,633 sq.m.
7. A programme of assisted immigration to
2. Spurred, no doubt, by the example of Six- Australia (from Great Britain) began in:
Brush Shatterproof, the Botticelli of Beaver (a) 1788.
Bend, several distinguished artists formed (b5) 1912.
(c) 1840.
themselves into the Group of Seven, Canada's (a) 1867.
first "national" group of painters. Not one of
them was the celebrated artist:
8. During the First World War, 400,000
(a) Tom Thompson.
(b) Frederick Horseman Varley. Australians enlisted out of a population of less
(c) A. Y. Jackson. than five million. By the end of 1939, the
(d) Lawren S. Harris.
population had grown to almost 7,000,000.
3. Nor, among the names of Canada's poets, is Australia's gross enlistment during the Second
that of: World War was:
(a) Louis Fr&chette. (a) 401,800
(b) Oliver Goldsmith. (b5) 850,000.
(c) Frederic Horseman Varley. (c) 993,000.
(d) "Tekahionwake." (d) 605,000.
4. Australia (which includes Tasmania) has a
population of almost 9,000,000. It possesses 9. Suggested by the name of Australia's largest
two cities: city was the name of:
(a) Inhabited entirely by "black fellows"- i e b (a) The now-obsolete aircraft, the Vickers Victoria.
gines. · · a on- (b) Dame Nellie Melba (Mrs. Helen Armstrong).
(6) Which have (between them) 47 theatres devoted to (c) Britain's Jet bomber, the Canberra.
hve drama. (d) lorence Austral, the operatic singer.
(c) Each of which contains less than lOOO p 1
(d) poth of which are larger in population ', ener
greater Montreal or greater Toronto (ac di 10. 234,000 New Zealanders either voluntarily en-
the 1951 census). accor mg to
listed or w ere ca ll ed up during
. the Second
5. The area of Australia is approximately: World War. The country's present population
(a) 870,563 sq. miles less than Canada's. is about:
(b) Twice that of Ontario (363,282 sq. miles) (a) 3,400,000.
(c) Half that of Canada. ·
(b) 2,102,580.,
(d) 654,862 sq. miles greater than that of Quebec (c) 4,200,000.
(523,860 sq. miles).
(d) 2,450,000.
26
11. Although Tasman sighted the Southern Alps covered by the British 199 years later. A
of New Zealand in 1642, Captain Cook was the much-publicized island in this protectorate is:
first white man to circumnavigate its two (a) Midway.
islands (1769-1770). The people whom he (b) Guadalcanal.
(c) Leyte.
found there, the Maoris, now number about (d) Guam.
100,000. They are related to the:
(a) Mongolians. 16. Pitcairn Island, a tiny British colony (2 sq.
(b) Melanesians. miles) mid-way between Australia and
(c) Indo-Europeans.
(d) Polynesians. America, was first settled in 1 790 by mutineers
from H.M.S. Bounty, a vessel commanded
12. Of the 80 seats in New Zealand's House of by the celebrated Captain:
Representatives, the number held by Maoris (a) Nordhoff.
(b) Laughton.
is: (c) Christian.
(a) 4. (d) Bligh.
(b) 0.
(c) 8.
(a) 15. 1 7. The total area of the archipelago known as the
New Hebrides is about 5,700 sq. miles. It is
13. Closely allied (racially) to the Maoris are the administered by an Anglo-French con do-
50,000 natives of the Tonga (or Friendly) minium. A distinguished visitor in 1790 was:
Islands, a self-governing British protectorate (a) Our old friend Captain Cook.
(b) Captain Laughton, after being set adrift in an open
with an area scarcely larger than the Isle of boat by the Bounty's mutineers.
Man. Ruled by their sovereign in accordance (c) Captain Bligh, after a similar experience.
(d) Captain Nordhoff, in search of material for a book.
with a democratic constitution, the Tongans
are completely autonomous: 18. Hong-Kong, with a population of 2,250,000 is:
(a) In all matters. (a) A British protectorate.
(b) Save in time of war. (b) A British colony and leased territories.
(c) Except that British consent is required to the em- (c) Held by Britain in trusteeship.
ployment of Europeans in the Tongan government (d) An independent republic allied with Britain.
service.
(d) Apart from the fact that they may not make use of 19. In volume of trading, the second largest stock
the Tongan Air Force for commercial transport in
international air-lanes. exchange in the world is that of:
(a) London.
14. New Guinea, an island about 100 miles north (b) Hong Kong.
(c) New York.
of Australia, is divided politically between (d) Toronto.
the Nether lands and the Commonwealth.
Australia holds the trusteeship of 93,000 sq. 20. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands, scattered over
miles. Such a trusteeship: 2,000,000 sq. miles of ocean, have a combined
(a) Is held, under an agreement with the United area of only 369 sq. miles. Though, with one
Nations, on behalf of a backward people. exception, all of them are mere coral atolls,
(b) Is a form of absolute rule.
(c) Entitles its holder to certain commercial rights in the natives are remarkably evolved politically.
return for an annual payment to the Crown. The official discoverers of the islands were:
(d) Obliges the territory in trust to furnish the U.N.
with a predetermined number of men in time of war. (a) The various British naval officers who sailed those
waters between 1764 and 1924,
15. The British Solomon Islands, first visited in (b) Captains Laughton and Bligh.
1568 by Alvaro de Mendaria, were redis- (c) Captain Cook and William Dampier.
(d) Captains Gilbert and Ellice.

JET DECIBELS
The sound creatd by twenty-six jet planes warming up is roughly equivalent to that made by 1,000
symphony crc±sit.: +wring simultaneously, according to a study by the United States Navy. (''The
New Ye+ T:35° )
 A Review-Article by Wing Commander F. H. Hitchins

'[,, «rs" of history- the length of Cleopatra's General Peron, has been rumoured to be the pros-
nose, the wind off Calais on 10 August 1588, pective head of the new Luftwaffe in rearmed
Grouchy's error on 18 June 1815, the accuracy of western Germany. This new German Air Force,
Booth's aim have long been a fertile field for it is said, will be a purely tactical air force, with a
speculation; and possibly no period has been so strength of some 80,000 and comprising about 1400
replete with ifs as Hitler's regime in Germany and aircraft divided into 14 wings of fighters and
particularly his direction of the Nazi armed forces fighter-bombers and two wings each of all-weather
in the Second World War. If, after the conquest of fighters, tactical reconnaissance and transport
Poland, Hitler had not launched the blitzkrieg in types a total of 60 squadrons.
the West ... ; if he had made an immediate attack With 105 aerial victories to his credit, Galland
upon Britain after the fall of France ... ; if he had was one of the leading "aces" of Goering's Luft-
persisted in Operation "Sea-Lion" instead of waffe. He was one of the first to serve with it when
turning to Russia ··. ;if he had not intervened in the cloak of camouflage was thrown off in March
the production and use of jet aircraft ... Anyone 1935, and he was one of the last to fly with it on
interested in speculation upon possibilities such operations ten years later. For three critical years
as these will find much to ponder upon in General 1942 through 1944 he was in command of the
Galland's history, recently translated into English, Jagdflieger arm and then was glad to be relieved
of the Luftwaffe's fighter arm.* and sent back into action. He was much happier
In the past few years several German airmen on the airfield, in the cockpit of a Messerschmitt,
have published accounts of their war experiences- than sitting behind a desk at headquarters. What
Rudel, Osterkamp, Knoke, Henn, Heilmann, his own political views were if he had any -he
Bloemertz, and the woman pilot Hanna Reitsch. does not disclose. He was never a "yes-man" to
Galland's book differs from these in that his story Goering or Hitler and indeed was regarded as the
has much a broader background. It is not so much enfant terrible of the Luftwaffe. (It was Galland
the story of a fighter pilot (descriptions of air who asked Goering for Spitfires for his fighter
combat are but a small part of the book) as it is a group.)
history of the policies and weaknesses that contrib- k k k

