Chapter III: Part 3

The brightest point was the lively interest and very hearty coöperation of every officer of the Department of Militia and Defence, and of every officer of the Canadian Forces throughout the Dominion. This coöperation has been maintained throughout our work. Without it no success could have been attained. The spirit of good fellowship and help has been of inestimable value to all our recruiting officers, and later the same spirit, was encountered among the officials administering the Military Service Act, to whose work the operations of another force--engaged in recruiting men otherwise than through the Military Service Act organization, must have been a considerable trial. Instead of objections, the Corps encountered nothing but assistance.

GRAND TOTAL $1,406,809.00]

At the end of January, 1917, recruiting offices were opened in Toronto and Hamilton, with a trade test party in each place. The latter was shortly withdrawn as being unproductive, and merged into a central test station at Toronto. Simultaneously, and owing to great distances to be travelled and to difficulties encountered in obtaining suitable accommodation and facilities for trade testing at other centres, it was decided to establish merely recruiting offices at outside stations; and offices were opened at Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver, each in charge of an experienced officer trained by ourselves, assisted by a staff of non-commissioned officers and men from England. Oral tests were conducted here, the practical examination being given after arrival in Toronto.

The question of publicity presented a problem, to solve which the following methods were employed:

(1) Display advertisements in newspapers (large dailies).

(2) Written items of news and interesting articles.

(3) Classified advertisements for trades in the various want
advertising columns.

(4) Large posters of striking design used on bill-boards. These
posters were designed by an advertising company.

This work was supplemented by addresses and recruiting meetings.

The cost of (4) was too high to be maintained, and the results of (1) and (2) were so discouraging in the first month that another scheme was evolved. As a result of a conference with the National Board, some 10,000 skilled workers who had volunteered for national service were circularized with attractive literature. From this form of publicity only 860 enlistments were obtained, extending over a period of nearly six months.

On investigation, it was found that the first method of publicity had been so long used by local Canadian Forces that the effect lacked novelty, whereas information conveyed in articles dealing with aviation always brought results. Since display advertisements, however, were a sure means of reaching the public, they were continued, inasmuch as they served to stimulate the interest of the newspaper, and thereby helped in the placing of news items.

The entry of the United States into the war made it possible to endeavour to recruit British subjects across the line. Quarters were secured in New York, and officers visited many of the larger towns, such as Chicago, Boston, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis, etc., where the British Recruiting Mission had offices, and gave every possible assistance. Occasional visits were paid to these points, except in the case of New York, where an officer was permanently stationed, and from New York came the bulk of the men enlisted in the United States. Altogether about 627 British subjects were thus enrolled.

Owing to the distances between centres and the scattered population, practically all applications for enlistment were dealt with by correspondence, whether from headquarters or out-stations. Transportation had then to be given to bring the applicant probably at least 300 miles for a Medical Board, after which, if successful in passing the oral tests, etc., he was transported to Toronto. This journey, in the case of a man enlisting in Vancouver, occupied four days and covered 2,500 miles. Sleeping accommodation was provided, also meals en route. None of these difficulties were encountered in England.

The Medical Boards placed at our disposal by the Department of Militia and Defence were accustomed to pass for military service, that is category “A.” For the purposes of the R.F.C., as it then was, men of lower category than “A” were quite suitable, as no pack had to be carried and there was little or no route marching. The composition of the brigade is, therefore, very largely of men not fit for active service, and who have been rejected time and time again by the C.E.F. At the outset, Boards absolutely refused to pass for us applicants of a lower medical category than “A,” this because the Board was held responsible for any man returned as unfit on arrival in England and _charged_ with the cost of his transportation, etc. Further, the British practice of classifying men into “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “E” categories was not known. Each assistant director of medical service required to be acquainted with our methods and standards, causing, in consequence, considerable delay.

A further problem was that of pay. Whilst the Corps rate was 15c. higher for skilled labour than the Canadian forces for unskilled, a very high standard could not be set for trade test. The first question of each recruit was: “What is the pay?” “How much will my wife get?” and such answers as the recruiting officer could give were not very reassuring. In contrast with the Canadian overseas man, the prospect was, in truth, hardly attractive. The wife of the latter, owing to the benefactions of the Canadian Patriotic Fund (subscribed unofficially by Canadians) received $20.00 per month and $5.00 for each child, in addition to a percentage of her husband’s pay. As against this the brigade allowance looked meagre. The relief can be realized, therefore, when, a little later, the authorities of the Patriotic Fund, cognizant of the importance of R.F.C. work, and that R.F.C. recruits were principally married men, extended their generosity to the brigade as regarding men of category “A,” who were eligible for overseas service. Here, too, a tribute must be paid to R.F.C. men outside this category and unable to enjoy this special benefit. It speaks highly for the patriotism of Canadians that these mechanics carried cheerfully on, though under great personal and financial disadvantages.

In the early part of 1918, a number of category “A” men were liberated for the purpose of joining the C.E.F. and proceeded overseas, thus causing considerable shortage of labour in the Corps. Further recruiting appearing impossible, female labour was employed in the capacity of civilian subordinates. It was at first thought that these subordinates would be used only in unskilled trades and office routine, but it was soon evident that they could be trained for simpler and lighter mechanical work. A separate section being formed to handle recruiting and administration, a large number of patriotic women volunteered for duty with the Air Force, of whom 1,200 were selected. Through their work the brigade was tided over a serious shortage of labour. Unaccustomed to aeroplane work, and unacquainted with military routine, they have universally performed sterling service.

