elementary flying training school raaf elementary flying training school royal_australian_air_force raaf pilot training unit operated world war elementary flying training schools employed raaf provide introductory flight instruction new pilots australia contribution empire air training scheme established september new south wales training ceased december school reduced maintaining base infrastructure aircraft officially disbanded june renamed disbanded december history flying instruction royal_australian_air_force raaf underwent major changes following outbreak world war response vast increase number volunteers commencement australia participation empire air training scheme eats air_force pre war pilot training facility raaf station victoria supplanted elementary flying training schools service flying training schools provided week introductory flying course personnel graduated raaf initial training schools flying training undertaken stages involved weeks instruction including hours flying determine pilots passed grading process received weeks training including hours flying pilots successfully completed course posted australia canada stage instruction military elementary flying training school formed new south wales september came control school occupied site recently constructed civil airfield surrounding government land inaugural commanding officer flying officer despite primitive accommodation lack infrastructure students arrived school day establishment flying training completely way mid november school strength month end staff including thirty officers recent newspaper reports suggested base closed owing unsuitable ground direction prevailing wind allied surrounding terrain cyclone hit airfield december destroying tiger trainers matter minutes damaging raaf resolved replace wrecked aircraft soon possible day minister air denied earlier reports base unsuitable closed course completed december students graduated end month school instructors students training aircraft instructor killed men injured crashed flying low level satellite airfields january school collided feet march instructor student plane pilots crash landed aircraft injuries school came control newly formed training group august following disbandment december school instructors students training thirty seven aircraft april figures risen instructors students seventy aircraft strength remained similar level remainder year september ground soon satellite airfield collided tender man tender killed pilots injured pilots killed destroyed following mid air collision feet satellite airfields march pilot school killed crash near march pilot killed badly injured august tiger math failed recover spin flying training elementary flying training school ceased september pilots undergoing instruction posted received following month use ground instruction flying training suspended december school reduced nucleus continue function primarily base infrastructure equipment reorganisation eats establishments australia time eighty strength owing surplus trained australia officially disbanded june formed care maintenance unit units raaf raised storage maintenance surplus aircraft prior disposal war disbanded july dedicated retired air chief marshal sir october commanding officers commanded following officers
No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF