THEAIR CADET LEAGUE

OF CANADA

Mass inspection of three thousand Air Cadetsat Montreal's Molson Stadium . In the Fore-ground are three crack precision squads .

(Reprinted from the CANADIAN GEOGRAPHICAL JOURY\'ALOctober, 1944 .)

ate .

Top left :----Signalling is an important phase of training .

Centre left:-Gunnery practice on an air station

Lower left:-The importance of parachute packing isemphasized .

Top:-Essentials of first aid are taught .

THE AIR CADET LEAGUE OF CANADAby ARTHUR L. MELLING

Introduction and PurposesTHE Air Cadet League of Canada was

formed in the dark days of 1941, toserve two main purposes . The first ofthese was a war purpose : so that theremight be available to the Royal CanadianAir Force a pre-trained junior volunteerreserve which would act as an aircrewfeeder

As this is being written, the armies ofthe United Nations are pressing close toGermany and Japan . Our air forces areachieving exceptional results at a low rateof loss, and as a consequence the aircrewrequirements of the RCAF are at aminimum .

Because of this it would seem that thefirst purpose-the war purpose-of theLeague has largely been served, and thatthe time has come to re-emphasize itssecond purpose to make available a basictraining in aviation that will better fitCanadian youths for peacetime careers,either m the Service, in civil aviation, orin other walks of life .

The League is going ahead in thispurpose, and planning its conversion to apeacetime agency with the same vigourthat it tackled the military purpose in theearly days of the war

Origin and AuthorityIt would be difficult to say exactly

where the idea of Air Cadet trainingstarted . Actually, I think it originatedin many minds and many places almostsimultaneously There were individual AirCadet groups in Canada before the Leaguestarted ; in Vancouver, Montreal, Windsor,Penhold, Winnipeg and undoubtedly else-where .

The Air Cadet League, which becamethe national organization, was first con-sidered in 1940 by a group of civilians whohad served with the Air Force in the lastwar, and who were anxious to serve againin this .

It would not be possible to give duecredit to all those who contributed in theearly days, but I know that we are allparticularly proud of the splendid supportgiven by so many Air Force veterans ;

The moment an Air Cadet lives for[ Herehe is inside an Anson, about to take off

for a familiarization "flip" .

among them four distinguished aces ofthe last war - Air Marshal W A. Bishop,V C., C.B ., D.S.O ., M .C ., D.F C., A .W Carter, M.B.E ., D.S.C ., of Van-couver ; Donald R. MacLaren, D.S.O .,M . C ., D . F C . . of Winnipeg, and George B.Foster, K.C., D.F C., of Montreal .

The original sponsors presented theidea to Air Minister Power who wassympathetic to the need for Air Cadettraining . At subsequent meetings betweenthe civilians and high-ranking officials ofthe Department of National Defence forAir, the question of form was studied, andit was decided that all youths enrolledwould have to be under the direct aegis ofcivilian bodies, nationally and regionally,who could command the respect andconfidence of Canadian parents .

Once the Air Minister was satisfied thatthe interested civilians met this condition,he offered the full support of his department. In November, 1940, authority forthe Air Cadet League to organize andadminister Air Cadets was granted throughan Order-in-Council .

TrainingThe training given to Air Cadets is

one of the most complete and productiveof its kind ever offered to youth .

Above:-Air Cadets getfamilianzation flights inService aircraft of half an

hour's duration .

Left :--An airman traineehelps a cadet on with his

helmet .

Below:-Physical trainingand drill are stressed bothat summer camps and onsquadron parade grounds.These are camp scenes .

The present syllabus provides for 24%hours of study as follows . aircraft recog-nition, 28 ; airmanship, 28 ; anti-gas, 6 ; arma-ment, 8 ; first aid, 12 ; hygiene and sanitation,5 ; knots and splices, 6 ; meteorology, 12 :

navigation, 50, mathematics, 20 ; progressof war study, 10 ; service familiarization,14 ; signals, 48, drill and physical training,flexible .

Training is generally given two nightsa week . In some school squadrons classesare incorporated into the school day Thecadet year is from September to Juneinclusive, and ten days at summer camp .