From the very first, civilian female subordinates were employed at headquarters and other units in a clerical capacity. In the autumn of 1918 they might have been seen in any of the shops or camps, dressed in dusters, caps and overalls, taking down engines, grinding valves, stripping aeroplanes and doing all forms of manual labour heretofore always performed by men. At the Repair Parks alone, 135 women were employed at technical trades, while at the various camps nearly 600 were carrying on as mechanics. In the capacity of motor drivers they rendered excellent service. A large proportion of the cars throughout the brigade at the present time are driven by them.

Too much praise cannot be given to the women who have been employed in many varying capacities by the R.A.F. throughout Canada. They have given the greatest satisfaction, and done their work in the most conscientious manner possible. Furthermore, in spite of many predictions, they have caused no trouble whatsoever, and submitted themselves apparently without effort to the necessary discipline of the Force.

The following notes, re female subordinates, may be of interest, showing their distribution:--

In Headquarters Offices and in various cities 115
Paymaster Department, Victoria St., Toronto 36
Recruits Depot, Jesse Ketchum, Toronto 18
No. 4 S. of A. University 90
Cadet Wing, Long Branch 9
Armament School, Hamilton 14
Aeroplane Repair Park, Toronto 134
Engine Repair Park, Toronto 65
Stores Depot, Toronto 180
Motor Transport Section, Toronto 50
Engineer Section, Toronto 3
School of Aerial Fighting, Beamsville 91
Forty-second Wing, Deseronto 230
Forty-third Wing, Leaside 161
-----
1,196

At the time of the signing of the armistice, over 7,000 men had been recruited for the mechanical section of the Royal Air Force, Canada. Nearly fifty per cent. of these were recruited by correspondence, and as many as 15,000 applications were handled through recruiting headquarters and the various out-stations.

GRAND TOTAL 16,663]

CADETS.

When on May 1st, 1917, the campaign was commenced, the assistance of the Aero Club of Canada was enlisted, and this society used its organization as a recruiting agency.

At the same time, endeavours were made to approach the students of public schools and universities by extensive circularization. It was estimated that about 600 cadet recruits could be handled for training for the balance of 1917, and about 1,500 in 1918, but although thirty-odd schools and colleges were thus approached, the scheme was unproductive of results. It was decided, therefore, to try out more thoroughly the idea of civilian recruiting committees, and bodies composed of about three influential, public men were organized in the following cities:--

Toronto, Ontario.
Montreal, Quebec.
Charlottetown, P. E. I.
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Regina, Saskatchewan.
Calgary, Alberta.
Vancouver, British Columbia.

These committees, being furnished with our medical standards, were empowered to interview applicants, have them examined by the local Medical Board and apply for transportation to Toronto for final test and approval. It will be understood that the committees were not active recruiting agents. They simply passed opinion on the men sent to them by the wing, all applications being made through headquarters. The Royal Flying Corps was by this time becoming known and talked about throughout Canada. Publicity was better managed, and there were received on an average twenty applications per day from the whole of Canada. Uneasiness was felt about this time as to an adequate supply of cadets being available. The demand was continually increasing. Towards the summer of 1917 it reached 300 per month. A little later in the fall it rose to 400 and 500 a month, requiring in two months what in April, 1917, had been estimated as the need for two-thirds of the whole year.

A new plan was therefore necessary. Statistical research indicated that past efforts had not reached the public except in large centres. It was, in consequence, determined to enlarge the civilian committee plan, and establish committees in every town of 10,000 inhabitants and over, throughout the whole of Canada. In places of less than 10,000, the assistance of at least one important man was sought to accomplish this, and the Dominion was completely divided into five recruiting districts with headquarters offices at Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. Each district was supplied with an officer in charge, and a second officer, whose duty it was to travel continually from place to place establishing committees and advise and assist those committees already established. The scheme proved very successful. About 350 civilian committees, with a total of over 1,000 members, were established throughout Canada, and the travelling officers, by the mere fact of their presence in the different towns, stimulated interest, and through interviews with local papers obtained publicity. Coincident with this, the matter of publicity was tackled in a serious way by a campaign whereby it was hoped to bring to the notice of every man in Canada the work being done by, or at least the name of, the Royal Air Force.

About this time the Military Service Act commenced to operate and there seemed a danger of all the available material being absorbed into C.E.F. units. A reserve class “B” was therefore started, and the surplus cadets were placed on this reserve.

From this time on, committees coöperating more fully, the number of applicants steadily increased and there has been no difficulty since then in supplying the demand for cadets.

The difficulties encountered in cadet recruiting were:--

(1) The task of informing the public that cadets would be taken
for training as pilots. Not only had the fact to be known that
men were wanted, but it was also necessary to say exactly what a
pilot had to do. There still seems to be an impression that it is
very difficult to gain admittance as a pilot.

(2) Before the Royal Flying Corps, Canada, was formed, pilots
were trained at a civilian school. They paid about $400 for
the course, and then had to take a chance of being accepted in
England. The general public required to be acquainted with the
fact that training was _free_ at an Army School.

