The Call of the Air
The Air Training scheme announced a month ago by Sir Archibald Sinclair has fired the imagination of thousands of those who are still too young to attest for the Air Force, though they are among the most air-minded inhabitants of this country. The scheme came into operation last Saturday, and at once there was a rush of recruits between 16 and 18 years of age; and at the same time offers to act as instructors began to pour in from former R.F.C. and R.A.F. officers. Thus begins immediate co-operation between the too young and the too old to fly, to prepare the way for a future immense expansion of the Air Force, and to ensure the preliminary training of large numbers of youths, the most apt of whom will be selected for service. Already, before the end of last week, 200 squadrons of the Air Defence Cadet Corps had been registered as units of the Air Training Corps, and 3o new units formed. Replies have been received to 75 per cent. of the circulars addressed to urban councils, and of these 99 per cent. were in favour of accepting the offer to participate in the scheme. Manchester quickly led the way by adding seven squadrons to its original four, having enrolled 1,400 recruits in the fortnight following the announcement. The University courses are to begin at the opening of the summer term, and headmasters are sending in their nominations of candidates now. The scheme appears to he meeting with an enthusiastic response from schools and schoolboys, from local authorities, and would-be instructors. Boy Scouts, who are not old enough to join, but are unwilling to be left out, are becoming Air Scouts within their own movement.
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