{"html":"  \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-images\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor \"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/37066/photo/zoom_Mallala_Airbase_WW2.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/80907/photo/zoom_raaf-recruting-poster-ww2-e1395975421288.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/80905/photo/zoom_back-them-up-raf-raaf-hudson-awm.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/80906/photo/zoom_raaf-mechanics-recruitment-poster-e1395975636462.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/80904/photo/zoom_a-large-group-of-unidentified-australian-trainees-in-canada-3-the-third-contingent-of-men-to-leave-sydney-for-canada-under-the-empire-air-training-scheme-october-1940-awm-e1395980865497.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/80903/photo/zoom_waaaf_recruiting_poster.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/166111/photo/zoom_Deniliquin_Aerodrome.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/5364/photo/zoom_photo-0a8b61b80a7146941ea1b1ead37f39c8_1_.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/5366/photo/zoom_key_photo-cd3f03d4112f94b886dc5d54b083be08_1_.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/5367/photo/zoom_Instructor_and_student_with_North_American_Harvard_II_aircraft_1_.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/6465/photo/zoom_P04612.002_1_.JPG)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/43869/photo/zoom_Mallala_Airbase_WW2.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/21179/photo/zoom_artv04297_200_1_.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n  \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-description with-image\"\u003e\n  \u003ch4 class=\"js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor\"\u003eEmpire Air Training Scheme\u003c/h4\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS)\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) was a masterpiece of Strategic planning and foresight.  It was the solution to the realisation that Great Britain did not have the capacity to produce aircrew in the numbers required to sustain combat operations in NW Europe in WW II.   As it turned out, aircrew were needed across the span of RAF operations; as well as the UK and environs, in Fighter, Bomber and Coastal commands, the RAF operated in the Mediterranean and Middle East, in East Africa, the India sub-continent and South East Asia. The plan provided for the coordinated recruitment and training of aircrew from around the British Empire, with basic training to be conducted in home countries and Rhodesia (Now Zimbabwe) with advanced aircrew training to be conducted in the UK or Canada, the latter because of its relative proximity to the 'front line' and aircraft production in Great Britain.  The original plan was to provide up to 50,000 aircrew.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eUntil the creation of the Empire Air Training Scheme, the RAAF throughput of trainee pilots was only about 50 per year.  Australia alone graduated some 27,899 aircrew of a total of 37,000-plus Australians who were trained under the scheme.  \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRAAF aircrew training expanded dramatically following the outbreak of the war.  With the groundwork in place schools were opened quickly.  The Air Force's pre-war flight training facility, No. 1 Flying Training School at RAAF Station Point Cook, Victoria, was supplanted in 1940–41 by twelve Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS), eight Service Flying Training Schools (SFTS), and Central Flying School (CFS).\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eEarly drafts of aircrew trainees went to Canada for their intermediate training.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eOperational Training Units then turned trainees into proficient aircrew ready for operations.  In many cases, particulary RAF Bomber Command and Coastal Command, where the demand was for crewed aircraft, Conversion Training and Operational Training Unit preparation for operations took place in the UK.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhile CFS turned out new flight instructors, the EFTS provided basic training to prospective pilots who, if successful, would go on to an SFTS for further instruction that focussed on operational (or \"service\") flying.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe course at SFTS typically consisted of two streams, intermediate and advanced, and included such techniques as instrument flying, night flying, advanced aerobatics, formation flying, dive bombing, and aerial gunnery. The total duration of training varied during the war as demand for aircrew rose and fell. Initially running for 16 weeks, the course was cut to 10 weeks (which included 75 hours flying time) in October 1940. A year later it was raised to 12 weeks (including 100 hours flying time), and again to 16 weeks two months later. It continued to increase after this, peaking at 28 weeks in June 1944.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eDuring 1940, other RAAF schools were also set up around Australia.  These included Air Navigation, Air Observer, Bombing and Gunnery and Wireless Air Gunnery schools. Site selection was based primarily on weather and terrain that was conducive to maximise flying operations year round without risk of enemy intervention.  Most bases were therefore inland in places such as Temora, Narrandera, Wagga Wagga and Tocumwal in NSW, Mildura in addition to established bases at East Sale, Point Cook and Laverton in Victoria .  Port Pirie, Edinburgh and Malala in South Australia, and Cunderdin, Geraldton, Pearce and Bindoon in WA were also home to training bases.  \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt its peak, The Empire Training Scheme in Australia consisted of the following RAAF bases. These were in addition to operational ‘combat’ bases. After the war, several of the EATS bases became operational RAAF bases.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3499\"\u003eELEMENTARY FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL [EFTS]\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3499)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/admin/units/1118\"\u003eNo. 1 EFTS Parafield, S.A.