EATS & WAGS - 1939-1945

World War II saw Australia produce 10,434 wireless air gunners (WAGs) and send to Canada for training as WAGs a further 3,309. These men were to see service in every major theatre of war, in the Air Forces of several nations, in many types of operations, and in a wide variety of aircraft.

When Australia entered the war on September 3 1939, the personnel strength of the RAAF was 310 officers and 3,179 airmen, including about 900 aircrew, 450 of whom were in the UK and Middle East serving in the RAF. Also included were No.

10 Squadron crews then in the UK to take delivery of Sunderland flying boats. Aircraft strength was 246, including 164 so-called operational aircraft, many of which were obsolete types such as Ansons, Demons and Seagulls.

Australia at once offered to make available to Great Britain an Air Expeditionary Force of six squadrons. However, the introduction of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, better known in Australia as the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) necessitated a substantial change to the early role of the RAAF.

On September 26 1939, the broad details of a comprehensive EATS envisaged by the British Air Ministry were communicated to the Dominions. The Australian War Cabinet approved the scheme in principle on October 5 1939, and sent a mission to Canada for a meeting with representatives from Great. Britain and the other Dominions to get the scheme under way. Article XV of the EATS agreement made provision for aircrew contingents to retain their Dominion identity while serving under the control of the RAF by the formation of Article XV Squadrons.

Australia could form 18 such Squadrons and was allocated the Squadron numbers 450 to 469.

The Four Party Agreement of November 1939 between the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand provided that 7/9ths of the Australian personnel should receive full training in Australia and 2/9ths should receive their advanced training in Canada. Australia then had to set up a training organisation capable of accepting for training and turning out every four weeks 280 pilots, 184 air observers and 320 WAGS, plus 80 pilot trainees to Canada after EFTS and 42 air observers and 7 wireless operator trainees to Canada after initial training. The role of the RAAF now became two-fold: first to proceed as far as possible with the program of expansion of the Home Defence Force and secondly to implement the Aircrew Training Scheme. The requirements of the latter from its very inception made severe inroads on both aircrew and ground staff strengths of the Home Defence.

To meet the requirements of the EATS, 49 airfields were necessary, plus living quarters, instructional buildings, administrative quarters, hangars, workshops and flight control buildings. A large recruiting organisation was established. The Educational Service was expanded to provide education officers for the instruction of aircrew in a wide range of technical subjects. Pilot instructors were drawn from the Permanent and Citizens' Air Force and from instructors at Aero clubs, as well as some loaned from the RAF, including Air Chief Marshal Burnett, RAF, who was appointed to the position of Chief of the Air Staff , RAAF.

Recruiting then began for aircrew. In the early days, selection was made on personal characteristics and the perceived ability to handle technical training.

Aptitude testing did not begin till April 1941. Much emphasis was placed on the medical examination which took a full day. A protracted mercury test was administered to measure lung and breathing capacity. A1B medical standard was required for training as pilots and A3B the minimum for other aircrew duties.

Successful enlistees were then inducted into the RAAF Reserve to await call-up, which could take months. In November 1940 a course of 21 lessons was instituted for Reservists to brush up on trigonometry, physics and some maths. Aircrew trainees had a separate number scheme, a six-figure number, the first two digits of which indicated the year of the course intake and a separate initial rank of Aircraftman II (AC2) for the period of initial training.

The first intake, number 1 Course, began on 29 April 1940. 45 of the first call-up were drafted to No.1 Wireless Air Gunners School Ballarat and there learned that they would train as WAGS. This was quite unexpected as they, and the next 40,000 to follow, all wanted to become pilots, all overlooking the statistic that at the most only 35% of those accepted for aircrew training would have the opportunity to try for pilot, 24% would train as Navigators and 40% as WAGS. It is believed that for early courses, mustering was based on alphabetical order. 1 Course WAGS included a gentleman from Perth who was a licensed pilot. Those who protested at not being chosen for pilot training were told not to worry, you can re-muster later. "Later" turned out to be at least one operational tour later.

Number 1 Course WAGS did 4 weeks initial training, 24 weeks wireless training, radio theory, D/F loops, radio practical and Morse code to a minimum standard of 22 words per minute, send and receive. Then 4 weeks gunnery at Number 1 Bombing and Gunnery School (BAGS) Evans Head, graduating as Sergeant Wireless Air Gunners on 11s 6d plus crew pay per day, and sailed for the Middle East to Bombay on February 2, 1941. From No. 3 Course it became the practice to Commission two WAGS off course as Pilot Officers.

In January 1941, No. 2 WAGS, Parkes, was ready to open. On January 6, 40 NSW reservists and 40 Queensland reservists reported as 10 Course WAGS for 4 weeks initial training at Amberley, thence to Parkes, as the first Course at 2 WAGS, then to 1 BAGS for Air gunnery. No 1 WAGS continued to cater to WAG trainees from other states.

