What was E.G.T.S., Hamilton?

[Dave Homewood]

I note a reference where an airman was posted to E.G.T.S., RNZAF Station Hamilton in June 1943.

I have not come across that abbreviation before but it almost makes me wonder if it is Elementary Ground Training School? I am not aware of any such school in Hamilton though. Nor am I aware of Hamilton having a Gunnery Training School. So what could it have stood for?

[errolmartyn]

Mar 31, 2020 13:50:15 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I note a reference where an airman was posted to E.G.T.S., RNZAF Station Hamilton in June 1943.

I have not come across that abbreviation before but it almost makes me wonder if it is Elementary Ground Training School? I am not aware of any such school in Hamilton though. Nor am I aware of Hamilton having a Gunnery Training School. So what could it have stood for?

This is one of the hundreds of abbreviations explained on pages 42-54 of my Vol 3 of For Your Tomorrow - it stands for Elementary Ground Training Squadron. Everyone should have a copy on their bookshelves!

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Oh. Well as you know I do have all three volumes on my shelf but I did not think to check that. Thanks Errol.

So was this in effect like an Aerodrome Defence Unit squadron, where new recruits were kept busy as they awaited the start of their ITW course?

[davidd]

Dave,
Would be a good idea to also check J M S Ross "Royal New Zealand Air Force" (1955, Official History of RNZAF in WW2). On pages 58 - 60, 112 - 115, and also pages 283 to 288, Ross gives a quick summary of the wartime aircrew training organisation. Pages 598 - 60 provide the setting up of the original ADUs in New Zealand; then the change-over to the EGTs and AGTs in 1943; Pages 112 - 115 is another quick once-over of the Aerodrome Defence Units, while the later pages are a survey of the whole home establishment in New Zealand in August/September 1943, which gives the names and locations of most of the EGT and AGT Squadrons. From page 286 onwards he gives a very quick overview of the total reorganisation of these squadrons and schools in 1944, although unfortunately does not dwell much on the training side of the RNZAF, nor on the names of the individual parts of the training organisation. Ross also includes the abbreviations "EGTS" and "AGTS" in his glossary on pages 333/334.

One of the key statements with relevance to your question is on page 114, where he states: "In March 1943, the squadrons (that is, the EGT Squadrons and the AGT Squadrons) ceased to exist as such, and the personnel were regrouped with a view to training without reference to defence needs." I also have a file which shows the changes in this dual purpose organisation (pre-flying training AND aerodrome defence) during 1942 and 1943, which is actually rather confusing, particularly when they decided that aerodrome defence was by then a non-issue and they could drop the façade and concentrate on aircrew training alone; this was in about March 1943, shortly after the Japanese pulled out of Guadalcanal. The reason for combining aerodrome defence and pre-flying training in the first place are covered particularly on pages 112 - 114, with A/A defence covered on 114 - 115. You can also note one of Ross's very few mistakes in this volume, on page 283, 4th paragraph, where he mentions "No. 4 Field Maintenance Unit" based at Whenuapai. This was actually No. 4 Fighter Maintenance Unit, soon to depart for Guadalcanal and then Ondonga. There WAS a Field Maintenance Unit at Bougainville in 1945, which carried out aircraft repairs beyond the capacity of the Servicing Units in the forward area; in fact Ross mentions this unit on page 273, first paragraph.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks guys. We're always learning more where history is concerned.

[pjw4118]

How right you are Errol , dog eared and dirty denotes a well used book , and I must admit , your three volumes are getting pretty scruffy.