When the Air Force assumed respon-sibility for training in 1942, its officersprepared a syllabus which was virtuallythe same as that used in the Initial TrainingSchool course of the R.C.AF It wasthought then that, in part-time trainingover the course of two years, cadets wouldbe able to absorb this knowledge, andthat they would be able to skip this phaseof R.C .A .F training on entry into theService . The idea, however, turned outto be rather ambitious, and the syllabuswas modified . It was found that traininghad to be flexible and take into consider-ation varying local conditions . Often, inthe smaller towns, it proved difficult toobtain competent instructors in all therequired subjects - for instance, navigationand airmanship . And the educationalbackground of cadets differed widely,particularly in the non-school squadrons .For these reasons the current syllabus hasbeen arranged to give the squadronofficers some option in choosing the subjectsin which most efficient instruction can begiven, and which are in accordance withthe abilities and interests of the cadetsenrolled . Drill and physical fitness arestressed as the nucleus of the trainingprogramme.

Training equipment issued to squadronsby the R.C.A.F includes Coeey rifles fordrill and range shooting, navigation apparatus, signalling buzzers, keys and loud-speakers, respirators and gas detectors,projectors and lantern slides for aircraftrecognition, instructional films, air pub-lications and manuals. And in each AirForce Command there are three movingpicture projectors that go out on loan to

THE AIR CADET LEAGUE OF CANADA

squadrons for the showing of special filmsof interest to cadets .

Summer camps were inaugurated in1942, and in that summer 26 camps wereheld at Air Force stations and attended by8,000 cadets . This year approximately15,000 cadets attended camps from coastto coast. The camp programmes areprepared weeks in advance, and so plannedthat the cadets' days are very full . On thestations they live in airmen's barracks,eat in the regular airmen's mess, and areunder the supervision of their own officersand a special group of R.C.A.F . non-commissioned officers . Customarily, oneof the staff officers of the station acts as aliaison officer between station commandingofficer and cadets .

On the stations cadets have lectures,drill periods and talks on special phases ofService life by R.C.A.F officers . Theyspend considerable time on familiarizationvisits and tours. Generally they spendafternoons in the hangars, where theyhelp the airmen with such work as may bewithin their capabilities . They clean andpolish aircraft, move planes about, runerrands for mechanics, and perform such"fatigues" as sweeping the hangars-which is never a chore as it keeps themclose to their beloved machines .

This year camps were an outstandingsuccess due to the inclusion of familiarizationflights. At all camps cadets were givenflights in Service aircraft Ansons, Cansos,Bolingbrokes and Dakotas among them .This is really a remarkable situation,compared to that of a few years ago whenboys of the same age and spirit were leftstanding outside the airport fences, lookingin .

Social life on the station is equallypleasant for cadets, as they are permittedthe run of the dry canteen and oftenparticipate in the airmen's functions .Other features include sports days andspecial parades with a ceremonial reviewat the end of the camp by the commandingofficer of the station .

Camps are held also for Air Cadetofficers and instructors, of two weeks'duration, and these have proved of in-estimable value. Not only do they enableinstructors and officers to qualify in their

Page live

THE AIR CADET LEAGUE OF CANADA

subjects, but they make possible veryenlightening discussions of mutual problemsand generally help to create a unity ofspirit .

This past season a particularly excitingexperiment has been tried in the EasternAir Command, in the form of a specialcadet N.C.O summer camp . Every squad-ron in the Maritimes sent two or more ofits best young men to this camp wherethey underwent rigorous special training,designed to fit them for non-commissionedofficer duties, and especially to enablethem to act as leaders in physical trainingand target shooting programmes .

Another interesting phase of Air Cadettraining is that given to non-school squad-rons, where the syllabus is often augmentedby such essentials as mathematics, and theboys are enabled to work up to the standardset by the R.C.AF for aircrew recruits .

As a supplementary training aid theLeague publishes a Canadian Air Cadetmagazine . This carries inspirational articleson famous fliers, articles on trainingsubjects, and information on techniquesdevelopedby different squadrons to heighteninterest .

Character of the MovementIn a factual report of this nature it is

difficult to convey the character and scopeof the Air Cadet movement : of the 379squadrons spread from the Atlantic to thePacific and from the American border tothe mining towns of Northern Ontarioand the farmlands of the Peace RiverDistrict. To understand this you have totravel across the country and meet thecadets and the officers ; the farm lads andfisher lads, the sons of bankers and lawyersandrailwaymen ; the mechanics andteachersand station masters and dentists, and allthe others who stand on equal footing inthis democratic enterprise . You have towatch the cadets' eager faces at an ensignpresentation ; their solemn proud look ata public induction into the R.C.A.F., whenthey take the oath and march awaywith an Air Force escort, their controlledexcitement as they form part of a squarewith the Air Force in that signal event-a Wings Parade . You have to watch acrack Air Cadet precision squad drillingon exhibition in Rockefeller Centre, NewYork, and another squad drilling in a

Page Six

Canadian village so remote that theinspecting officer has to fly in and land onthe nearest lake . You have to go to acamp and watch the cadets ("gremlinsto the airmen) cluster around an aircraftjust in off a coastal patrol, and sit withthem in the mess and hear them discusstheir "flips", the Spit IX, and WingCommander McNair's latest exploit.