\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/admin/units/1118)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3002\"\u003eNo. 2 EFTS Archerfield, QLD\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3002)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3720\"\u003eNo. 3 EFTS Essendon, VIC\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3720)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/1980\"\u003eNo. 4 EFTS Mascot NSW\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/1980)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/2107\"\u003eNo. 5 EFTS Narromine NSW\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/2107)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. 6 EFTS Tamworth NSW\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/2107\"\u003eNo. 7 EFTS Western Junction, TAS\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/2107)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/1885\"\u003eNo. 8 EFTS Narrandera NSW\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/1885)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3625\"\u003eNo. 9 EFTS Cunderdin W.A.\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3625)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3717\"\u003eNo. 10 EFTS Temora NSW\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3717)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3718\"\u003eNo. 11 EFTS Benalla VIC\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3718)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. 12 EFTS Lowood QLD\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eSERVICE FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL [SFTS]\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/2493\"\u003eNo. 1 SFTS Point Cook VIC\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/2493)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3488\"\u003eNo. 2 SFTS Forrest Hill, Wagga Wagga NSW\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3488)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3621\"\u003eNo. 3 SFTS Amberley QLD\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3621)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3622\"\u003eNo. 4 SFTS Geraldton WA\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3622)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/898\"\u003eNo. 5 SFTS Uranquinty NSW\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/898)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/683\"\u003eNo. 6 SFTS Mallala SA\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/683)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/2118\"\u003eNo. 7 SFTS Deniliquin NSW\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/2118)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"/admin/units/3623\"\u003eNo. 8 SFTS Bundaberg QLD\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/admin/units/3623)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAIR NAVIGATION SCHOOL [ANS]\u003cbr\u003eNo. 1 ANS Parkes NSW\u003cbr\u003eNo. 2 ANS Nhill VIC\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAIR OBSERVER SCHOOL [AOS]\u003cbr\u003eNo. 1 AOS Cootamundra NSW\u003cbr\u003eNo. 2 AOS Mount Gambier SA\u003cbr\u003eNo. 3 AOS Port Pirie SA [formed Dec 43]\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBOMBING AND GUNNERY SCHOOL [BAGS]\u003cbr\u003eNo. 1 BAGS Evans Head NSW\u003cbr\u003eNo. 2 BAGS Port Pirie SA\u003cbr\u003eNo. 3 BAGS West Sale Vic \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWIRELESS AIR GUNNERY SCHOOL [WAG]\u003cbr\u003eNo. 1 WAGS Ballarat VIC [ AG Sale VIC]\u003cbr\u003eNo. 2 WAGS Parkes NSW\u003cbr\u003eNo. 3 WAGS Maryborough QLD\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSee separate listings for each of these and \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/1497\"\u003eOperational Training Units\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/1497)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/3001\"\u003eConversion Units.\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/3001)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eFor a period, most RAAF aircrew destined for the UK or Middle East received advanced training in Canada. On 14 November 1940, the first contingent to graduate from advanced training in Canada embarked for the UK. From mid-1940, however, some RAAF trainees began to receive advanced training at RAF facilities in Souther Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen war broke out with Japan in late 1941, many RAAF aircrew completed their training in Australia and served with RAAF units in the South West Pacific Theatre of Operations.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAustralian personnel were also assigned from Europe and the Mediterranean to RAF squadrons in the South East Asia Theatre (Burma and India).\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSome Article XV (identified by a squadron number in the 400s) squadrons were also transferred to RAAF or RAF formations involved in the Pacific War. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of RAAF personnel remained in Europe and RAAF Article XV squadrons continued to be formed there.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 27,899 aircrew, who had qualified under the Empire Air Training Scheme, supplied approximately 9 per cent of all aircrew who fought for the RAF in the Mediterranean and European theatres in the air war against Italy and Germany. They flew in operations over German and Italian cities; they sank enemy ships and submarines; shot down many enemy aircraft; and RAAF bombers dropped many tons of bombs.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAs the war progressed the Scheme was so successful that supply began to outstrip demand.  Following a request by the UK government the Scheme was wound back significantly. Australian involvement was effectively terminated in October 1944.  The EATS was formally wound up on 31 March 1945.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e(c) Steve Larkins May 2013 (\u003cem\u003eupdated March 2021 and 2026\u003c/em\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eReferences\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e1.    Gillison, Douglas (1962). \u003cem\u003eAustralia in the War of 1939–1945\u003c/em\u003e: Series Three (Air) Volume I – Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 2000369.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e2.   RAAF Historical Section (1995). \u003cem\u003eUnits of the Royal Australian Air Force\u003c/em\u003e: A Concise History. Volume 8: Training Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42800-7.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}