uted to Germany's defeat in the air. Additional Galland's flying career began in 1927 when, as a
interest attaches to the volume because its author, 15-year-old schoolboy in his home-town, Wester-
who returned to Germany early in 1955 after six holt in Westphalia, he became interested in "the
years in the Argentine as air force adviser to young German gliding-sport (which had) devel-
oped in an atmosphere of national frustration"
because of the restrictions of the Versailles treaty.
Adolf Galland: ''The First and the Last. The German Fighter Force in
World War II.'' With a foreword by Douglas Bader. Translated by His experiences through the next few years illus·
Mervyn Savill. Methuen &% Co.. Ltd., London. Eng.. 1955. Pp. xii-368;
illustrated; index. Distributed in Canada by British Book Service. Toronto, trate how, despite those restrictions Hitler and
$3.75.
Goering went about building up a secret air force.
30
 "art studeenst" ancid then as avieri in Mussolini's
Regia Aeronautica, went to Grottaglie in Italy for
further training on fighter aircraft. In the autumn
he returned to Brunswick, still officially a civilian
airman but in fact 'an almost perfectly trained
fighter pilot". After passing his final tests at
Brunswick, Galland flew for a time with the
Lufthansa on the Stuttgart-Barcelona run. In
February 1934 he elected to go "active" with the
still-secret Luftwaffe and was given military
training with the army at Dresden, receiving his
commission as Lieutenant on 1 October 1934.
Then, since there was still no Luftwaffe officially,
he went back to civil aviation at Schleissheim,
where the airline pilot school had been converted
into a camouflaged fighter school.