(3) It was absolutely impossible to interview all the applicants
at headquarters or at brigade centres, or to deal with them by
correspondence. The committees formed were, therefore, given this
work, and as soon as they thoroughly realized the requirements,
they rendered the very greatest service, and have been, as
pointed out, the backbone of cadet recruiting.

(4) The medical examination of cadets presented almost similar
difficulties to that of mechanics. Brigade standards were
entirely different from those usually adopted by the local
boards. It was very difficult to secure an examination which was
anything more than superficial.

The Barany revolving chair is now employed, and in doubtful cases
trial flights involving specified tests are given. In this way
it has been possible to accept some borderline cases, where under
the old system rejections would have been inevitable.

(5) It should not be forgotten that in this, as well as in the
campaign for recruits, the same staff was employed.

The brigade was handicapped from the commencement by the absolutely inadequate staff provided. It has only been by most strenuous efforts in training officers and men in the work that it was carried on at all.

At the time of the signing of the armistice, 9,200 cadets had been enlisted for service, while 35,000 applications had been handled by headquarters and the various outstations.

RECORDS AND PERSONNEL SUPPLY

Unusually complete records of cadets and airmen enlisted were kept from the very commencement of work in Canada. Where documents were sent to officer in charge Records and the War Office, duplicates were always kept. For this reason no change in organization or administration was necessary when in September, 1917, the General Officer Commanding was appointed officer in charge Records for Canada.

The continuous growth of the Air Force in Canada has meant a corresponding growth in records. From time to time demands outgrew systems, and it became necessary to remodel, so as to conform to Imperial administration and yet dovetail with existing regulations and conditions in Canada.

All posting of mechanics and of cadets throughout their training has been carried out by this unit. The records of the training of mechanics, and their progressive history from station to station, have been maintained by the individual card system. A complete history of each cadet from the time he first made application until the time he proceeded overseas, through every stage of training and every movement, has been kept in minute detail.

New departments required organization to deal with pensions and other subjects on which there was very little information available; while the work of handling other sections, such as, discharges, was continually on the increase.

In many cases the forms called for by K. R. were not available, new forms being printed locally, also those used by the Medical Services, which, although provided by the Canadian Militia, were often not applicable to Imperial requirements.

It is found, however, on demobilization, that the records are in excellent shape, and that the information at the disposal of this office is complete.

Space does not permit of the printing of the hundreds of individual names making up the personnel of those committees in various towns to which the Corps is so greatly indebted, but to each and all, the General Officer Commanding tenders in the name of the Royal Air Force, his most sincere and hearty thanks for work, without which such progress as may be credited to the brigade could not have been achieved.

THE CADET WING.

The Cadet Wing, like its younger and larger brother the School of Aeronautics, found shelter at its birth in buildings most kindly loaned by the University of Toronto. This was at the beginning of March, 1917.

Prior to this, all R.F.C. cadets recruited had been equipped, accommodated and generally looked after at Victoria College by the Canadian Officers Training Corps, of the University of Toronto. This unit, together with the School of Infantry of the District, continued for some weeks to ration the cadets, but during hours of parade they came under the Cadet Wing for instruction.

Already there were in existence the Recruits Depot, Stores Depot and “X” Squadron at Long Branch. Up to now there had been no tuition prior to flying, except such as could be given by the much overworked but extremely efficient 2nd Lt. in command at Long Branch.

The strength of the Cadet Wing was, to commence with, some 50 cadets, taken care of in ground instruction by 2 officers, 3 non-commissioned officer instructors and some two or three clerks. Lectures covered artillery observation, organization of troops, military law and such technicalities as rigging, engines, etc. It will, therefore, be seen that the two officers in charge were required to call upon the sum total of their knowledge and experience to discharge their official duties. The wing was fed direct by the recruiting office, since cadets did not at first pass through Recruits Depot.

Gunnery instruction was added shortly, though the wing was woefully deficient in suitable material. Simultaneously courses were organized, and a regular programme set on foot. Through the courtesy of the O.C. School of Musketry Military District No. 2, arrangements were made by which all cadets took a course in machine gunnery at Hart House, including range practice. A Curtiss machine was secured (a peculiarly massive aeroplane, discarded as impractical by the Curtiss Company), and though no mechanical power would have lifted it into the air, its bones served to illustrate the anatomy of the structure of which it was a prototype. There was also one Curtiss and one motor car engine. It will be noted that by now the wing had assumed the threefold function of a Cadet Wing proper, a School of Aeronautics and an Armament School.

As can be understood, the course was not of any set length. The passage of a cadet through the organization depended upon his capacity to learn, and the requirements of the flying units. The first graduates proceeded to Long Branch where, equipped with such tuition as time had afforded, they began flying at once. By the end of April, drafts were sent to Borden, where further ground instruction was now being given.

Further expansion came in May, and with it additional help from the University authorities. The splendid buildings of Burwash Hall were secured from Victoria College, and the commodious East Residence rented from the University of Toronto. It is difficult to say what would have been the progress of this work of the Corps, were it not for the constant consideration received from the President, Governors and Superintendent of the University.

ARTILLERY OBSERVATION.]

With expansion, arrived also the need for some subdivision of duties. The Cadet Wing was too polyglot. It provided as much as humanly possible of everything, but not enough of anything. Came therefore the first demarcation between the Cadet Wing and the School of Military Aeronautics,--i.e. the junior and senior sections, though for official purposes of administration they were still unified. New instructional equipment arrived, and during May the strength of cadets rose to nearly 150.

