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Initial Training School

Heroes Remember

Initial Training School

Transcript
Interviewer: What was the purpose of Initial Training School, Mr. Hanna? It, first of all it separated the potential pilots, navigators and ground gunners and WAG's (wireless air gunners). It was a way of separating because with a lot of people, without being aware of it, don't have any idea of depth perception so a lot of top notch people ended up as navigators because a lot of them, some of them, just had problems telling whether they were 10 feet off the ground or 40 feet off the ground. Nothing against them, it was just one of those things that lacked, they lacked. And so the, fortunately most of the navigators were very smart people so they ended up and went through ITS. The wireless air gunners and the air gunners they went to different schools. Interviewer: After you had completed your training at Initial Training School, what stream were you placed in? Well everyone went to elementary school. I was posted to Malton, but while I was on leave from one school to the next I was notified that Malton was closing down that was, that particular time, and I was moved to Mount Hope, Hamilton and went through my elementary training there on Tiger Moths. Interviewer: What do you recall about the first time that you soloed? Well I can remember the instructor climbing out and said, "Away you go." And taking off and climbing up, you're certainly a little apprehensive when it came to making turns. You know you climb up and then you make a turn to the left and then you make another turn to the left and you're on the downwind leg and then you, another turn to the left, then you're at crosswind and then you come in and the instructor is standing there hoping to hell you're gonna put it down safely, and you do. So he waves you off on another one and away he goes and that's about it.
Description

Mr. Hanna describes his training and the first time he flew solo.

Kenneth Charles Hanna

Mr. Hanna was born in Prescott, Ontario but spent the majority of his childhood in Brockville. He was the oldest of four children and worked as an apprentice tool- maker after graduation from High School. In 1941, Mr. Hanna joined the Air Force in Ottawa. He chose the Air Force, as opposed to the Army or Navy, because he had "illusions of grandeur" and wanted to fly. Living up to his own expectations, Mr. Hanna was a successful pilot flying the Typhoon. He flew many missions in support of the Army over France and the Netherlands and his decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
02:40
Person Interviewed:
Kenneth Charles Hanna
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Location/Theatre:
Europe
Branch:
Air Force
Units/Ship:
181 RAF Squadron
Rank:
Sergeant
Occupation:
Pilot

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

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