HC Deb 18 March 1938 vol 333 cc751-2W
Captain Plugge

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether any decision has yet been reached as to whether the additional number of pilots required for the naval air-arm will be drawn from junior naval officers on the active list, from the lower deck, or from the Royal Air Force; and to what extent in each case?

Mr. Shakespeare

The additional pilots required for the Fleet Air Arm will be drawn from the following sources:

  1. (a) junior executive officers of the R.N. and junior officers of the R.M.
  2. (b) officers entered on a short service basis in the new Air Branch of the Royal Navy.
  3. (c) officers transferred from the R.A.F.
  4. (d) lower deck ratings serving under the scheme announced last week.

The numbers from each source will depend on the numbers of volunteers.