V1C04

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, AND NEW ZEALAND RELATING TO TRAINING OF PILOTS AND AIRCRAFT CREWS IN CANADA AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT SERVICE

1. It is agreed between the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that there shall be set up in Canada a co-operative air training scheme as set out in this Agreement, and that the personnel so trained shall be allocated in accordance with Articles 14 and 15.

2. This Agreement shall become operative at once and shall remain in force until 31st March, 1943; unless, by agreement between the Governments concerned, it be extended or terminated at an earlier date.

3. The Government of Canada will act as administrator of the scheme for itself and the other Governments concerned, as hereinafter provided, and it is understood that the undertakings given herein by the Government of Canada to the other Governments concerned are respectively subject to the due performance on the part of such Governments of their several undertakings given herein in support of the scheme.

4. The Government of Canada, acting as administrator as aforesaid, will take the measures it considers necessary for the setting up of an organisation which when fully developed, will be capable of completing the training of the following numbers every four weeks: ¬

Pilots (elementary flying training) 520
Pilots (service flying training) 544
Observers 340
Wireless Operator-Air Gunners 580

The Government of Canada, will, moreover, endeavour to complete the organization it considers necessary to give the above outputs so as to accord as nearly as may be found practicable with the programme of development set out in Appendix I.

5. (a) The Governments of Australia and New Zealand will endeavour to send from time to time enough pupils for training to Canada to keep filled the following proportions of places in the appropriate training schools as shown in Tables A, Band C of Appendix 1 which proportions will be allotted to them for this purpose: ¬

Australia

Pilots (service flying training) 2/16ths
Observers 1/10th
Wireless Operator-Air Gunners 1/10th

New Zealand

Pilots (service flying training) 1/16th
Observers 1/10th
Wireless Operator-Air Gunners 1/10th

(b) The Government of Canada will endeavour to provide from time to time enough pupils for training in Canada to keep filled the following proportions of places in the appropriate training schools as shown in Tables A, S and C of Appendix 1, less the ten per cent or portion thereof supplied by the Government of the United Kingdom under the provisions of clause (c) hereof: ¬

Pilots (elementary flying training) The whole
Pilots (service flying training) 13/16ths
Observers 8/10ths
Wireless Operator Air-Gunners 8/10ths

(c) The Government of the United Kingdom may send and the Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme, undertakes to receive pupils for pilot and observer training in Canada in number not exceeding ten per cent of the intake of elementary flying training schools and air observer schools in Canada; and in addition the Government of the United Kingdom will endeavour to send and the Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme, undertakes to receive pupils for training in Canada in sufficient numbers to keep filled any deficiency in the supply of such pupils from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.. The numbers sent by the Government of the United Kingdom may also include pupils from Newfoundland.

(d) The numbers, and the categories of pupils sent, may be varied from time to time by agreement between the Governments concerned.

(e) It is agreed that if the Governments of Canada, Australia and New Zealand fail to keep filled the training places allotted to them respectively they will nevertheless bear their full respective shares of the costs and expenses as provided for in Article 10.

6. Pupils sent for training in Canada under the provisions of Article 5 will receive pay, allowances and other emoluments in accordance with the provisions set out in Appendix 11 to this Agreement.

7. The training to be given shall be in accordance with the syllabus of instruction laid down for each similar course of training in the United Kingdom.

8. To assist in the carrying out of the training scheme, the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will lend personnel in such ranks and in such numbers as may be agreed upon with the Government of Canada as administrator of the scheme.

9. The share of the cost of the scheme to be borne by the Government of the United Kingdom will take the form of contributions in kind, to be delivered at such times and in such numbers as may be required for the efficient carrying out of the scheme in accordance with the programme of development set out in Appendix 1 as follows: ¬

(a) Engines for Moth airframes manufactured in Canada up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the total number of aircraft required for the initial equipment and immediate reserve establishments for the full training capacity, in accordance with Appendix 1, of the elementary flying training schools.