Before passing on to later history, it is desired to give sincere and official recognition to the splendid work done at this early stage in spite of meagre facilities and an absurdly small staff. The difficulties encountered were many and serious. The wing was still in the throes of active service organization, but all eyes were turned to the output of cadets as the crux of the situation, and the means by which officers and men alike were to justify the programme then being worked out. The output has never failed, but at no period did it involve greater personal strain and effort than in these first two or three months of this unit’s existence.

On June the 11th, a staff of nine officers and thirty-eight men arrived from England to form officially the School of Aeronautics, and took over general instruction at the Cadet Wing prior to the final subdivision of the latter. This occurred on July 14th when the wing moved out to summer quarters at Long Branch which was then given up by “Y” Squadron as an aerodrome. Work continued with constantly increasing numbers, till the winter of 1917, when, on the departure of the 42nd and 43rd Wings for Texas, the unit divided itself between Borden and Mohawk for some six months. Here instruction continued without interruption till April 4th, 1918, on which date the two sections re-amalgamated at Long Branch, with a strength that now reached a staff of 200 officers and men and 900 cadets.

The formation of the Armament School in the early summer permitted the wing to cease elementary gunnery instruction and devote more time to drill, discipline and wireless, but it should be remembered that the Armament School was the logical expansion of work previously carried out at the Cadet Wing and School of Aeronautics.

In the summer of 1918, the wing was on the lines of an infantry battalion, with four squadrons and a headquarters company. Drill, physical training, wireless, topography and air force law were in the curriculum, but the essential and psychological duty of this unit was to impress on the new recruit those fundamental precepts of military discipline, honour and self respect on which his future career alone could be successfully based.

As to relaxation there was begun on July 18th an excellent monthly magazine, “The Cadet Wing Review,” which is second to none of similar publications. Local talent also conducted a theatre which was a veritable centre of attraction.

Through this summer, the average strength was 200 staff, and 1,100 cadets. To house them for the winter, large barracks had just been completed at the close of hostilities. The output of cadets of the unit will be noted by the graph on page 161.

GRAND TOTALS. CADET WING 6695

ARMAMENT SCHOOL 1225]

SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS.

By May 1917, it had become quite apparent that ground training of cadets demanded an expansion of treatment which could not be afforded by the then existing Cadet Wing, however, valiantly the latter unit might strive, and on the 15th a chief instructor, for the purpose of starting a School of Military Aeronautics, was ordered to proceed to Canada, taking with him eight other officers and thirty-eight men of various ranks as a nucleus of an instructional staff.

This advance party worked in conjunction with the Cadet Wing until July 1st, on which date No. 4 School of Military Aeronautics was recorded as a separate and official organization.

The anticipated expansion immediately took place, aided very greatly by the assistance, not only of the President of the University of Toronto, but also of the professors of that institution who gave up room after room, often at great inconvenience to themselves. About this time, also, a large shipment of aeroplanes and engines for instructional purposes was forwarded from England. It was unfortunately lost on the way out, the immediate effect being that for the first few months all practical instruction was confined to the Curtiss engine and JN4 aeroplane.

The length of the course given during this period was three weeks, but at the end of the month it was increased to four, and comprised six flights, covering engines, rigging, wireless, artillery observation, machine guns, and instruments and bombs.

(Note the Cadet Camp lying north of main University Building.)]

The importance of the work done at this unit was now most firmly established. The length of the course was increased in September to six weeks, and it was arranged that three courses went through the school at a time, each composed of 150 cadets with two weeks intervening. By now the strength of the unit had increased to 19 officers, 119 non-commissioned officers and men, 149 United States army and naval cadets and 261 Imperial cadets. Occupation of the buildings so kindly furnished by the University authorities covered Burwash Hall, East and South residences, School of Practical Science, Medical Building, portion of Convocation Hall, Thermodynamics Building and dining halls in University and Victoria College.

In September, instruction was further expanded by the formation of a school at the factory of the Canadian Aeroplanes Limited, where members of flying units received introduction to the theory and principle of aeroplane construction. There were three courses, each lasting eighteen days, and each being divided into ten squads, members of which remained together throughout their entire period of instruction. Examinations were set and corrected by an examining party at the School under direct supervision of the Commandant, when sixty-five per cent. of marks was necessary before a cadet passed through and was posted to a flying unit.

In the month of December, 1917, the strength of cadets greatly increased and it became necessary to draw again on the goodwill of the University authorities and occupy Wycliffe College. Simultaneously a pool was formed in a remodeled hotel, Haydon House, some four miles from the School, where were housed such cadets as the flying units were unable to take owing to the reduced amount of flying during the winter months. By the end of the year cadets on the strength amounted to 721.

Training material now began to arrive more regularly from England, and, as a result, the instruction given was considerably diversified.

In March, 1918, a seventh flight was formed for the study of aerial navigation, in which much more complete instruction was given in map reading and course plotting. Machine gun instruction was transferred to the Armament School at Hamilton, and the time thus secured given to further study of aerial navigation.

The practical education of the mechanics taught at the School was ensured by the construction at Leaside of engine running sheds, in which engines of various types were set up and their operations drilled into all pupils under conditions which simulated those on active service as nearly as possible. Considerable improvement in the engine knowledge of cadets was immediately noticeable.

