{"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/21179/photo/zoom_artv04297_200_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/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  \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 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.   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. In fact 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 World War II, in response to Australia's participation in the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). 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\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\u003eELEMENTARY FLYING TRAINING [EFT]\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 1 Parafield, S.A.\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 2 Archerfield, QLD\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 3 Essendon, VIC\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 4 Mascot NSW\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 5 Narromine NSW\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 6 Tamworth NSW\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 7 Western Junction, TAS\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 8 Narrandera NSW\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 9 Cunderdin W.A.\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 10 Temora NSW\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 11 Benalla VIC\u003cbr\u003eEFT No. 12 Lowood QLD\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eSERVICE FLYING TRAINING [SFT]\u003cbr\u003eSFT No. 1 Point Cook VIC\u003cbr\u003eSFT No. 2 Forrest Hill, Wagga Wagga NSW\u003cbr\u003eSFT No. 3 Amberley QLD\u003cbr\u003eSFT No. 4 Geraldton WA\u003cbr\u003eSFT No. 5 Uranquinty NSW\u003cbr\u003eSFT No. 6 Mallala SA\u003cbr\u003eSFT No. 7 Deniliquin NSW\u003cbr\u003eSFT No. 8 Bundaberg QLD\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAIR NAVIGATION SCHOOL [ANS]\u003cbr\u003eANS No. 1 Parkes NSW\u003cbr\u003eANS No. 2 Nhill VIC\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAIR OBSERVER SCHOOL [AOS]\u003cbr\u003eAOS No. 1 Cootamundra NSW\u003cbr\u003eAOS No. 2 Mount Gambier SA\u003cbr\u003eAOS No. 3 Port Pirie SA [formed Dec 43]\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBOMBING AND GUNNERY [ BAGS]\u003cbr\u003eBGS No. 1 Evans Head NSW\u003cbr\u003eBGS No. 2 Port Pirie SA\u003cbr\u003eBGS No. 3 West Sale Vic \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWIRELESS AIR GUNNERY [WAG]\u003cbr\u003eWAG No. 1 Ballarat VIC [ AG Sale VIC]\u003cbr\u003eWAG No. 2 Parkes NSW\u003cbr\u003eWAG No. 3 Maryborough QLD\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 aircrews 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\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"}