(b) All the Anson aircraft (without wings) that may be required for the initial equipment and immediate reserve establishments for the full training capacity, in accordance with Appendix 1, of the service flying training schools, the air observer schools and the air navigation schools.
(c) All the Battle aircraft that may be required for the initial equipment and immediate reserve establishments for the full training capacity, in accordance with Appendix 1 , of the bombing and gunnery schools and the air armament school.

(d) The appropriate initial stock of spare parts for the airframes and engines to be supplied under the provision of the clauses (a), (b) and (c).

(e) Such numbers of airframes and engines as may be required from time to time to replace the wastage resulting from loss or damage beyond economical repair of the airframes and engines to be supplied under the provision of clauses (a), (b) and (c).

(f) An appropriate stock of spare parts for the running maintenance of the airframes and engines to be supplied under the provisions of clauses (a), (b) and (c).

(g) 533 Harvard airframes, 666 Wasp engines and the appropriate share of the stock of spare parts, which have already been ordered for use in service flying training schools.

In addition, the Government of the United Kingdom will bear the cost of packing, loading and transporting to Canada the airframes, engines and equipment to be supplies under the provision of clauses (a), (b) and (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) above. The cost of unloading and of transportation in Canada will be borne by the Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme.

The types of aircraft and aircraft engines and spare parts to be supplies by the United Kingdom Government under the foregoing arrangements may be varied from time to time by agreement between the Governments concerned.

10. The Governments of Canada, Australia and New Zealand agree the costs and expenses paid or incurred by the Government of Canada as administrator of the scheme (exclusive of the contribution in kind and expenses to be made and borne by the Government of the United Kingdom as provided for in Article 9) shall be apportioned among them as follows:¬

(a) The Government of Canada will bear the whole costs and expenses of the Initial Training and Elementary Flying Training.

(b) The costs and expenses remaining will be apportioned in the following percentages: ¬

Canada 80.64
Australia 11.28
New Zealand 8.08

The foregoing percentages are based on the allocations of training places mentioned in Article 5; and it is agreed that if any substantial changes in these allocations are made by mutual agreement between the Governments concerned the percentages will be reviewed.

11. (a) Except for any advances made by the other Governments concerned. as provided for in clause (b) of this Article, the Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme, will in the first instance advance all the costs and expenses incurred as such administrator under the provisions of this Agreement, and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand will repay to the Government of Canada, as herein provided for, in Canadian dollars, their share of the amounts advanced, in the proportions specified in Article 10.

(b) The Governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand will make advance payments necessary for pay and allowances, transportation charges, and other expenses during the journey to Canada in respect of pupils sent to Canada by such Governments for training, and for such other costs and expenses as may be agreed upon from time to time; and the Governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand will, immediately after the end of each month, notify the Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme, of the amounts of any advance payments made by them during such month, and will, as soon as possible thereafter, send to the Government of Canada a detailed statement in respect of such advance payments.

(c) In connection with the repayments to be made by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, as provided for in clause (a), due allowance will be made for any advance payments made and notified by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, under the provisions of clause ,b).

(d) The Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme, will refund to the Government of the United Kingdom any advance payments made by that Government under the provisions of clause (b), and the amount of such refunds shall be included in the costs and expenses of the scheme to be apportioned between the Governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as provided for in clause (a) and in Article 10.

(e) In this Agreement the term “costs and expenses” shall mean all expenditures, costs, charges and liabilities made or incurred by the Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme, and without restricting the generality of the foregoing shall include:-

(i) Pay, allowances, and other expenses of the personnel lent under the provisions of Article 8 and a cash contribution (computed in accordance with recognised practice as between Governments in such cases) towards the future non-effective benefits of such personnel.

(ii) Pay, allowances, transportation charges, and other expenses connected with the training of Canadian pupils in Canada from the dates of their enlistment to the dates of their embarkation in Canada under the provisions of Article 16; or, in the case of Canadian pupils taken to fill vacancies in the Home Defence Squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force, as provided for in Article 14, to the dates of their being so taken.

(iii) Pay, allowances, transportation charges, and other expenses connected with the training of pupils in Canada from the dates of their leaving the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or Newfoundland for the purpose of taking up training in Canada to the dates of their embarkation in Canada under the provisions of Article 16.