On April 1st, cadets in training at the School, now called No. 4 School of Aeronautics, had reached 1,277, while the staff was composed of 26 officers and 230 non-commissioned officers and men, with the inevitable result that another residence was taken over from the University, with housing capacity for 185.

Again a flight was added to the course, this time for observers, and by July all cadets thus passing through the unit received instruction in aerial navigation, instruments, reconnaissance, organization of the Army and R.A.F., and general military knowledge, photography, engines, rigging and wireless.

In September, the process of engine instruction was still further advanced by discarding the fixed stands to which Curtiss engines had been rigidly attached, and substituting in their stead sections of aeroplane fuselages so balanced as to be capable of vertical adjustment, thus simulating the action of machines when in the air. To these were attached Clerget engines, which it was now proposed to use in conjunction with the Avro machines contemplated for flying instruction. This departure from the reciprocating to the rotary type made it necessary to organize special classes of tuition for non-commissioned officers and men from various flying units. In this course, the assistance given by the School Board of Toronto by the use of a portion of the Lippincott Technical School proved greatly to the advantage of the brigade.

GRAND TOTAL 6171]

CADET CAMP, UNIVERSITY LAWN.

(Note “Aerial” of this Camp on page 164.)]

The only further change made in the system of instruction at the School of Aeronautics, was the introduction of the block system in October, 1918, under which forty hours were allotted to engines, twenty-seven to aerial navigation, twenty to wireless, twenty-six to rigging and thirty to artillery observation. The observers’ flight was carried on independently of the above, and the ninety hours’ instruction given to the latter on technical subjects covered all requirements.

In concluding this very brief sketch of an extremely important section of the brigade, it is desired to specially acknowledge the services of not only the instructing officers but also of the non-commissioned officers and men on the staff. It fell to the duty of many sergeants and corporals to demonstrate the principles and theories of highly technical appliances, and to demonstrate them moreover in many cases to men who were much their seniors and who had had the advantage of a modern and expensive education. It was, however, uniformly observed that the non-commissioned officers who occupied this highly responsible and difficult position, discharged their duty not only with a dignity beyond all praise, but also with an exemplary clearness based on an intimate knowledge of the subject. They were confronted very often with questions which would have confused many who laid definite claim to higher attainments, but it has not yet been found that any one of them was lacking either in the technical qualification or the power of self expression which was necessary for the satisfactory discharge of their duties. The marked improvement in the all-round ability of cadets arriving at the various flying wings after the School of Aeronautics had had time to finally find itself, is due to the excellent work done by officers and non-commissioned officers alike at this unit.

ARMAMENT SCHOOL.

It is a far cry from the one-time pilot who, between the vagaries of his machine, took pot shots at his opponent with a revolver or sporting rifle, to his successor of to-day armed with a machine gun that discharges bullets at the rate of 600 per minute through a four-bladed propeller revolving at the rate of 1,200 times a minute. It was, therefore, the object of instruction at the Armament School to so train the would-be pilot that he might have a thoroughly grounded knowledge of the weapons he was destined to use. The need of special tuition there given was further accentuated by the increasing pressure on the instructors at the School of Aeronautics.

In March, 1918, the O.C. proposed to the War Office that this School be set on foot immediately, and matters had been so far advanced by May that necessary construction was well under way. Here again the R.A.F., Canada, was fortunate in being the recipient of much consideration from Canadian organizations. On learning that accommodation was required for the purposes of the School, the Canadian Westinghouse Company Limited, one of the most important industrial concerns in Canada, most generously offered the use of a large factory in Hamilton free of charge, together with adjacent grounds, and shortly afterwards the brigade was further helped by permission to use the area of a 9-hole golf course immediately adjoining. This very considerate proposal was made by the Hamilton Golf Club, and was gratefully accepted.

These preliminaries successfully arranged, the matter began to move rapidly.

AEROPLANE DESIGN, SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS.]

In May three officers and two non-commissioned officers left England to form the nucleus of the instructional staff, bringing with them such material as could be provided at the moment. The Aviation Department of the Imperial Munitions Board assumed responsibility for the physical portion of the work in hand, under the supervision of the Royal Engineers section of the brigade. This provision included ranges, armouries, workshops, instructional and lecture buildings, a hospital, and the general adaptation of the interior of the factory buildings to the purposes required.

All this advanced so swiftly that by June 19th, the factory building was equipped, and the Armament School, which up to this time had formed a portion of the Cadet Wing at Long Branch, moved to its new quarters on June 20th.

The course of instruction called for a much further excursion into applied mechanics than any portion of the tuition formerly given. As it progressed, it soon became evident that the embryonic pilot was keen for intimate knowledge of the guns on the efficiency of which his future victories depended, and his general course was so modulated as to give him the opportunity to master the last detail. The question of a method of sighting which would allow a deflected aim to be laid on a moving machine received mathematical attention, as was also the synchronizing of a gun with the revolving blades of the propeller. On this and other points, information was continually being received and communicated through the School to other units of the brigade.

Drafts of cadets, arriving on Wednesday afternoons, were immediately handed over to the quartermaster’s department, where arrangements for their domestic comfort were made for the four or five weeks they were to remain. The following morning instruction began, first with one gun, its description, action, care and possible troubles in the air, accompanied by range work and constant handling. The question of aiming was gradually introduced and ran progressively throughout the course, until the pupil felt that he could, without effort, fire the gun in the air, making allowances for his own speed and direction, his enemy’s speed, direction and range, and instantaneously adapt his fire to meet the ever-varying and never-ending manoeuvres of his own and his enemy’s machine.