In August 1941 a major change to the scheme was the introduction of 8 weeks initial training (ITS) for all aircrew trainees. At the completion of this 8 weeks course, mustering was decided by an Aircrew Categorisation Board. Trainees were then posted to a Wireless Air Gunners School, an Air Observers School or to an Elementary Flying School (EFTS) according to the mustering allotted to them by the Board. A white flash in the Forage Cap was introduced to denote aircrew trainee.

To cater for Queensland trainees and as part of the planned expansion of the scheme to 978 inductees every 4 weeks, number 3 ITS Sandgate Queensland opened in January 1941, later moved to Kingaroy November 1942. Number 3 WAGS Maryborough, Queensland opened in September 1941 to cater for all trainees allocated WAG mustering from 3 ITS, plus 3 or 4 WAG trainees from 2 ITS Bradfield Park. 2 WAGS trained the balance of WAG trainees from 2 ITS, and 1 WAGS Ballarat catered for southern trainees. The first course at 3 WAGS, 19 Course commenced training October 16 1941.

By now the RAAF had under the EATS 5 Elementary Flying Schools, 3 Air Navigation Schools, 2 Air Observers Schools, 3 Bombing and Gunnery Schools, and 3 Wireless Air Gunners Schools.

With the entry of Japan into the war in December 1941 and the perceived threat to Australia, War Cabinet required the RAAF to take stock of the general situation and of the E.A.T.S. Sailing of EATS drafts was unilaterally suspended. At this stage Australia had, for Home Defence, 29 Hudsons and 4 Catalinas, some Wirraways, Fairey Battles and Ansons, plus 4 Squadrons in Singapore and Malaya. Numbers 1 and 8 Squadrons with Hudsons and 21 and 453 with Brewster Buffaloes.

By December 1941, the Australian Aircraft Industry was producing Tiger Moths, Wacketts, Wirraways and Beauforts, which were only just starting to come off line - 10 had been produced by the end of 1941. Training courses in Australia were entirely disrupted and intakes deferred.

On February 24 1942, War Cabinet decided to continue to provide the agreed quota of aircrew under the EATS agreement with minor modifications - mainly to be allowed to retain in Australia sufficient aircrew to fill RAAF squadrons at home, to get RAAF Article XV Squadrons into the Pacific theatre and to return aircrew with operational experience to RAAF units at home.

Overseas embarkment resumed, but the practice of sending pilot trainees to Rhodesia was discontinued. It was to be some time before the RAAF had enough aircraft to retain in Australia reasonable numbers of EATS trained aircrew.

In March 1942 the mustering of Observer was changed to Navigator and WAGs began to lose their gunnery function. Those going to Bomber Command would remuster to Wireless Operator Air, an S wing replacing the AG wing.

By late 1942 EATS aircrew were arriving in the UK in large numbers, 670 RAAF Australian trained every 4 weeks and, of course, a much larger number of Canadian trained RAF and Dominion aircrew. In October 1942, Number 11 PDRC (Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre) was set up in Bournemouth UK as the receiving station for the RAAF aircrew arriving there. In May 1943, 11 PDRC moved to Brighton, taking over the Grand and Metropole Hotels on the waterfront.

By late 1943 pilots would wait at Brighton 3 to 4 months before getting to an AFU and there was no call for single engine pilots. At this stage Fighter Command had 945 more pilots than they had aircraft. WAGs would wait 2 months for posting to an AFU. These delays grew longer in early 1944. Bomber Command had a reserve stock of nearly 7000 trained aircrew. Early in 1942 the RAF had decided to dispense with the 2nd pilot in heavy bombers.

On April 22 1944, the RAF asked that despatch of fully trained aircrew for March and April be delayed. All courses in Australia were then extended by 4 weeks. This RAF request was then rescinded largely because of big losses by Bomber Command in January, February and March of 1944. In those 3 months 80% of all aircrew on Squadrons at Christmas 1943 did not see the dawn of Good Friday.

Embarkations resumed, but numbers continued to build up so, late in April 1944, the RAF requested no more pilots after June 1944 and no more WAGs and Navigators after December 1944. As a result of this the Australian intake of aircrew trainees was reduced in May 1944 to 630 every 4 weeks and in June 1944 the Air Ministry requested the cessation of all overseas drafts. The RAAF then started to close down the Empire Air Training Scheme.

No. 2 WAGS had already closed. The last course to graduate from Parkes was 41 Course on 30 December, 1943. 42 Course at Parkes moved to 1 WAGS to complete their training. No. 3 WAGS ceased training in July 1944, the last course to graduate being 47 Course. Some aircrew training continued but not as part of the EATS. In February 1945, the manpower position in Australia compelled a further reduction in RAAF new recruits and virtually brought an end to aircrew training.