Finally, in March 1935, the by now very thin

disguise was dropped and the Luftwaffe openly
emerged before the eyes of the world. Galland was
posted to the new Jagdgeschwader 2 (Richthofen),
but two successive crashes almost ended his
career. Although medically boarded as unfit for
flying, he managed to fool the doctors on an eye-
sight test and continued to fly. With the Condor
Legion in Spain- where the Luftwaffe developed
the technique it later applied on blitzkrieg cam-
paigns Galland made over 300 sorties on He. 51 s
on army support operations. Then, after a tour
Adolf Galland (on left). considerably longer than the normal, he returned
to Germany in August 1938 for a brief, unhappy
tour at Air Ministry, where he was regarded as a
On graduation from school, Galland gave as his "ground support" expert.
chosen profession "a pilot", and in 1932 he In the blitzkrieg against Poland, Galland put
applied for admission to a school for air-line pilots his Spanish experience to use by flying 50 sorties
at Brunswick. Although there were less than 20 in 27 days, for which he won the Iron Cross (2nd
vacancies for the 4,000 applicants, he was.one of Class) and promotion to captain. The finest
the lucky 18 who passed the stiff 10-day examina- reward, however, was a transfer later in 1939 to a
tion. His training at Brunswick, Schleissheim, and fighter unit, Jagdgeschwader 27, at Krefeld.
Warnemunde included aerobatics and a clandestine Galland's heart always was (and, he says, still is)
fighter course which seemed rather strange for with fighters.
one who was supposed to be a civil pilot. In his third campaign, the Battle of France in
Before Galland's course in the civil school was the spring of 1940, Galland quickly distinguished
finished, Hitler became chancellor (30 January himself as a fighter pilot. His first three victories,
1933) and Goering started to build up Germany's on 12 May 1940, did not give him any particular
air strength. In July 1933, Galland was one of a thrill; they were "child's play'. With 14 kills and a
group of German pilots who, disguised first as probable to his credit, he was transferred to
31
 come, appointment. When Moelders was killed in
Jagdgeschwader 26 (Schlageter), given command
a flying accident in November 1941, 29-year-old
of a wing and promoted to major. After refitting in
Galland was named to succeed him as General der
Germany, the group returned to the Channel coast
Jagdflieger, or A.O.C. of Fighter Command. He
for the Battle of Britain Galland's fourth cam-
was very depressed at the thought of leaving the
paign. At this point the autobiographical theme
field of action, but Goering insisted, and, feeling
becomes secondary to the broader historical pic-
very unsure of himself and with only a hazy idea
ture. When the early stages of the Battle began,
Galland had just been decorated with the Knight's of his new duties, Galland took up the post which
Cross of the Iron Cross following his 17th victory; he was to hold through three troubled years.
One of his first tasks was to plan the fighter
on 24 September 1940 he scored his 40th and
received the Oak Leaves to his Cross - the highest "umbrella" for the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
award in Hitler's range of decorations in those as they sailed through the Channel and Strait of
days. He was the third German to receive this high Dover from Brest to home waters. The author
honour, just three days after his rival Moelders. describes this successful operation in detail.
Goering had promoted both Moelders and Galland Thereafter, however, his task might well be com-
to command of their groups in an attempt to get pared to that of Dame Partington pushing back
younger blood in command of the fighter units and the Atlantic with her mop, except that he had
to revive their aggressive spirit, the lack of which, several "oceans" to sweep back, and his position
Goering bitterly asserted, was responsible for the as General of Fighters was troubled not only by
Luftwaffe's failure to subdue Britain. Galland, assaults from without but also by dissension
fearing he would see less action, asked in vain to be within. What his duties were are not too clear.
left as a wing commander. His role seems to have been to advise rather than
When Hitler prepared to turn his forces against to command, and he remarks bitterly, "occasion-
Russia, Galland's JG.26 was one of two fighter ally (his ideas and suggestions) were even put into
groups left in the west to oppose the R.A.F.'s practice'. After a succession of disagreements with
daylight offensive over northern France and the Goering, he asked to be relieved of his command
Low Countries. On 2 I June 1941, his 29th birthday and sent back to the front, but he was kept on at
and the eve of Operation "Barbarossa" against the his post for another year. In keeping with his
Soviet, Galland brought down two Blenheims and belief that a commander should also have first-
a Spitfire in a series of combats with "circuses" hand operational experience, he resumed combat
during which the German ace himself was twice flying in the autumn of 1943 to see what his pilots
shot down. To mark his 70th victory he became the faced in the air defence of Germany. Three times
first German officer to receive a new award, the he tried to build up a fighter reserve to protect the
Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross. Reich and three times he saw it destroyed in the
Although officially grounded now, he continued to shambles of the invasion, the retreat from Nor-
fly and fight, and by the end of I 941 had run his mandy, and the Ardennes offensive. The last
score up to 94. Hitler honoured him again with battle, Galland says, was the "death-blow" of the
Diamonds for the Knight's Cross, and, because Luftwaffe; continuance of the struggle lost any
the Fuehrer was no judge of jewels, Goering
sense for him then, and he was glad to be relieved
presented him with a second set, whereupon
of his post, in January 1945, and given a more
Hitler gave him a third, and, when this was
congenial task of organizing an Me.262 jet
destroyed in a raid, Galland rcccivcd a fourth set
of ''sparklers".
fighter group.
Lt.. Gen. Galland ended the war as he had begun
Meanwhile he had becn given a ncw, and unwel-
it, as a fighter leader in action against the enemy-
"As in the Great War, award@toGer hl, With a group of outstanding pilots, he formed his
ottonce@ suit on o uihnl,{';hot oppto v «on JV. 44 nat Brandenburg Briest in January 1945,
his "Diamonds' when we',,f,''"?{@#hr}we, sairpaed to cw
''» #El fix hoit o1 the 16t 'tqotu!'
took it to its operational station at Munich-Riem
32
at the end of M arch, and there made his last war f ff .
o1 altars could only have been changed effectively
flight on 26 April when he attacked a formation of
by an efficient long-range bomber' of which the
Marauders and was himself shot down by a
Luftwaffe had none, because the Stuka and
Mustang. The last of his jets were burned at
medium-range bomber (He.111, Ju.88 and Do. l 7)
Salzburg on 3 May, as American tanks rumbled
were sufficient for blitzkrieg tactics. When the
on to the airfield.
k k :k medium bombers began daylight attacks on
London, the short range of the Me. I 09 became
more and more of a disadvantage. So from the
So much for Galland's own career. Of even
abortive "Sea Lion" Hitler turned to "Barbarossa''
greater interest is his description of Germany's air
and Britain was left "to become the aircraft-
policy between 1940 and 1945, as seen from the
carrier used for the destruction of Germany from
point of view of a fighter pilot and leader. the air"
To the end of June 1940, Germany's military Against Russia the well-tested blitzkrieg tech-
operations had gone "according to plan". The nique again was successful at first, but the cam-
three blitzkrieg campaigns against Poland, Den- paign also demonstrated once more that "to
mark and Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and annihilate the enemy's air force we should have
France, had been model demonstrations of the needed a much larger strategical air force with a
technique of army air co-operation. But once considerably longer range. This did not exist."
France fell and Britain refused to knuckle under When, in the spring of 1942, the R.A.F. began
to the Fuehrer's overtures, Hitler was "caught area-bombing with large formations at night and
with his plans down'". Against the one remaining the threat of daylight attacks by the U.S.A.A.F.
insular foe the blitzkrieg technique could not be began to loom closer, Galland hoped for "some
applied, and the Luftwaffe wasn't organized, positive reaction on the part of the war leaders'' in
trained, or equipped to operate on its own as an concentrating on the defence of the Reich and
independent arm. Goering's boast - "I will do it pushing through Milch's programme for the
with my Air Force'' misfired for the second (and construction of I 000 fighters a month. But Goering
not the last) time. Already at Dunkirk it had been "closed his eyes" to "alleged American production-
demonstrated that German air strength was figures" and expressly forbade the Luftwaffe to
inadequate to destroy the B.E.F. single-handed, count on or even mention-- them. Hitler's
and this, Galland believes, "should have been an reply to Lubeck and Rostock was to order an
emphatic warning to the leaders of the Luftwaffe". immediate retaliation raid on Exeter. '·The motto
When the air assault began to open the way for was now more bombers for retaliation and no more
"Sea Lion", the German High Command had "no fighters for the defence, a motto which was
clear plans for the further pursuit of the war''. adhered to right up to the collapse."
To Hitler the campaign against Britain was Germany had lost the initiative. '·We had been
merely "a necessary evil" to be coped with some- driven out of the role of attacker into that of
how, just how he was not quite sure. On the defender. An air force is by nature an offensive
German side, Galland attributes the failure of the weapon. Air supremacy is. of course. essential for
offensive chiefly to the limited operational range this. If this has been lost. then the fighter force has
of the Messerschmitt 109. Its 80 minutes' tactical to be strengthened first of all. because only the
flying time, of which 60 were consumed in the fighter force can achieve this essential supremacy
flight out and back across the Channel, left only so that the bomber, and with it the entire air force.
20 minutes for its mission over Britain. "This was can go over to the offensive once more. Britain had
the most acute weakness of our offensive." The just given us a practical demonstration of this. It
Messerschmitt's limited operational range of is amazing and shocking that this thought never
125 miles meant also that only a small part of occurred either to Hitler or Goering." For the
Britain was battleground. "This unfortunate state protection of the Reich. Goering relied upon
33
 above all, by the appearance in the skies over
peripheral and objective defence, which meant
Germany of long-range American fighters escorting
that the available fighter force was split up into
the formations of daylight bombers. Towards the
"penny packets" tied down to the protection of
specific objectives. (The pilots complained that last menace Goering reacted as he had towards
defence "followed the latest bomb-crater" from American production figures: he acted as if they
target to target.) Galland favoured central defence did not exist and insisted the German fighters
by concentrating the fighter force to regain a1t should concentrate on the bombers.
supremacy over Germany, but he was unable to To overcome the lack of able leaders in the
take any steps in this direction until the spring of fighter arm, Galland· increased the size of the
1944. units and desperately tried to build up a reserve
k k k which he proposed to use in a concentrated force to
In the Mediterranean, the Allied tide swept over deliver a sudden blow to regain air supremacy over
the North African coast and Sicily and began to the Reich. By the end of May 1944, he had accu-
lap at Italy. "The Luftwaffe was burning up in the mulated a reserve of 450 fighter pilots. Then came
southern theatre of war." At home, the roof over the invasion, and his reserve was soon used up,
Germany, which Goering once had boasted would trying in vain to stem the Allied tide. Again
never be penetrated by Allied aircraft, had been Galland built up a reserve which, by early August,
burnt piecemeal since June 1941. By various totalled 700 pilots and aircraft. And again the
means, the holes in the roof had been patched a High Command intervened, ordering the reserve
bit and the situation did not appear too desperate thrown into the battle in the west instead of being
until the night of 24 25 July 1943, when the held for the defence of the Reich. Speer and
R.A.F., using "window" for the first time, opened Galland tried to intervene with Hitler (Goering
a series of 'extermination raids" against Hamburg. was 'not well"), but the Fuehrer curtly forbade
"The Terror of Hamburg" spread a wave of fear any interference with his operational measures
across the Reich. "The war is lost" could be heard and, "in a screaming rage'', threatened to dissolve
now in high political and military circles. Galland the fighter arm and depend upon flak batteries for
believed that by a radical reorganization of the defence. So Galland's second reserve was engulfed
defences, by giving absolute priority to the air in the chaos of the retreat.
industry and especially to increased fighter pro- By this time (September 1944) the G.A.F. was
duction, the situation could still be saved. The suffering an "unbearable" shortage of petrol as a
High Command of the Luftwaffe for once was in result of the large-scale Allied attacks upon the
full agreement on the steps to be taken, and, German fuel supply which had started in May
at the end of July 1943, Goering went to see Hitler 1944. The success of this campaign was another
to secure his approval of the plans. "In this hour "death-blow" to the Luftwaffe. For the third time
the fate of the Luftwaffe was decided." The Galland reorganized the fighter forces and built up
Fuehrer rejected all the proposals, refused to
a reserve in readiness for a rumoured "Great Blow"
change over from the offensive to the defensive in
which he believed was to be at last a decisive
the air war, and ordered more attacks upon
air battle against the bombers. To his surprise and
Britain a counter-terror to meet the terror.
dismay, the "Great Blow" proved to be the
The defence problem was now further com-
Ardennes counter-offensive in December 1944,
plicated by frenzied changes of command, by an
and once again the reserve was thrown into the
acute shortage of leaders, instructors and aircraft
holocaust. At this point Galland was relieved of
by the declining quality of pilots rushed through
his command and returned to the field of combat.
the training schools, by the lack of reserves, and,
* * k