You have to visit the towns and citiesas I did and see for yourself how com-munity initiative can make every squadrondifferent and exciting . In one prairieregion several widely spread flights ofone squadron have developed a transportsystem to get the boys to parades,-involving 65 miles of travel each paradenight. In an Ontario town a squadronhas built a unique and excellent head-quarters from an old garage, with moneyand tools donated by local manufacturers.In another town cadets have built a gliderunder the supervision of one of their officers,and in still another place a squadron has acommando course for physical training .

Some of the larger squadrons have theirown complete buildings, with beautifullyoutfitted classrooms and N.C.O 's rooms,reading rooms and special officers' quarters,and spacious parade grounds.

Twenty squadrons have full brassbands, and ninety have trumpet or drumbands.

In many towns, the Air Cadet squadronshave become local institutions, marchingin Victory Loan parades and other ceremonies. They have their own churchparades from time to time, take part insalvage drives and other community efforts,have their own newspaper columns andperiodic radio programmes .

ResultsThe results of Air Cadet training have

been very gratifying to all who have beenconnected with it . In the first place thecadets have succeeded well in their studies.Out of the thousands of Air Cadet ex-aminations taken, there was an overallpassing list of 80 to 85 per cent . Andstatistics have shown that Air Cadetswho have enlisted as aircrew have scoredabove average marks in ground subjects atInitial Training School .

During the recent months when wehave been able to keep accurate records

over 3,000 , cadets have gone into. theR.C.A.F ., and, according to their instructors,have clearly revealed the benefits of theirearly training .

There have been other results, too,equally worthwhile . Those of us who havewatched squadrons grow from scratchhave seen unruly boys come to respectdiscipline, listless boys straighten up andsmarten up, lonely boys find companion-ship, and many thousands of good averageCanadian boys find a new outlet for thebest that is in them, and find pride in theteamwork of the squadron .

That the results have been satisfactoryfrom the standpoint of the Department ofNational Defence for Air has been attestedto by the Minister, Hon . Charles GavanPower, M.C . In his address to the AirCadet League directors in February, 1944,Air Minister Power said .

"Thanks to you we have been able toobtain a large number of recruits whowere badly needed at that time .

"A large number have joined, proceededwith their training and are now on thesky battlefronts not only in Europe, butall over the world. If that were the onlyaccomplishment, you will have done workdeserving of gratitude and appreciationof the R.C.A.F and members of theadministration of the R.C.A.F

" .

my thanks means that of the AirForce and that of the Government for themagnificent work which you have under-taken and which you have carried out."

How It FunctionsThe Air Cadet League functions through

a national board of directors, provincialcommittees, central and regional commit-tees in certain large centres and sponsoringcommittees for each squadron .

The League has a board of 26 directorswhich meets at least once a year and fromwhose number are chosen a president,vice-presidents and an executive committeeof six members which meets as occasiondemands. The national board represents allprovinces, and is composed of leadingmembers of Canadian business and pro-fessional life .

The League maintains its headquartersin Ottawa ; produces the Canadian Aar

THE AIR CADET LEAGUE OF CANADA

Cadet magazine, issues national publicityand assists squadrons in their promotionactivities .

Within the provinces the provincialcommittees have responsibility for further-ing the objects of the League . They provide for their own provincial financing,promote new squadrons, assist and guidesquadron committees, organize and cor-relate publicity and other activities ofinterest to the squadrons at large, andmaintain close liaison with the Departmentsof Education.

The regional and central committees,who come under the authority of theprovincial committees, perform much thesame functions within certain large centres.

Squadron committees organize squad-rons ; are responsible for their generalwelfare, provide financing for equipment(other than training), uniforming andamenities, provide suitable quarters fortraining ; and recommend officers for ap-pointment subject to R.C.A.F . and Leagueapproval . These sponsoring committees,which may properly be called the backboneof the Air Cadet movement, include businessand professional men, educators and otherprominent members of the community.About half of the squadrons are sponsoredby schools ; the other half by serviceclubs, boards of trade and independentcivilian committees .

Squadron AdmcncstrationMost cadet squadrons are of a very

substantial size . Many of them run intothree and four hundred cadets ; but, inorder not to penalize the smaller commun-ities, provision has been made for theaffiliation of squadrons with a minimum o£25 cadets.