But the term “costs and expenses” shall not include: ¬

(iv) The contribution in kind and expenses to be made and borne by the Government of the United Kingdom as provided for in Article 9.

(v) Costs and expenses of clothing and personal equipment of pupils other than such replacements as may be necessary during the period of training and other than flying clothing and equipment.

(vi) Pensions or allowances to personnel lent under the provisions of Artic1e 8 and to pupils or their dependents in respect or disability or death. The costs and expenses mentioned in (v) and (vi) above will be borne by the Governments lending the personnel and sending the pupils in respect of whom such costs, expenses, pensions or allowances are incurred.

12. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand will from time to time, within one month after a summarized statement of accounts has been presented them (showing the payments made during the preceding month by the Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme, and taking account of any receipts, and of any advance payments made and notified, as provided for in Article 11 (b) by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and also of any adjustments in respect of previous months) pay or cause to be paid to the Government of Canada their due proportion as agreed upon in Article 10 of the costs and expenses of the scheme as shown by such statement. These monthly payments will be regarded as advances on account, and the costs and expenses of the scheme as at the end of each financial year will be finally adjusted and paid when the accounts for such year have been audited.

13. (a) The Government of Canada will, in consultation with the other Governments concerned, appoint an officer to act as its Financial Adviser on carrying out its functions as administrator of the scheme. Such proposals for expenditure as the said Financial Adviser may require shall be referred to him for approval and no expenditure on such proposals shall be incurred until his approval has been given. Any proposal disapproved by the Financial Adviser may, at the instance of the officers responsible therefore be referred to the Minister of National Defence for final decision. Any reports made by the Financial Adviser shall be made available by the Government of Canada to all the other Governments concerned, and these latter shall be entitled to obtain from the Financial Adviser information on all matters affecting the cost of the scheme and their participation in it.

(b) Monthly financial statements shall be furnished by the Government of Canada to the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.

(c) A record of all expenditure and all sums received in connection with the training of pupils in Canada under this scheme will be maintained by the Comptroller of the Treasury of the Government of Canada, and will be audited by the Auditor General of Canada. This record will be made available after audit for examination by representatives of the Governments concerned.

(d) The Government of Canada shall make available to the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, as early as possible after the dose of each financial year ending 31st March, a statement, accompanied by a certificate of the Auditor General, of the receipts and payments in connection with the scheme showing the expenditure under appropriate heads.

14. It is agreed that the Government of Canada may, out of the Canadian pupils who complete their training under this scheme, fill vacancies which occur in the Home defence Squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force, provided, that the numbers so disposed shall not exceed the following: ¬

Pilots 136 a year
Air Observers 34 a year
Wireless Operator-Air Gunners 58 a year

All the other pupils, on completion of their training, will be placed at the disposal of the Government of the United Kingdom, subject to that Government’s making the arrangements indicated in Article 15, and bearing liability as provided for in Articles 16 and 17 of this Agreement.

15. The United Kingdom Government undertakes that pupils of Canada, Australia and New Zealand shall, after training is completed, be identified with their respective Dominions, either by the method of organizing Dominion units and formations or in some other way, such methods to be agreed upon with the respective Dominion Governments concerned. The United Kingdom Government will initiate inter-governmental discussions to this end.

16. The Government of the United Kingdom will, subject to the provisions of Article 17, provide the pay, allowances, pensions and other non-effective benefits, maintenance and other expenses of the pilots and aircraft crews who are trained in Canada (other than those made available for service with the Royal Canadian Air Force in accordance with the provisions of Article 14) with effect from the dates of their embarkation in Canada for service with, or in conjunction with , the Royal Air Force. The Government of the United Kingdom also undertakes to arrange for those pupils who are made available for service with, or in conjunction with, the Royal Air Force to be embarked as speedily as possible after the completion of their training, and to defray the cost of their passages to the stations to which they are appointed on leaving Canada.

17. The pay, allowances, pensions and other non-effective benefits, maintenance and other expenses, for which the Government of the United Kingdom undertakes liability under the provisions of Article 16, will be as laid down in Royal Air Force regulations. If it should be decided by the Government of Canada, the government of Australia, or the Government of New Zealand to supplement the amounts so issued, any such supplement will be borne by the Government concerned.