Both guns and sights having been mastered, the cadet was introduced to the subject of gearing his gun to fire through his propeller at varying rates of revolutions. The principle upon which this gearing depended, though one of great difficulty in instruction, was nevertheless the subject which, of all others, provoked the greatest interest amongst the pupils.

Arrangements were completed to enable the pilot actually to carry out the process of synchronizing his gears and propeller under conditions which perfectly simulated his position in a machine. He was thus enabled to watch the principle at work.

Instruction being completed in two guns, ammunition, aerial bomb sights and synchronizing gears, another section of the School undertook the pupils’ training in bombs, bomb dropping and bomb sights.

The increasing importance of this subject was appropriately balanced by the very wide range of sights and bomb-dropping apparatus demonstrated by specially experienced instructors, whereby the pupil was made cognizant of all the operations of loading bombs on machines, fusing them, attaching the necessary releasing gear, and so loading his machine that he could at will drop any type of bomb suited to any target which might suddenly present itself, from a group of infantry which needed scattering, to the ammunition dump to be exploded.

CADET BARRACKS, ARMAMENT SCHOOL, HAMILTON.]

CLERGET ENGINE ON ROCKING NACELLE.]

CADET SPORTS.]

ENGINE REPAIR, CAMP BORDEN.]

The peculiar path taken by a bomb in falling from a machine with a forward momentum imparted by the speed of the machine, needed very special mathematical calculation to enable the pilot to release it at a considerable distance from his objective, and to this end a variety of bomb sights were explained and practised with from dummy machines with unfused bombs over mechanically moving scenery.

The flying camps, to which cadets were posted on the completion of their course in elementary gunnery, carried on further practices in coöperation with this school, and instructors were sent to these wings from time to time to coöperate, and to insure that no gaps or overlaps occurred in the cadet’s training. By this means the pilot who left this country for overseas was assured that he had covered every section of the field of armament, and that no situation was likely to occur during his flying career with which he could not deal.

In addition to the training of embryo pilots, courses of instruction were conducted for observers, during which, for a period of three weeks, they were made competent to handle the gun which they would be required to use overseas. By the use of guns with camera attachment, recording a photograph on a graduated screen instead of firing a shot, the resultant photograph revealed to the observer the effect of his shoot, and his graduation was not considered complete until he was able to produce a collection of photographs which evidenced an automatic and deadly aim.

During the period in which this School operated, an average of more than 400 cadets per month was instructed, and the record which each carried overseas showed a complete and thorough course of ground training performed entirely under Canadian tuition.

AERIAL GUNNERY.

For the first few months, the Corps had an all sufficiency of work in organizing depots, selecting aerodromes, arranging for recruiting, and numberless other activities on all of which largely depended whatever future success might be achieved. There was no aerial gunnery for the reason that there were no instructors. What had been done on the ground was elementary, and reasonably so, due to the lack of material. Matters moved forward when the first instructors arrived in Canada on April 25th, 1917, and, having formed a class of picked mechanics (the instructors of the future), enabled the School of Aerial Gunnery to be organized at Camp Borden on May 1st.

The School had just two guns and 18 pupils--the historic “eighteen” who formed the first shipment of real pilots. The latter had no aerial work--the overseas call was too imperative--but each fired 40 rounds at a ground target.

Meantime the School of Aeronautics was busy, and the effect became noticeable. Camp Borden, relieved of much elementary training, did higher and aerial work, and got for itself ranges, fixed targets and silhouettes. The course lengthened to three weeks with 100 rounds fired in the air from a Lewis gun--no aerial Vickers being available. In July came more guns and equipment from England, the second course began with 62 cadets and the state of affairs definitely improved. Camera guns turned up, and became instantly popular. Work commenced on fitting a timing gear so that the gun might shoot through the propeller. The chief disadvantage was the shortage of serviceable machines available.

SYNCHRONIZING GEAR.]

In August began the third course with sixty-six cadets and an organization fairly complete, being forty officers and ten N.C.O. instructors. Now, too a JN4 machine was converted to a JN4A with the pilot in front and a Scarff mounting behind for the observer, as in the Bristol fighter. A decided acquisition this, and a quantity were ordered. Surprise deflection shooting was introduced. It was a busy and interesting period.

The fourth course in September had 124 cadets. The tuition given was of proved value. Lectures came in by the fighting instructor, and naturally increased the pupils’ confidence. The latter were now firing 750 rounds from the ground and 150 from the air, and the squadron worked at high pressure to give each pupil three hours’ aerial gunnery flying--a matter of difficulty owing to the scarcity of machines with synchronized guns. It was probably due to this that cadets were getting too much Lewis gun observers’ work. The fault was rectified, though the mountings were not entirely satisfactory.

The fifth course began in October with a total of 238 pupils, who proceeded with the unit to Texas and enjoyed excellent facilities which had been foreseen and provided. The number of available machines increased, and were divided into C.C. gear (synchronized gear) camera gun and turret machine flights. Actual aerial instruction was given twenty-four hours after arrival at this far Southern field.

