Air Scouts

[Dave Homewood]

I just came across this item:


A new organisation has been formed by the Boy Scout Association, in consultation with the Air Ministry, for training boys under 16 in the rudiments of flying, and will be known as Air Scouts. Representatives of the three organisations — from the left, Boy Scout, Sea Scout, and Air Scout.
EVENING POST, 5 APRIL 1941

So here in NZ the Air Scouts formed in April 1941, and the Air Training Corps formed in September 1941. It sees they were pretty much formed to do the same thing. So could boys join both organisations? Were they in competition to each other? How many units did the Air Scouts have? Did the RNZAF tie in with them like they did the ATC? Is Air Scouts still a thing now? 

[ErrolC]

Was still a thing in the 1980's. Auckland troops included Whenuapai, Hobby, Pt Chev. Used to have 'camps' at Easter with lectures, familiarisation flights etc. At Ardmore and/or Whenuapai?
I won at quiz about the Battle of Britain, and got a ride with Roaring Forties in BoB flypast (Trevor Bland).
Operated as standard scout troops, but did more air-themed activities than most.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks.

[pepe]

Jul 31, 2019 13:53:13 GMT 12 ErrolC said:

Was still a thing in the 1980's. Auckland troops included Whenuapai, Hobby, Pt Chev. Used to have 'camps' at Easter with lectures, familiarisation flights etc. At Ardmore and/or Whenuapai?
I won at quiz about the Battle of Britain, and got a ride with Roaring Forties in BoB flypast (Trevor Bland).
Operated as standard scout troops, but did more air-themed activities than most.

During the late 70s/early 80s I was a member of the only Whangarei troop, 2nd Hora Hora (1st troop was the garden variety).

We attended camps similar to what you have described. The most memorable one I can remember was based at Hobsonville and Whenuapai. We were housed under canvas, but utilized all the Base facilities. I can even remember going to the Base cinema to watch "The Blue Max".
Highlights of that camp included my first ever helicopter ride in a UH-1H and pretty comprehensive tours of all the aircraft and facilities at that time.

Back in Whangarei we had a very good locally built "Link" trainer that was the envy of many.
I can still remember the distinctive gray and blue Air Scout uniform.

[Dave Homewood]

Was Air Scouts for boys who were younger, and they may have progressed to Air Training Corps when they entered their teens?

[Peter Lewis]

Jul 31, 2019 21:51:50 GMT 12 pepe said:

During the late 70s/early 80s I was a member of the only Whangarei troop, 2nd Hora Hora (1st troop was the garden variety).

We attended camps similar to what you have described. The most memorable one I can remember was based at Hobsonville and Whenuapai. We were housed under canvas, but utilized all the Base facilities. I can even remember going to the Base cinema to watch "The Blue Max".
Highlights of that camp included my first ever helicopter ride in a UH-1H and pretty comprehensive tours of all the aircraft and facilities at that time.

Back in Whangarei we had a very good locally built "Link" trainer that was the envy of many.
I can still remember the distinctive gray and blue Air Scout uniform.

Snap.

I was in the Hora Hora Air Scouts also, would have been 1958 thru 1962, a bit before your time.
Still have my scout shirt tucked away somewhere.
I was also in the local Air Training Corps around the same time.

The two organizations were operating in the same sphere, but of course the ATC was (at that time) actually part of the RNZAF and the emphasis was really on preparing guys to enlist as soon as they left school whereas the Air Scouts were much more civilian orientated.

[shorty]

I was in the Air Scouts in the 50s and was also in the ATC in the early to mid 60s. Highlight of the ATC time would have been a trip to Singapore in one of the Hercs when they were brand new in 1965.