18. The Government of Canada, as administrator of the scheme, will have charge of the assets acquired for the purpose of the scheme. On the termination of this Agreement such of the said assets as have been acquired and paid for as part of the cost of the scheme will be disposed of as follows: ¬

(a) Any land, but not buildings, structures or fixtures thereon, acquired or improved for the purpose of the scheme will become the property of the government of Canada.

(b) The assets acquired for the purposes of the Initial Training Schools and the Elementary Flying Training Schools, will become the property of the Government of Canada.

(c) All other assets, except those contributed in kind by the Government of the United Kingdom, will be shared between the Governments of Canada, Australia and New Zealand in the same proportions as laid down in Article 10 for the apportionment of the costs.

(d) Any of the assets contributed by the Government of the United Kingdom which remain will revert to that Government.

The distribution of the assets under the above arrangements may be made in kind or otherwise, as may be agreed upon.

19. Arrangements will be made between the Governments concerned to facilitate communications between them under this agreement or otherwise in connection with the scheme, either by means of cable or through representatives in Canada to be named by them.

The Agreement was reached in Ottawa, Canada, on 17 December 1939 by:

For Britain, Arthur Balfour, First Baron Riverdale, Chairman, UK Air Mission to Canada 1939-40, (Chairman of the Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)

For Canada, William Lyon Mackenzie-King, Prime Minister

For Australia, Stanley Melbourne Bruce*, High Commissioner, London

For New Zealand, William Joseph Jordan, High Commissioner, London

* The Memorandum of Agreement was initialled by the Hon. James Fairbairn, Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation, in Ottawa on 27 November 1939 and was signed by Stanley Bruce in London on 5 January 1940. The reason for this procedure was that Canada would not commit to the four-way agreement until it had first reached a separate bi-lateral agreement with the UK. This agreement among other matters allowed for the establishment of RAF Ferry Command at Dorval, Quebec (RAAF casualties are shown in the Transport and Special Purpose Units), and RAF Operational Training Units in Canada (RAAF casualties are shown in Maritime and Reconnaissance Units).

14. It is agreed that the Government of Canada may, out of the Canadian pupils who complete their training under this scheme, fill vacancies which occur in the Home defence Squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force, provided, that the numbers so disposed shall not exceed the following: 

Pilots 136 a year
Air Observers 34 a year
Wireless Operator-Air Gunners 58 a year

All the other pupils, on completion of their training, will be placed at the disposal of the Government of the United Kingdom, subject to that Government’s making the arrangements indicated in Article 15, and bearing liability as provided for in Articles 16 and 17 of this Agreement.

……..

The Rolls show the names of RAAF Members attached to RAF units in RED and attached to RCAF, RNZAF, SAAF and IAF units in GREEN to illustrate the implementation of this Article. 

15. The United Kingdom Government undertakes that pupils of Canada, Australia and New Zealand shall, after training is completed, be identified with their respective Dominions, either by the method of organizing Dominion units and formations or in some other way, such methods to be agreed upon with the respective Dominion Governments concerned. The United Kingdom Government will initiate inter-governmental discussions to this end.

RCAF Article XV Squadrons – Nos. 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407,408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 143, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, and 443. (44)

RAAF Article XV Squadrons: Fighters – Nos. 450, 451, 452, 453, 456, 457; Bombers – Nos. 454, 458, 460, 462, 463, 464, 466, 467; Bomber/Maritime – No. 455; Maritime – Nos. 459, 461. (17)

RNZAF Article XV Squadrons – Nos. 485, 486, 487, 488, 489 and 490. (6)

RAAF Article XV Squadrons all operated within RAF command structures with the exception of Nos. 452 and 457 Squadrons that operated in the RAAF command structure from mid-1942 onwards.

A Last Call of Empire: Australian aircrew, Britain and the Empire Air Training Scheme, John McCarthy, Australian War Memorial Canberra ACT 2600, 1988 ISBN 0-642-99503-6