Goering himself once tried to control the fighters during a raid, uw

grotesque results · hvery The final chapter in the tragic history of the
Luftwaffe was the jet fighter, which fell under the
34
withering blight of Hitler's interference. In April tion (60 "blitz
• 1 z- -b om 1beers ?°
were destroyed on the
1939 the Me.163 rocket-propelled fighter made
ground in one U.S. raid on the Messerschmitt
its first flight, and on 2 7 August 1939 the He. 1 78,
factory at Augsburg), not one jet bomber was
the first jet, took to the air exactly one year
ready to meet the invasion on 6 June, and they
before the Italian Caproni-Campini, almost 21
first came into use only at the end of August 1944.
months before the British Gloster-Whittle, and
Another set-back to the Me.262 programme was
over two years before the American Bell Aira-
the decision in September 1944 to produce the
comet. But this early German lead in jet propul-
He.162 Volksjaeger which was to be flown by
sion was largely lost when Hitler, in August 1940, teen-age pilots!
anticipating an early end of the war, ordered the Speer had arranged for Galland to get a few
indefinite postponement of all technical and Me.262 fighters for testing, and eventually, in
developmental experiments that would not be October 1944, Goering ordered him to form a jet
ready for use within 18 months. Despite the fighter wing. The successes of the jet fighters in
Fuehrer's orders, Udet, who was then in charge of action at last convinced Hitler, and he authorized
aircraft development, had experimental work the expansion of the wing into a group. Some
continued on a modest scale, and, on 10 May Me.163 rocket units had also been formed for
1941, the Me.163 attained a speed of 623.85 miles "objective defence" of the Leuna and Politz
per hour. synthetic oil plants. (Most of these aircraft fell
Thanks to Hitler's ban, so great was the secrecy into Russian hands at the end of the war.) But it
cloaking the experimental work that even Galland was much too late now for the jets and rockets to
did not learn about it until early in 1942. A year turn the tide, and Germany derived no benefit
later, in May 1943, he made his first flight in a from her pioneer work in that field. If she had
Me.262 and was deeply impressed. "It was as started mass production of them three years
though angels were pushing... This was not a earlier ... ? "What possibilities we had!''
step forward. This was a leap!... Today I still
k 4
believe that it was not exaggerated optimism to *
expect from a mass action of Me.262 fighters a Body and soul a fighter pilot, Galland naturally
fundamental change in the German air defence, emphasizes Germany's weakness and errors in that
even at that late hour." Goering shared his en- arm. The fighter force, he says, was the 'Cinde-
thusiasm, as did Milch; but Hitler, distrusting the rella" of the Luftwaffe. "German fighter produc-
Luftwaffe, whose promises of technical develop- tion started very sluggishly and only reached its
ment had failed too often in the past, refused to peak when the war was practically lost... Had
sanction their plans for a quick development of the fighter production of the year 1944 (2500 a
the jet fighter and, instead of mass production, he month) been reached in 1940, or even in 1941, the
authorized only the tests of a few prototypes. So Luftwaffe would never have lost air supremacy
six more precious months were lost while the and the outcome of the war would therefore have
Allied assault upon Germany increased in strength. taken an entirely different course." But "Hitler's
Finally, at the close of 1943, the High Command strategical thinking was exclusively directed
agreed to mass production and the jets received a towards the offensive'', in which the bomber was
very high priority in the armament programme. the major weapon. "The fighter arm was not
Hitler, however, regarded the Me.262 as a fighter- regarded as part of the strategic air arm. It was
bomber, a "blitz-bomber", to repel the impending looked upon as a tactical weapon'"; subordinate to
invasion: and he "foamed with rage" when he the bomber and accepted'only as "a concession to
learned that it was being produced as a fighter. the unpopular act of defence'. Even in its bomber
No one was allowed to refer to the 262 as a arm, however, as Galland occasionally admits. the
fighter! The result was that, thanks in part to Luftwaffe had concentrated on the tactical wea-
Allied air attacks which further delayed produc- pon, the Stuka and the medium-range Heinke!.
35
gglTTNlIDDy

Dornier, and Junkers, and had neglected the long- over several fronts the West, the Reich, the
range bomber. East, and the Mediterranean it proved all too
Basically, the failure of the Luftwaffe can be short.
attributed not so much to "weakness" in the Lord Tedder summed it up in a lecture in 1948,
fighter arm as to the fact that Germany's military in which he disagrees with Galland's thesis. "The
and political leaders, despite their lip-service to Germans, fortunately, fell into the error of think-
Douhet's doctrines, had no conception of the air ing that fighter defence was the answer to the
arm as an independent strategic weapon. To them Allied bomber offensive ... No. The most effec-
it was essentially a tactical weapon to be used in
tive defence against air attack is to stop it at its
conjunction with and in support of offensive
source ... The bomber and the fighter are com-
ground operations. In its army support role the
Luftwaffe performed brilliantly in Poland, Den- plementary to each other the straight left and
mark, Norway, the Low Countries, France, the the right guard. And without the air superiority
Balkans, and Russia; but when it was used alone which it is the role of the joint force to secure, no
in a strategic or in a defensive role, it failed be- effective military operations are possible on land
cause it had not been designed for such a task. or at sea nor indeed can the normal industrial
Finally, when the air blanket had to be spread and economic life of the country be maintained."

The Canadian Air Divisio

the ''Sky Lancers", stationed r
»
s]as well as staging demonstrations for visiting
dignitaries.
W.mg, G rostenqum, . F ranee,·;f
The "Sky Lancers" took part in one of West
pa ting, for the past year, in internatio Germany's first air shows since the lifting of the
post-war ban on aviation in that country, and
gave displays at the Netherlands Air Force Day
celebrations at Volkel, in Holland, and at the
French International Air Shows at Tours, Auxerre,
and Frescaty.
The Sky Lancers', like their predecessors
"The Fireballs" (No. 3 Fighter Wing), fly the
regular operational Mark V Sabre. The four
members are all regular pilots with their squadrons,
and carry out normal flying duties in addition to
giving their aerobatic performances.
Members of the team are: Flt. Lt. T. Hannas
(leader), Flying Officers L. M. Eisler, B. R.
Campbell, and G. C. E. Theriault.

The ''Sky Lancers". (Photograph taken y L.A.€. j,

Scrimger, No. 2 Wing.)
 RB©Ya.t CAA/DI»Y a2@ FDsga

4aie
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL
PRESIDENT in the Royal York Hotel, with approximately 150
League members and guests in attendance. The
As you read these lines, another year in the
history of the Royal Canadian Air Force Associa- two main speakers on this occasion were Mr.
G. A. D. Will. President of the Air Cadet League.
tion is drawing to a close. It has been in many ways
and Air Vice-Marshal JG. Bryans. C.B.E .. A.O.C.
a good year and we can take pride in our accom-
Training Command.
plishments.
The trophy, parchment. and cheque for $75.00
On behalf of the Association I would like to ex-
were presented to Mr. B. M. Osler. chairman of
press our thanks to the Chief of the Air Staff and
the squadron's sponsoring committee.
to the Royal Canadian Air Force unit commanders
from coast to coast for their splendid co-operation
ONT ARIO GROUP EXECUTIVE MEETING
in our work.
Members of the Ontario Group Executive met
And now I would like to express to each and in Toronto on October 22nd.
every member of the Association, and to their
families, my very best wishes for a Happy Christ-
mas and a Bright and Prosperous New Year. Air Vice Marshal Brookes presents R.C.A.F.A. Trophy
to Mr. B. M. Osler, chairman of civilian sponsoring
committee of No. 398 (Port Hope) Sqn., R.C.A.C.

