Col. C.F. STALLARD, Minister for Mines visited the station to inspect South African Units there and to address them. A guard of honour of 100 men was formed to welcome him on his arrival by air. After a formal inspection of the squadron which was formed up in front of aircraft and crews, he gave an informal address to all personnel. He made reference to the Government’s policy of exchange of personnel after a period of active service, thereby reviving to a certain extent the hopes of the men who had applied for Union leave on transfer and been refused. His explanation that everything possible was being done to implement the policy but that there were certain difficulties, notably transportation was not altogether consistent with the statement made by A.H.Q., E.A. that Union leave would not be considered at all, and that applications for Union transfer would be ignored.
In a conversation with Col. STALLARD afterwards, Maj. PRETORIUS made clear the difficulties experienced by Units having to form in East Africa, both as regards personnel, equipment and training.
He pointed out that, firstly, if No. 11 Squadron had been sent back to the Union to re—equip and reform as No. 21, the men who had been in Abyssinia would have been satisfied to get home for a few weeks, secondly that the equipment of aircraft would have been easier, as long delivery flights would have been avoided in the hands of pilots not belonging to the squadron; thirdly that spares, armaments, etc., would have been more easily obtainable as considerable delays occurred by having to send back to the Union for these items. Operational training, also would have been easier to carry out in South Africa. .The, whole, question of morale of personnel and efficiency of equipment was affected, as also the time taken up by the unnecessary intermediate period in East Africa. Col. STALLARD expressed his agreement with these remarks and promised to take the matter up on his return.
Col. STALLARD was accompanied by the Secretary for Defence, Brigadier C.H. BLAINE and Col. de WET.