Show Australia to Speed Plane Production Training of Pilots CANBERRA AUSTRALIA A program for making Australia one of the front rank world air powers by March 1943 has been announced by Prime Minister Robert G G. Men- Men tics It involves an increase of 11 times the present resent program for training pilots observers gunners and air air- aircraftsmen aircraftsmen aircraftsmen craftsmen and an increase se of seven times in the present program for the production of aircraft This would give Australia by the time the program is in full opera opera- operation operation tion In March 1943 a total aviation personnel of and an air force of about 2000 planes With the pro pro- program program program gram and production then In full op op- operation oration Prime Minister Menzies be be- believes believes believes at at Australia can increase the air force orce each year until it ranks with the most powerful air nations in the world Large Gain This Year Under the program as launched Australia will have trained trainee men consisting of crews pilots and ground personnel by June 1941 By June 1942 an additional will have bave been trained and by March 1943 when the entire program will wil wilbe willbe willbe be in full operation an addItional will have been trained giving I tog ing Australia an aviation personnel of which will be maintained thereafter For carrying out the program there will be installed as rapidly a as possible three initial ground training schools 10 elementary flying train train- training training ing schools four air observers observers' schools four bombing and md gun gun- gunnery gunt nery schools four wireless opera opera- operators operators' operators operators' operators t t tors' tors schools and two air navigation navigation navigation tion schools Menzies announced that this rapid rapi increase in aviation coupled with the rapid growth that it is taking place in the military and naval program is intended to make Australia capa capa- capable capable capable ble of defending itself M 1 L |