(K. M. Guthrie)
National President
R.C.A.F. Association

PRESENTATION OF R.C.A.F.A. TROPHY

At a meeting of the Ontario Provincial Com-
mittee of the Air Cadet League of Canada, held in
Toronto on October 22nd, the R.C.A.F. Associa-
tion Trophy, awarded annually to the most pro-
ficient squadron in Canada, was presented to No.
398 Squadron, Port Hope, Ont., by Air Vice-
Marshal G. E. Brookes, C.B., O.B.E., Grand
President of the Association. The meeting was held
37
 Those in attendance were:
Air Vice-Marshal G. E. Brookes....Toronto
J. P. Frame. . Ottawa
L. N. Baldock Windsor
J. DeLaurier. . . . . . . .. Windsor
D. Cain. . . Kingston
A. Kernot. . .... Kingston
H. G. Williamson. ·····>..Cornwall
J. Kendall. . Guelph
D. L. Rumble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. North Bay
A. R. Wicks.. . St. Thomas

The main topics of discussion 'were the forth-

coming national convention (to be held in Windsor)
and Wing membership in Ontario. It was decided
that an attempt would be made to amalgamate all
Wings in the Toronto area into one strong united
body.
It was also decided that the Ontario Group No. 306 Wing. Left to right: H. Shee, G. Harrison, Mrs.
Sylvia Feldman, G. Copeman, S. Shernofsky, and G.
Meeting, at which delegates from all Ontario Ellis. (Kalb photograph.)
Wings attend, would be held in Kingston, Ontario,
on 2 2 February 1956.
introduced by Andy Murdoch. Mr. Dunn gave an
WING NEWS informative and informal talk on football tactics.
No. 306 (Maple Leaf) Wing, Montreal. Following a question-and-answer period, a film of
No. 306 Wing got off to a good start at its first a recent Alouettes-v.-Ottawa Roughriders game
meeting of the autumn, with some 125 members was shown, during which Mr. Dunn analysed the
and guests present. The meeting was held in the particular plays and defensive strategy. The
Headquarters of No. 401 (Aux.) Squadron. presentation to Mr. Dunn of an official tartan tie,
The Preston (Lancashire) Branch of the Royal by President Greig Harrison, symbolized the
Air Force Association, which was presented with a Wing's appreciation of a delightful evening.
suitably inscribed pewter stein and an Association
lapel-pin by Bill Clegg during a recent visit to No, 416 (Kingston) Wing.
England, reciprocated the gift. The token of On October 20th, No. 416 Wing presented the
esteem, a mounted and engraved replica of the play, "Arabian Nights", for members and guests.
Royal Air Force Association insignia, together with One and a half hours of laughs and fun were pro-
an R.A.F. Association lapel-pin, was presented to vided by the Domino Theatre Players, of Kingston.
President Greig Harrison by Bill Clegg on behalf Mr. Fred Hewett, a member of the Kingston
of the Preston Branch. Wing, and probably the most active Association
The Wing had the pleasure of the presence of member in assisting the R.C.A.F.'s recruiting
Mrs. Sylvia Feldman, widow of the late "Buck" effort, has been transferred to the Department of
Feldman. No. 306 will long remember Buck Veterans' Affairs in London, Ontario. Fred was
(past-president, 1952-53), whose organizing ability, responsible for obtaining more recruits for the
far-sightedness, and hard work, helped to build the Air Force than all other Wings in the Association
Wing to its present enviable position. An Honorary combined.
Life Membership in No. 306 Wing and in the
Association was presented to Mrs. Feldman by No. 251 (Madawaska) Wing, Edmundston.
Quebec Group President George Ellis. Guest speaker at a recent monthly meeting of
The guest speaker, Mr. Jimmy Dunn, assistant No. 251 Wing was Sqn. Ldr. H. V. Peterson,
coach and scout for the Montreal Alouettes, was D.F.C, Liaison Officer from R.C.A F. Stauor
38
 No. 406 Wing's executive offlcers. $fonding in centre is Mr.]. C. Gray, the General Secretary of the Association.

Chatham. His talk, which was most instructive ready increased considerably since these new
was on the subject of training on the Air Force's quarters were obtained.
stations. Later, A. Daigle, Chief Observer in the No. 705 (Rocky Mountain House) Wing.
~round Observer Corps, who recently attended On October 21st, Air Vice-Marshal K. M.
ectures at Moncton, spoke of the Corps' need Guthrie presented the Charter to No. 705 Wing.
for more official observers. Members from the Wings in Lethbridge,
Edmonton, and Red Deer, and several personnel
No. 700 (Edmonton) Wing. from R.C.A.F. Station Penhold, were in attend-
No. 700 Wing moved into its new quarters at ance.
Mr. G. Greenway, who was responsible for the
R.C.A.F. Station Edmonton during October. The
building is a farmer Aiirmen ' s L ounge and h as formation of the Wing in Rocky Mountain House,
sufficient . has re-enlisted in the R.C.A.F., and the Wing will
r, space to allow the Wing separate rooms
hold its elections in December to elect a new presi-
or ~ll types of entertainment- games, T.V.,
d dent in his place.
w·ancing,' et c. D
uring the month of October, the
Negotiations are under way by the Wing to
mg held several '· Do It Yourself" nights, and
the interior has now taken on an entirely new sponsor an Air Cadet squadron in Rocky Moun
appearance. . T he .± +
Edmonton membership : has al- tain House.
39
pr
i
««g

The new chairman of the Saskatoon Air Cadet Committee congratulates winners of Flying Scholarships. (L. to r.)
Ft. Lt. B. Tupper (C.O. of No. 107 Sqn.), Flying Officer G. Avery, Mr. W. Laing, Cpl. H. Volk. and Cpl.
B. Motyer.

ANNUAL CHARTER NIGHT BALLS Mr. G. R. Ellis, president of Quebec Group, R.C.A.F.
Association.
No. 431 (Renfrew) Wing. Mr. L. E. Fulton, president of No. 313 Wing.
The Ball was held on October 26th at the local Mr. William Hamilton, M.P.
Mr. G. G. Harrison, president of No. 306 Wing.
golf club. The R.C.A.F. Central Band provided Mr. Gordon R. McGregor, OB.E., president of T.C.A.
the music during the dinner-hour and for the Mr. J. G. Notman, O.B.E., president and general
manager, Canadair Ltd.
dance which followed. Group Captain L. G. G.
Archambault, A.F.C., Director of Personnel No. 431 (Krakow) Wing, Hamilton.
Manning, was the guest of honour. No. 431 Wing held its Annual Charter Night
Ball on November 4th.
No. 310 (Wilna} Wing, Montreal.
The Annual Blue Ball took place at the Ritz- TOUR BY CENTRAL BAND
Carlton Hotel on November 12th. Music was pro- The R.C.A.F. Central Band visited four of the
vided by the Central Band, and the guests of Northern Ontario Wings from the 17th to 22nd
honour included: October, playing a concert in each city and for
Air Vice-Marshal G. E. Brookes, C.B., O.B.E. the dances which followed. Wings visited were
Air Vice-Marshal K. M. Guthrie, C.B., C.B.E. Nos. 406 (North Bay), 402 (Sudbury), 423
Air Vice-Marshal A. L. James, C.B.E.
Air Vice-Marshal L. E. Wray, O.B.E., D.F.C.
(Chapleau), and 432 (Sault Ste. Marie). Mr. Jack
Dr. T. Brzezinski, president of the Polish Canadian Gray, the R.C.A.F.A.'s national «x:773, ·¢
Congress.
companied the band on this tou:.
40
 (Reprinted by courtesy of ''The World Veteran".)