The history of Royal Flying Corps gunnery in Texas is a progressive document, too lengthy to give in detail. Here the unit had its first target practice over water--Lake Worth proving ideal for the purpose, and instruction was greatly aided owing to a better observation of fire and a clearer angle of approach. In December the pupils turned out numbered 264, an average flying time of practically five hours--a marked improvement.

In January the aerial work of the School was further increased. Range work (25 yards) was taken over by the wings. All synchronized guns were moved from the side of the cowling to the top, thus creating active service conditions. No. 2 squadron came into being with twelve machines, giving 30 in toto, the work being done by flights. Two machines were converted to Canadian Gothas, with the gun firing through the bottom of the fuselage. The output of pupils increased to 310, with average flying time of 5½ hours.

February saw the use of a good armour-plated disappearing and running target, and cadets also fired from a cage that travelled along a cableway between two towers, but the speed was too low to be of value. The February output was 313 pupils. The instructing personnel had now increased to 60 officers (50 flying), 1 warrant officer, 60 N.C.O.’s and 250 men.

March, a busy month, with 336 pupils and flying time average of 6½ hours, was a record in output and time flown.

April saw the School on its own aerodrome at Beamsville, Ontario, where facilities were ahead of anything heretofore existing. Came as well a third squadron. The output was 243 pupils, all R.F.C. with 7 hours and 40 minutes flying, the record time to date.

In the following month the syllabus was amended, this being the result of a visit to England by the officer in charge of Canadian training. All straight target shooting was abolished, and deflection sights were introduced so as to allow for a speed of 100 m.p.h. of an enemy machine. Small model aeroplanes were built and set up beside the targets. At these the pupil aimed, the deflection of the gun sights bringing his shots on to the target where their accuracy was of course registered. No less than 17 various practices were laid down. The improvement in ground work soon became noticeable.

BESIDE THE FUSELAGE.

VARIOUS GUN MOUNTINGS.

GROUND PRACTICE.]

In May, also, the Armament School opened at Hamilton, and relieved the School of Aerial Gunnery of giving elementary instruction after pupils had already learned to fly.

During June a fourth squadron was added to train observers exclusively, enabling the School to adopt the ideal principle of giving all pilot cadets synchronized gear and camera gun training, and all observer cadets instruction in Lewis and turret camera guns, the sequence being as follows:--

1. 1 hour dual camera gun--12 pictures of silhouette taken by
diving on it from behind.

2. 1 hour dual, with pictures of a target machine in the air,
allowing for speed of 100 m.p.h. and necessary deflection.

3. Dual, on C.C. gear (instructor in back seat) diving at angle
of 60° to 45° at silhouettes in Lake Ontario, 200 rounds or one
hour.

4. Dual, 1 hour or at least 60 rounds with gun stoppages. This
determines the pupil’s proficiency in clearing jambs.

5. Dual, enfiling with C.C. gear, 200 rounds diving from 1,000 to
100 feet at dummy trench in Lake Ontario.

During all firing over the water, observations are taken from a watch tower, and a complete report of all results is compiled.

There follows then another 4 hours’ dual, after which the pupil goes solo and repeats all he has previously done under the watchful eye of his instructor.

Arriving at the final instructional squadron, there ensues an ultimate 4 hours’ dual work before the nearly graduated pilot is asked to do one spiral, two vertical banks, three loops, four Immelmann turns, five half-rolls and six complete rolls. During all this time he is equipped with a camera gun, and expected to manoeuvre into a position favorable for attacking another machine, simultaneously avoiding being photographed himself by an opponent.

This brought about marked proficiency, and it was proved quite clearly that pilots had been going overseas with too much straight shooting and not enough practice during stunting. The new system, however, brought tuition up to conditions actually existing at the front at the time. Several experienced pilots became available, and their lectures were most valuable. The output of cadets was (June) 182, but the average flying had gone up to 11 hours.

In July the School became that of Aerial Fighting--a more descriptive title, since tactics were so prominent in its course. The contrast with June of 1917 was somewhat remarkable, there being now 92 officers and 700 other ranks. During this month rocking nacelles and Scarff mountings were introduced for all ground work, and all pilot instructors were arranged to be examined monthly. This led to the discovery that refresher courses were necessary in cases, these being forthwith commenced. The month’s output was 262, with flying time with guns of 11 hours.

In August, the observers’ course was well under way, being a modification of that arranged for pilots. There was naturally no C.C. shooting, but instruction covered every practical method of firing at possible targets from the observer’s seat. This month there were graduated 246 pupils with a slightly reduced flying time of 9½ hours.

RANGES--BEAMSVILLE.]

(SINCE OUT OF DATE.)]

By September pupils were passing all tests under the same instructor in any one squadron. This, coupled with the use of speaking tubes, was of considerable help. Further guns, gears and equipment had come in from England, and the situation was now vastly different from that which pertained to earlier months when the School was forced to manufacture much of its own equipment. Instruction was going well, and the output reached 270, with a flying time of more than 9 hours.

The officer personnel expanded in October to 110, this being of great assistance. Pilots were limited to three hours per day in the air, and, in consequence, machines had not been reaching a maximum flying time. The effect of good instruction at the Armament School was now most noticeable, as pupils were coming through with increased technical knowledge of gunnery and guns. The first Canadian-built Avro machine was flown during this month, with a most satisfactory performance. The output touched 281 and flying time 10 hours.