The actual administration of thosesquadrons is carried out by their officersand instructors. Officers are commissionedin a component of the R.C.A.F ., knownas the Air Cadet Corps, and wear uniformsidentical to regular Service personnel withshoulder badges which carry the lettersA.C.C .

Officers of the Air Cadet Corps receiveService pay and allowances according torank to a maximum of 55 days a year .

Cadet ages are from 15 to 18, but therePage Seven

Air Cadet League Patron : His Excellency The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, K.G .,Governor General of Canada

Honorary President: Air Marshal W. A . Bishop, V.C ., C.B ., D .S.O ., M.C ., D.F.C ., LL.D .

Above:-Aircraft recognition and range estimation

Centre right:--Instruction from a Flying Officer inare never-ending studies for future airmen .

anti-gas techniques .

Below-Dinghy drill at a West Coast summer camp

Below right:--Navigation is the most difficult syllabus

Top right:-A WD sending; Air Cadets receiving .

subject-and one of the most essential .

THE AIR CADET LEAGUE OF CANADA

is provision for a limited number of juniors,aged 12 to 15, in school squadrons whendesired. Cadets wear a uniform similarto that of R.C.AF airmen, with a distinc-tive badge on the collar, and the squadronname and number on the shoulder

Cadet ranks correspond to those ofthe R.C.A.F from warrant officer downto Air Cadet, Second Class.

Air Cadet officers conduct the trainingof the squadron according to orders issuedfrom their respective Training Commandsof the R.C.A .F They prepare cadets forexaminations set by the Air Force and forannual inspection by an R.C.A.F officer,-the Air Officer commanding the Com-mand, or his representative .

Squadrons in goodstanding are presentedwith the Air Cadet ensign not sooner thanthree months after affiliation . The ensignis almost the same as that of the Air Force,a Union Jack on a field of air force blue,with an albatross surmounted by a mapleleaf, in gold, in a circle of royal blue .

The presentation is generally madeby a ranking officer of the Air Force or theLeague, and the ceremony itself is mostimpressive .

How 1t Developed

The League has come a long way sinceits inception in 1941 In the early part of1941 a national board of key men waschosen and it met for the first time inJune of that year The next few monthswere extremely hectic ; working on rulesand regulations, drawing up training man-uals and, at the same time, organizing inthe provinces

The National Board of Directors ap-pointed provincial chairmen, who in turnset up their own committees, and thesegentlemen travelled widely, talking toservice clubs, boards of trade, civic officials,school boards and other public-mindedcitizens, recruiting local sponsorship forsquadrons .

The organizing of squadrons proceededthrough the fall months of 1941 and bythe end of December there were 79 squad-rons affiliated across the country By May,)942, there were 135 squadrons and 10,000cadets, and in August, 1943, 315 squadronswith 23,000 cadets .Page Ten

Now, in September of 1944, we are ata new peak of strength with 379 squadronsand approximately 31,000 cadets . Onstrength as well are 1,728 officers ; 387chaplains and medical officers ; 650 civilianinstructors, and 1,920 civilians active onunit and regional committees . There arealso many thousands of civilians who,independently, and as members of serviceclubs and other organizations, have pro-vided financial support and taken a keeninterest in Air Cadets without actuallyserving on committees .

Coincident with our growth, Air Forceparticipation has grown in degree . Monthby month the R.C .A .F has augmentedthe training and other facilities suppliedto squadrons . In the summer of 1942, itcommenced summer camps for cadets onair stations, with special camps for officersand instructors . In April, 1943, it grantedKing's Commissions, and, finally, in thesummer of 1944, it made possible the highpoint of all our training-familiarizationflights for cadets

From the beginning, the League andthe Air Force have worked as a veryclose partnership, with parallel numbersin each organization at every level .

The Future

In recent days meetings have beenheld all across the country by squadroncommittees, provincial committees andnational executives on the subject of post-war development, andopinion is unanimousthat we must carry into the peace thespirit in which the -League was conceivedand fostered, though our form of organ-ization and the details of training mayhave to be considerably adjusted . In thisregard I refer again to Air MinisterPower's speech to the directors

"

the work you are doing now islaying a foundation for something whichwill be extremely important in the postwar years in Canada, and every encourage-ment should be given to our people youngand old, and to those of you who havegiven their heart and soul to this work,to look forward to a great period of aerialactivity in Canada after the war "

Above :-Localsupport ;s strong forAir Cadet squad-rons . A manufactur-ing concern helpedan Ontario squadron

build this glider

Right:-Manufact-urers also helpedbuild and equipthese Training

headquarters .

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