I this month of August, 1954, a ceremony that Heading the English and Austrian armies was a
was both amusing and strangely moving was held picturesque figure the first Duke of Marlbo-
in the sleepy German village of Blenheim, on the rough, son of a Dorset farmer, Winston Churchill,
banks of the Danube, population 500. ancestor of Britain's last prime minister. The
Amusing in that the local innkeeper brewed a Duke had become such a great man that King
special beer for the occasion and served it in William III of England feared his power and
goodly quantities to war veterans from half-a- sent him off to command armies on the Continent,
dozen European countries. The town band often to be out of the way. Altogether, Marlborough
played a tune familiar to millions as a nursery marched up and down Europe for twenty-odd
song: Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre (Marl- years.
borough goes off to war). A definitely odd occasion, His army was a motley collection. As well as
since the purpose was to unveil a memorial to an Austrians, Spanish and Dutch, he had recruited
old near-forgotten battle fought 250 years ago Irish "wild geese," Prussians, Germans, merce-
the Battle of Blenheim. naries "drawn from every nation in Christendom",
The 82-year-old Archduke Joseph of Austria, states the history book. It was an 18th century
who commanded an Imperial Austrian army in the Foreign Legion. The comradeship in arms was
1914-18 war, was among those who attended the said to be the finest ever known.
ceremony. There were French, German, and Dutch At Blenheim village Marlborough encountered
veterans. From England came members of famous the elite troops of France and Bavaria. It was a
regiments, the Royal Scots Fusiliers, the South terrific battle for the times, and the French were
Wales Borderers, the Royal Scots Greys, the outgeneraled though they fought bravely.
King's Regiment the same regiments that Marlborough, at the head of the cavalry, broke
fought on the field of Blenheim two and a half the Franco-Bavarian line in the centre, while the
centuries ago. infantry under his relative General Charles
Why celebrate a near-forgotten battle in an Churchill chopped the opposing army into seg-
altogether forgotten war the War of the Spanish ments. Twenty-four French infantry battalions
Succession? and four regiments of dragoons- the pick of
First let us tell the story of the battle. The Louis XIV's army - surrendered, while many
France of Louis XIV, le roi soleil, was disputing hundreds of men were driven into the Danube.
French domination of Europe was ended and the
the supremacy of Europe with the Austrian
British army began its real history.
Empire. England was mainly a naval power, but
But the Battle of Blenheim really settled
Was allied with Austria-Hungary, Spain and the
nothing. In the space of a few years the former
Netherlands, to halt the victories of France and
allies were reasserted. The men who fought and
her ally Bavaria. The war swept back and forth
survived at Blenheim forgot what it was all about.
across the Continent.
41
How many wars since then have had much the The poem tells of an old war veteran to whom a
sam e sequel but with greater cost in death and Blenheim village boy brings a skull he has found in
suffering. a field. He asks what it is. The old soldier tells him
Though in the history books Blenheim became it is all that is left of one who died in the great
battle. With memory-lit eyes, he tells the story of
a battle-name among a multitude of names, some-
Blenheim.
how it became more than that to the common ·
Always the boy, with a child's wish for certitude,
people. Perhaps it was because men of nearly
asks the question: "But what good came of it at
every race in Europe were on both sides. Some- last?" As for the old veteran: "Why that I cannot
body in France wrote a long ballad: Malbrough tell," said he; "But 'twas a famous victory."
s'en va-t-en guerre. It described how nobody Now, more than two hundred and fifty years
knew when the war would end. It described how after, Blenheim has a meaning. Germans, Aus-
the girls wept for their soldier-sweethearts and trians, English, French- hereditary enemies in a
how the soldiers found new sweethearts - "it is brand-new brew of strong Bavarian beer, drank to
not girls who lack," runs the song. In time the the end of Blenheims, needless battles fought for
origin of the song was forgotten and it became a rulers by men with wives, children or sweethearts,
favourite of every child who has ever learnt French. homes, countries everything except a reason
In England a magnificent palace - Blenheim for war. If the spirit that brought the veterans
was built, which is a show-place to this day. But together on the banks of the Danube lives on and
more important, the Lakeland poet Robert spreads to veterans everywhere, then, indeed,
Southey wrote a poem, "The Battle of Blenheim." Blenheim will have been a famous victory.

----------
cNoPY or.en ON .ovs)
SU\) aRGE co"",v!
_. aircraft is dds are t_ ossi'o\e
. 'paseu . tne O it is?
arrie!"_, ghtin& ,rm0r©» ,6blem®
Lf a torceu a d "furt . raises ,., jyl.L-
uffer a ot \an . d tnis ear.
to s sea and _, once» an . ttison g 13er\<.S,
tf,# so '; coy? yath@ ,%pg6d
oat 3sw", Jr wif",a» ca ", , e
%Jl.'-'iatio
f, co. "»aaisr
ed a rn
",, in,,,ado
t ca.no.- an or' {d
de'-'e\o? h \\ W?e o t ont 'o1 l-la'-'i\\an
na'-'e y c1arn·S e.. at tne r tne de '--otn of
an reu _. on ...,, u .
tO _. secU . useu Ve!lov·> t p.ir
anu ice is sea "f\ee
rear 'fhe de'-'. . and . wit\. tne tnrow
at©,,,
Vamp}}
Tai',, aerv"
., squ@ ent W
,%stforce
o,,} Jpye
ich are in 1-, arrangern wi\\ a\so d in water.
w i -rne jyl. ·. a· ant 'put \)merge ittl a
rm- 5yin tll&' 5fy s! it W) ,
r:& tne ca.no?_ aft is dee? carried o \0 ft. in
ol} . e airc ,y% bee ,er thafl {he
cver", casts "3%s "", rorce
saucces"rsed a total wa~e ht'': lJ_I(.')
\
\
no?1 irn wit\. a ,,, fhl?,
ca ·tudeS, tons- '-
\\ atti
a»
~ tnree
of ovel
cano?Y ~-
 (Reprinted by courtesy of ''Air Force": US.A.F A :. ,
···• ssociation.)