In all, 17 Article XV squadrons were formed, 1 short of the agreed 18. There were 6 fighter squadrons two of which, 452 and 457, returned to Australia in January 1943, with 54 Squadron, RAF and Spitfires. There were 3 squadrons in the Middle East and in the UK, one medium Bomber Squadron, later equipped with Mosquitoes, 1 Coastal Command Squadron joined 10 Squadron which, of course, was not an Article XV squadron and 6 squadrons with Bomber Command.

In April 1945 the plan was for 2 Article XV squadrons and 10 RAF squadrons from Bomber Command to go to Okinawa to join the offensive against Japan. The atom bomb ended the "Tiger Force" plan.

By the end of 1941 Australia had 5 RAAF squadrons, as distinct from Article XV squadrons, serving overseas. By the end of 1943 the number of squadrons had grown to 37 RAAF operational in the Pacific area, and two still overseas, two NEI squadrons and six RAAF transport squadrons. The gradual availability of quality aircraft allowed the RAAF to steadily build up aircrew numbers at home so that by August 1945 the RAAF had 14,500 aircrew in the SWP area, 15,000 in Europe plus 1091 in the India-Burma theatre.

The EATS trained in Australia 27,387 aircrew, 10,882 pilots, 6,071 navigators and 10,434 wireless air gunners. Australia also sent to Canada for training 10,351 trainees. In all some 40,000 Australians enlisted as aircrew, the failure rate was high and, of course, many did not complete the course due to the early close-down. Almost two thirds of all EATS aircrew served time in Europe or the Middle East.

There were 3,486 Australians killed while serving in RAF Bomber Command, nearly 32% of the total RAAF aircrew casualties. The total casualties for Bomber Command at 58,378 represent 60% of the total RAF casualties.

Some 27,000 RAAF EATS personnel served with the RAF, most with RAF squadrons. In April 1945 there were 1,488 serving with RAAF Article XV squadrons and 10,532 with RAF squadrons.

Nearly 25% of those who got to squadrons lost their lives. In all 9,874 aircrew were killed or missing, approximately 30% of all Australian war deaths in all services and in all campaigns of World War II.

The Empire Air Training Scheme was about providing aircrew for the Royal Air Force; Air Gunners, Wireless Operators, Navigators, Bomb Aimers, Flight Engineers and Pilots.

During the Battle of Britain, August, September and October 1940, 537 pilots were killed. Over Nuremberg on March 31, 1944, 545 aircrew were killed in one night.

This comprehensive summary of the EATS and the RAAF was compiled by Mr Kevin Dickson, VK4IW, a member of the Air Forces Amateur Radio Net and Mr Ken Stone (36 Course, 3 WAGS) to whom our sincere thanks are extended.

CAN YOU HELP ?
We have had a request for assistance from Mr David Bertran who is seeking any information on his late uncle, Ross Herbert Bertran, a former member of the RCAF, service number J 6396, who served with members of the RAAF on Nos 38 and 221 Squadrons operating in North Africa.

On 26 October 1941, he took part in an operation on Tobruk Harbour in Wellington for which he was awarded a DFC. Sadly on 2 February 1943, he was posted "missing" after an operation out of Malta.

If any member has any information regarding the late Ross Herbert Bertran it would be appreciated if they could advise the Secretary so that it may be passed on to his nephew.

MEMORIAL PLAQUE COMMEMORATION
RGH HEIDELBERG
FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER

Last November at the Memorial Garden of the RGH Heidelberg /Austin Hospitals, the Association dedicated a memorial plaque to those wartime comrades of ours who failed to return.

This year, on Friday 9 November, our Association will again hold a commemoration at the site of our memorial plaque and all members, their families and friends are cordially invited to attend.

The assembly time will be 10:30 am in order that the commemoration may start at 10:45 am. All members are urged to attend this very important occasion.
There is ample parking at the Repat General Hospital and you will find the site at Melway 31 J4, on the Heidelberg Road.

Refreshments will be served at the end of the Commemoration.

RYE RSL
ANNUAL AIR FORCE LUNCH

Members are advised that the Rye RSL annual Air Force Lunch will be held on Tuesday 12 February 2002.

Those wishing to attend are advised to make bookings EARLY and direct with the RSL on 5985 8488 asking to be seated at the Odd Bods table.

GIPPSLAND LAKES TOUR

Arrangements for the proposed outing to the Gippsland Lakes planned for March 2002 are still being formulated and final details regarding costs, etc., will be included in the next issue of the newsletter

RETURNING FROM AN OP
(Keil Harbour)
Once I was young and in Southern Cross country,
Making my way with no fear and no dread.
Now I am twenty, and in the shadow so deep,
As we wing through the dark, and the cold and the dead.

Alf Gillett.