Such in brief is the record. The value may best be judged by the service rendered by those who passed from the harmless silhouettes floating on the smooth surface of Lake Ontario to engage the deadlier machines that haunted the high altitudes over the Western front.

CAMERA GUNNERY.

Before carrying out aerial practice with machine guns, embryo pilots and observers are required to attain a certain standard in camera gun work, both on the ground and in the air. The camera used is designed to resemble, both in operation and in appearance, the Lewis machine gun, the difference being that upon the trigger being released the camera gun registers a photograph upon a film. Reloading is by pulling back the cocking handle, which brings another film into place.

Practices being concluded, the cadet takes his own film to the nearest photographic sub-station, where it is developed in about ten minutes, and, still wet, is then submitted to the instructor, who forthwith criticizes the work of his pupil in the presence of the latter.

The camera gun is best suited for enabling the pupil (pilot or observer) to ascertain his proficiency in the use of deflection sights, and his ability to place the enemy machine in correct position in the ring, according to his line of flight. Errors in aiming are checked by the photograph being taken through a glass screen, this being marked with circles, each valued at seven and a half feet taken from 200 yards’ distance, which is the distance advised for commencing a combat. On examining the film, after development, the instructor can explain the error in deflection or elevation by the position of the machine in relation to the rings.

In the illustrations, these being from camera gun films, will be noted the enemy machine as seen by the gunner through the ring sight at the moment of firing. In the first case the aim is low and to the right. In the second print the pupil has fired low and in front. The encircled dot shows the point at which the gunner should have aimed when the pilot of the target machine was flying directly toward the inner ring at 100 miles per hour.

On taking to the air with the camera gun, the observer is piloted by an instructor, and is initiated not only in the photographing of other machines, but also in manoeuvres which have for their object the avoidance of being photographed by the opposing camera gun. Finally, the pupil engages in aerial combat with another machine piloted by a “hostile” instructor, and each machine attempts to “shoot down” the other. In this contest the pilot or observer who obtains the most accurate pictures is counted the victor. Every principle of aerial fighting as taught both in lectures and in the air, is practised, and upon its completion the results, as inflexibly registered by the camera gun, are subject to the keenest criticism.

WIRELESS.

It was, of course, recognized from the very first that thorough acquaintance not only with every means of communication from the air to the ground, but also ability to read every signal necessarily transmitted from the ground to the air, was one of the most important requirements in the training of a pilot.

The ranging of guns (particularly heavies), the finding of targets and their destruction have all been successfully accomplished by coöperation between the pilot and the communicating battery. Numberless devices have been experimentally tried such as coloured lights, signalling by lamps, etc., etc.; but none proved a means of communication which was not only reliable but which also afforded no invitation to attack by the enemy. As the outcome, the wireless system from the aeroplane to the ground, and ground strips, or panneau, from the ground to the aeroplane were adopted and uniformly used. As far as concerns the training work of the Canadian wing of the Royal Flying Corps, the methods used were naturally those already established in England.

On arrival at the Recruits’ Depot, the cadet received his first initiation, together with a small amount of instruction in the code used. Moving hence to the Cadet Wing at Long Branch, wireless formed a definite part of the routine of the day’s work. The cadet was required to successfully send and receive six words per minute, and for purposes of instruction telephones were connected to the buzzer circuits. In the tuition of sending, Morse recorders operated by means of a silenced key were installed, and picture targets, constructed with miniature lamps shining haphazardly through small holes, were operated from a switchboard. These represented shell bursts which the cadet was required instantly to locate and report.

With six weeks’ of wireless at the Cadet Wing, the pupil proceeded to the School of Aeronautics for further instruction, and heard lectures on picture target work and artillery coöperation from experienced observers. Requirements now demanded eight words per minute. After examination, his next step was to the elementary training wing at either Deseronto or Borden, where he not only carried on ground work, but also put into actual practice in the air the instruction already received.

Moving on to North Toronto he reached the stage of final tuition in this section of his course. At varying distances from this station, puff targets were provided to simulate shell bursts, and the embryo pilot conducted himself as though on active service by locating the shoot and reporting it with necessary adjustments to the battery receiving station. Such was the value attached to this phase of training, that eighty per cent. of the observations sent down were required to be correct before the pupil was considered passed. The tests included reading ground messages, bomb dropping, etc., the latter being checked by a camera obscura hut which was used as the target. In this process it was necessary that the cadet adjust his bomb sights both for the speed and altitude of his machine. This being done, his wireless key was depressed and the actual position of his machine recorded in the camera obscura hut at the moment of signalling, which moment, it was understood, was the instant at which the bomb would have been dropped were the machine in actual service. The result recorded infallibly the amount of judgment which had been used. Some idea of the extent of this School may be gathered from the fact that a tour around the batteries involved a 60 mile trip. Bomb-dropping, though having no connection with artillery observation, was here practised as a matter of convenience.

POPHAM PANNEAU.]

GROUND STRIPS.]

If it be asked why the pilot does not receive as well as send wireless messages while in the air, it may be stated that up to the present the difficulties of receiving on a trailing aerial have been such that what might be termed a graphic ground method has proved preferable. Large ground strips are, on active service, an invitation for bombardment by the enemy and are being aided by the Popham Panneau, a method of signalling consisting of the rapid forming up of small, symmetrical, rectangular figures, by arrangements of white bands capable of rapid variation. In general they are the combination of the letter “T” with short, symmetrical additions.