[Ar PowER is the ability of a nation to assert its

wide complex of air bases so located that. in terms
will via the air medium. The military instrument of a given practical range of aircraft. their air
by which a nation applies its air power is an air peripheries would interlock to form an uninter-
force. In time of peace the very existence of an rupted air canopy over the theatres of operation.
air force of proper size and capabilities> what is This arrangement was not unlike the system
termed an air force in being can be used by maintained in the nineteenth century for sea
a country to implement its national policy. power, which, for the exercise of its global func-
In time of hostilities, the primary use of air tions, required the establishment of bastions of
power is for the establishment of command of the naval strength on foreign soil throughout the
air, the condition in which one side retains its world.
freedom of air navigation and has the ability to There are emerging among the major powers.
deny that freedom to the enemy. Freedom of air however, aircraft that, for all practical purposes,
navigation, when maintained by one side through possess global range. They can rise directly from
successful sustained combat, is known as air their respective home bases, strike at any target in
superiority. the northern hemisphere, and return non-stop. At
Because the aim of war is to impose the will of the current rate of advance in aeronautical science,
one side upon the other, the enemy must be dis- it is only a matter of a short time before aircraft of
armed; his industrial power to make war and the a truly global range (25,000 miles) will be a reality.
stockpiles of his armed forces must be neutralized. In the meantime, global range is being achieved
For that reason, the offensive air force must carry through the perfection of in-flight refuelling.
the threat of a lethal dose of destruction. Because of this global range, air power can be
Though the main objective of war is to disarm applied directly from the continental base of its
the adversary, it must be assumed from the outset industrial origin without intermediate bases and
that the belligerents' industrial vitals and other the international complications attendant upon
sinews of war will be properly shielded by a defen- their establishment and maintenance on foreign
sive air force and that access to the decisive targets soil. In that respect, air power represents, diplo-
will be challenged. It is for this reason, as well as matically, an instrument of national policy that is
to deprive the enemy of his retaliatory capacity, superior to its predecessor of the last century,
that the primary mission of the air force must be sea power, the world-wide deployment of which
the elimination of the opposing air force, through was often branded as imperialistic and aggressive.
(1) the destruction of its operational facilities and With the development of the global range of air-
equipment on the ground and (2) combat in the craft and the advent of nuclear weapons, local
air. This is termed air battle. control of the air anywhere on the face of the
In the past, when the range of aircraft was earth, except over the continental base of air
power containing the source of its industrial
limited, it was possible to maintain local command
origin, can no longer be maintained. Thus, inter-
of the air. Global command of the air could be
mediary bases have become not only unnecessary
achieved only after the establishment of a world-
43
but actually untenable. It follows that the base of respective strategic roles of the land, sea, and air
air operation should be so located that any attack forces, such a definition of air power can be
against it will involve for the attacker the risk of challenged. The reason the sea power formula is
engaging the entire air might of the nation. (This not applicable to air power is that the movement
proposition, incidentally, defines the air power of of ships is naturally confined to their medium, the
the British Isles. Although an insular nation, water, and cannot directly participate in, or com-
Britain possesses a vast industrial complex and a pete in parallel with, overland movement. It is
large technologically skilled population. She is a logical, therefore, that the national effort that
source of air power of global significance that is culminates in ships, their crews, and their opera-
capable of accepting a challenge to her air sover- tional facilities, constitutes strictly sea power.
eignty.) On the other hand, it has never been claimed, for
It follows, also, that because local control of the example, that army ordnance facilities and skills,
air cannot be maintained, air power can no longer although applicable to the production of naval
be applied on a sustained basis against a continent guns, constituted sea power the reason being
from intermediary bases located on its periphery, that those facilities were irrevocably committed
whether those bases are fixed on land or are to the maintenance of the army.
floating, as aircraft carriers. If, for example, a Unlike seacraft, the aircraft is an extremely
floating base ventures beyond the protective versatile vehicle, which not only participates in
canopy of a friendly continental air force, it be- and competes with all methods of transportation
comes untenable. It stands to reason that, like an on land and sea but, with the development of
intermediary base, a floating base can never con- hovering machines such as helicopters, extends
tain enough air power to challenge or ward off the its application to other forms of motion,
entire air force of a hostile continent. Further, serving in effect as gigantic elevators, escalators,
with the development of nuclear weapons of a size and hoists. As in the foregoing example of army
conveyable by small, supersonic aircraft, the ordnance facilities in relation to sea power, it can
floating base, like any other intermediary base, be argued that aircraft designed for and committed
becomes extremely vulnerable and, once destroyed, to surface forces do not constitute air power. It is
has no powers of recuperation. quite possible for a nation to have an amorphous
mass of aircraft, even in prodigious numbers, and
From the above assumptions, it becomes clear
still have no air power.
that command of the air means a global command,
To put it another way, it is utterly immaterial
exercised directly from the continent of its indus-
whether an airplane rises from land or from water
trial origin. Either one controls the entire air
or from a catapult. What determines its definition
ocean clear around the globe or one controls
nothing. as a land, sea, or air weapon is what it is designed
to do after it becomes airborne. If designed to
In defining air power, military experts have in- assist and increase the efficiency of land and sea
variably paraphrased the historic definition of sea forces in attaining their objectives, it is not an
power, maintaining that air power includes a instrument of air power. Only when an aircraft is
nation's air force, the military aviation of its designed to assist and increase the efficiency of the
other services, its civil aviation and civil air air force in its task of establishing command of the
transportation system, its aircraft industry, and air is it an instrument of air power.
the aeronautical skills of its population. In other A strategic force can be defined as a military
words, they have held that air power comprises force capable of assuming the command of its own
that entire portion of the national effort that ex- medium by its own combat resources. Unutil the
presses itself in aircraft, their crews, and their advent of the airplane, the army and navy were
operational facilities. valid expressions of the nation's ultimate military
In the strict military sense of differentiating the power on land and sea. respectively. With the
44
development of aircraft, however, that ceases to
hold true. No longer the masters of their own forces were confined to the support of ground
mediums, in which air power can at will decisively forces and were prohibited from attacking the
t.terfere with their functions, those forces have enemy's air bases or the industrial sources and
+A their strategic significance. Conversely, the stockpiles of his military strength.) Only when un-
disputed command of the air has been established
surface forces cannot on their own initiative inter-
can these other military services carry out their
fere decisively with the functions of the air force.
mission of exploitation, on the surface, of a
Consequently, the air force is the only strategic
climactic decision won in the air. Until then their
force, because it is the only force that can attain
efforts must be directed toward supporting and
C Ommand
. of its own medium by its own combat
assisting the air force in its primary task.
resources. Thus, the air force has become the
In order to acquire maximum air power, a
primary instrument of the nation's military
nation must adhere to these principles of military
strength. art: singleness of purpose, unity of command, and
Because, in a major conflict, surface forces can no concentration and economy of force. This means
longer successfully fulfill their missions unless the
that the entire air power potential of a country
air above them is controlled by a friendly air force, must be unified, under a single air command, into
command of the air becomes the crux of war and a single force - an air force in being that can go
an end in itself. (This principle, of course, is not anywhere and do the necessary.
applicable in the case of limited, localized con- Therefore, it can be stated that air power may
flicts, the conduct of which is often governed by be considered the supreme expression of military
political considerations in defiance of military power and rests upon the entire human and material
logic. Thus, in Korea, the United Nations' air resources of the nation.

NOTE

Major de Seversky wrote the above defini- not in the nature of the explosive it employs, but
tion of air power in July 1954.In February of in its superior and global combat mobility through
this year he added the following notes: the air medium, as contrasted with the inferior
and geographically limited combat mobility of
The term "defensive air force" embraces de- land and sea forces in their respective mediums.
fensive aircraft and their ground operational
The acquisition of aircraft by land and sea
facilities, together with the nation's entire detec-
forces for logistic purposes does not alter that
tion and warning complex and ground-to-air
axiom. The acquisition of aircraft by those
missile and vehicle systems. forces for air combat is tantamount to
An important fact to be kept in mind is that creating separate, competitive Air Forces, an
the advent of nuclear weapons does not change the act which defies the basic military principles
nature of air power. With atomic warheads be- of economy of force and unity of command,
coming common to all military forces, the suprem- with resultant overall weakening of the air
acy of the Air Force as an instrument of war lies power of the nation.

45
 ~f,l
The

•
at Bu&dis
,R1ll mspector in charge of guards
» Palace and Clarence House in
London was a suspicious man he'd show up un-
expectedly at just any old time to see that his men
were on the job.
The men stationed a spy where he could spy on
the spy. When the inspector started on one of his
surprise visits, the guards would get a telephone He listened curiously to the laconic warning from
call that "Old Cod's Eye's on the prowl again". the spy, who thought he was talking to the guard.
One night the telephone rang in the sentry-box Then the Duke went to the window, flung it
when the guard was elsewhere. It rang several open and shouted to whomever it might concern
times. Then the operator transferred the call to down in the courtyard: "Old Cod's Eye's on the
another telephone in Clarence House. The Duke prowl again, whatever that means. Good night."
of Edinburgh had just come in, so he answered. (" Blue BeJJ": BeJJ Tel. Co.)

Remem
•
o
so
,,..,J , •
~

y
38
/ ~-

ge,-a pilot flies by the nerve impulses transmitted through his seat.
{1 ze
seat of,his H. Strughold, a former He injected his buttocks with novocaine, and,
Luftwaffe aviation medicine, de- when they were completely anaesthetized, he was
cidea 6car <periment with the object carried aboard an aircraft. He instructed the
of discovering whether in fact a pilot received pilot to take off and perform a number of slow rolls,
assistance in the form of "gravity reports" from loops, and other aerobatics.
As the doctor sat on his frozen posterior and
was rolled around the sky, he discovered that he
had lost all ability to orient himself. Although, in
the course of other medical experiments, he had
accumulated many hours of aerobatic flying
without undue discomfort, he proved that when
he had lost the anchor of gravity appreciation
the seat of his pants, in the saying- the psycholo-
gical effect produced was one of fear, nausea, and
absolute disorientation.- (Ronald Hamilton, in
"Contact": N.Z.)

46
 AIRLIFT RECORD?
* * *
THE FL YING OFFICERS' CLUB
Dear Sir:
Dear Sir:
A propos of Flt. Lt. Harvey's article in the September issue
'Spring Re-Supply in the Arctic," you may be interested in the Popular belief to the contrary, there are flying officers at
following piece of information. ir Force Headquarters. In order, however, to prevent the
During the operation, C-119 no. 221222, one of No. 435 (T ) species from following the dinosaur into extinction a unique
Squadron's aircraft, airlifted approximately 370,000 lbs. in non-profit organization has been formed. '
less than twelve days. Perhaps the R.C.A.F. now holds a The qualification for membership is uncomplicated but (at
world-record. A.F.H.Q.) somewhat rare: the candidate must be a Flying
Officer. Invitation and initiation into this select group is
Flt. Lt. J. E. McFadden brought about at club meetings where the potential member,
No. 435 (T.) Squadron. ' if considered worthy of the honour, is allowed to buy his
peers a round of drinks. His acceptance thus symbolized, the
new member is expected to act with the dignity appropriate
to his exclusive position in the Service.
NO. 6 S.F.T.S.'s TENTH REUNION

Dear Sir: $-
As
Some of your readers may be interested in learning that the s.
war-time personnel of No. 6 Service Flying Training School,
Dunnville, Ont., held their 10th annual reunion in Dunnville
on September 24th. More than 70 former Air Force types
and their wives, attended. Those who arrived on the evening FLYING 0
'
of the 23rd were entertained at the home of Vic Collins.
The famed "Clare Thunder-Mug II" Golf Trophy was won
by Ken Gordon, of Toronto. Other prizes went to Bill Brittain
(Wyoming), Fred Clare (Preston), '"Nibs Vale (Galt), Jake
Robertson (Indianapolis), and Tom Moreton (Washington,
D.C.). The non-golfers were quite content to sit and reminisce
in the club-house. th}h8''_MEMBER
At 1600 hours a chartered bus took the happy group, amid
the strains of Air Force war-time songs, to the old station,
where battles were re-fought on the now-barren tarmacs and SIGNED F0-1
runways. The disembarkation and the "fall-in" were filmed
for showing at the reunion next year. In the unlikely event that a member of the club should reach
New officers were elected: Chairman, Jim Buchanan the rank of Flight Lieutenant, he must resign. The way out is
(Maryland); Vice-Chairman, Doc Mills (Dunnville); and strikingly similar to the way in via the pre-prandial. All is
Sec. Treas., Frank Scholfield (Dunnville). A letter from a not completely lost, however, for the club offers honorary
well-known former C.O., Air Commodore A. H. Hull, now of membership to a chosen few and (if among them) he may buy
Vancouver, received a loud ovation, and he has been invited his way in again. Numbered among these men of distinction
to attend next year as an honoured guest. are four senior officers, two of whom are Group Captains.
The wives were entertained by Mrs. "Red" Guest. They The Flying Officers· Club meets inadvertently, infrequently,
joined the men at the Golf Club (after the banquet) for and informally, but its meetings provide an unfailing forum in
dancing and bridge. which its members can recast the policies of the Air Force to
Members were present from places as far apart as Maryland, their own satisfaction.
Indiana, Washington, Wyoming, Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, The Club's membership card, it will be noticed, bears the
Sault Ste. Marie, and Timmins. Plans are already under way insignia of a pre-prandial superimposed on a pair of clipped
for a bigger and even better celebration in 1956. wings.
I append a time-table of the activities:
Flying Officer T. G. Coughlin,
A.F.H.Q.
Friday: 2000 hrs. Cocktails at Vic Collins' (his wife Florence presiding).
Saturday: 0030 hrs. Poker at the Victoria Hotel (Art Harrison presiding).
1000 hrs. Golf and conversation at the Dunnville Golf Club
l jl
(John Barleycorn presiding).
1600 hrs A visit via chartered bus to what is left of No. 6.
1630 hrs. A fall-in and march-past at the Control Tower (Tom
Morton presiding). This spectacular event was filmed
*
for showing next year.
1900 hrs. Banquet and business session (Ken Gordon presiding). LEADERSHIP
2030 hrs. Film of the 1952-53-54 reunions (Jim Buchanan
presiding). Every Air Force activity, no matter how great or
2100 hrs. Dancing. bridge, dominoes, and cardboards (Bill Farr
end "Doc" Mills presiding). small its apparent importance, requires some
0100 hrs. Bull session in local restaurant (no presiding: officer
could be found).
manifestation of good leadership. The quality of
Sunday: Farewells (Alka Selzer presiding). every effort depends to a great extent on the
Frank Scholfield (RC.A.F.A) quality of the leadership that is provided.
Sec'y, No. 6 S.F.T.S. Reunion Committee, (No. 1 S.S.T.S. precis.)
Box 814, Dunnville, Ont.
47
 -
~~
<The quick thin is of a man on the ground and
&natl%suit or a man in the air recently com-
bined to save Canada more than a quarter of a
million dollars.
Off on a routine high-level training exercise from
No. 2 (F.) Wing's base in France, Flying Officer
R. A. Caskie, a pilot with No. 430 (Fighter)
Squadron, retracted his undercarriage in the nor-
mal fashion just after take-off. A few moments
later his flight leader informed him that his nose
wheel was cocked'' i.e. jammed at right angles
to the direction of motion. The pilot immediately
informed the control tower of his problem, and
flew in circles around the field while awaiting
instructions from the ground.
The Operations Officer of the day, Flt. Lt. L.
Skaalan, rose to the occasion. He promptly ordered
that a strip of fire-extinguisher foam be spread
down the centre of the runway so that the cocked
wheel would slide. The circling pilot was then
cleared to land.
Having dropped his external fuel tanks in order
to lighten the load and lower his landing-speed,
Flying Officer Caskie came in on a long approach Answers to ''What's the Score?
so that he could line up his aircraft with the
1: (b) 2: (a) 3: (c) 4: (d)
white foam-strip. As he touched down he flamed-
out his engine and held the nose-wheel up until 5: (a) 6: (a) 7: (c) 8: (c)
the foam-strip passed under the aircraft. With his 9: (b) 1 O: (b) 11: (d) 12: (a)
main wheels straddling it, he gently dropped the
13: (c) 14: (a) 15 : (b) 16: (d)
nose wheel down, and it skidded along easily
until the braking action on the other wheels 1 7: (c) 18: (b6) 19: (d) 20: (a)
brought the 'plane to a stop.

* * *
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Ix + R-X
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EY
ml]I ]lFv{+sr-cs-sh} sis/lorn-} she a ,
(X-A) (X+A) M{AM}] (_!------+ +---------'

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48
iI
.I
!

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