The French military air service is an integral part of the army. The service relies to a very large extent on non-commissioned personnel for its pilots, and the proportion of officer pilots is small, which is rather an assurance that an officer can make a career in that service. Officers are drawn from three sources: (i.) Ecole Militaire de St. Cyr, (ii.) Ecoie Polytechnique, (iii.) by promotion from the ranks. The n.c.o. ranks are divided into three branches: (i.) flying personnel, (ii.) skilled ground per sonnel, (iii.) unskilled ground personnel. The flying personnel is recruited from those who obtain a pilot's bursary (i.e., are allowed to joint the colours a year before their due date and are trained at the Government's expense) and by enlistment into the flying branch of the service. The skilled ground personnel is recruited from men who obtain a mechanic's bursary by enlistment or re enlistment and by the incorporation of conscripts. The unskilled ground personnel is recruited by the incorporation of conscripts. Warrant officers, n.c.o.'s or soldier pilots receive the same rates of "flying pay" as officers.
By the aeronautical clauses of the Treaty of Versailles, Ger many is forbidden to maintain a military or naval air service. In 1926, however, the terms of these clauses were modified and Germany is now permitted to construct aircraft of certain pat terns. Not more than six members of the fighting forces (army and navy) per annum may be trained as pilots up to a total of 36; thereafter three per annum may be trained as replacements. Such training is to be undertaken at the private expense of the pupil and must not include instruction in military aviation.
The military aviation service is under the Ministry of National Defence. Only officers, sous-officiers and corporals are held on the permanent establishment. All officer personnel are only attached to the air service, being seconded from their regiments. During their term in the air service they receive special pro motion according to the most favoured arm. If, however, they revert to regimental duty, they return to their permanent rank according to regimental seniority.
Officers are drawn from the following sources: (i.) Officers transferred during 1914-18; these are chiefly senior officers em ployed on administrative duties; (ii.) young officers seconded from other arms for an indefinite period, who must, prior to trans fer, pass all the military tests for an observer and a balloon or aeroplane pilot ; (iii.) adjutants of the aviation troops ; (iv.) sous-lieutenants de reserve, who are chosen from volunteers ; (v.) reserve officers. Other ranks : Any unmarried Belgian, civilian or milicien performing, or having performed, his active service, and between 18 and 25 years of age and able to pass certain physical and educational tests, can become a candidate n.c.o. in the navigating branch of the aviation service. If a civilian, he enlists for two years. Balloonists, observers and bomber n.c.o.'s are trained under similar conditions. Training beyond that car ried out in the squadrons is organized as follows : (i.) the civilian flying schools train 'co pilots annually; (ii.) the military flying school at Courtrai takes all the officers, sous-officiers and corporals required for training yearly; (iii.) the ecole de sous-lieutenants de reserve attached to (ii.) trains 4o pupils yearly; (iv.) the
school for mechanics deals with miliciens. There is no air staff college.
The air forces of the army and navy are quite distinct. That of the army is administered by the war department. Officers for flying duties are recruited from young officer volunteers of all arms who have at least one year's service. The majority of senior officers have been selected for command and for administrative purposes, from other arms. Other ranks are recruited from those possessing general intelligence and experience in mechanical trades.
(a) The Swiss air service is under the general staff. The service is composed of all classes, subject to military duty, and all ranks belonging to it are liable to the same periods of training and musketry as other troops. Officers are either promoted from flying duties or recruited from young officer volunteers of all n.c.o.'s and men are recruited in the ordinary way. Training is carried on at schools of instruction chiefly at Dilbendorf and Thun, the curriculum being similar to that of other countries.
The air services of the army and navy are separate. The air service of the colonial army is, like that army, under the Colonial Office. The headquarters of the air service is at Soesterberg, where the main workshops, training schools and other services are situated. There are schools for every form of specialized training.
The air force is part of the regular army under the Ministry of War. The force is organized into aeroplane regiments. Recruit ing and terms of service for aviation are identical with those for the rest of the army. Officers are obtained either from cadets or from officers transferring from other arms. The officers' aviation school is at Deblin, where they undergo a two years' course. There are schools for specialized subjects at Lida and Bydgoszcz.
The air service is an integral part of the army under the Min istry of National Defence. It is organized in regiments, each con sisting of four wings, viz., reconnaissance, fighting, bombing and training. The majority of pilots are n.c.o.'s. The normal channel of recruitment of officers is from the academy at Hranice or by transfer from other arms. N.c.o.'s are eligible for promotion to commissioned rank. Schools exist for training in specialized sub jects.
The air service is a part of the army. It is organized in regi ments. Officers are recruited from the military academy at Bel grade, who have served at least one year in a unit. N.c.o.'s form a special body and generally serve for 15 years with the force. No commissions are given to n.c.o.'s in air regiments. Training in specialized subjects is carried out at schools at Novi Sad, Mostar and Sarajevo.
The air forces of the three States (Estonia, Latvia and Lith uania) were founded in 1918. In Estonia the air force is a separate service, but in Latvia and Lithuania the air forces are an integral part of the army. In Estonia, the junior officers are regulars, who are posted from other arms or join direct from the military cadet school. The other ranks are conscripts. Pre liminary training is carried out at Reval. In Latvia, the officer personnel is obtained either by direct entry or by attachment from the army. Other ranks are selected conscripts, and in Lith uania officers and n.c.o.'s are selected from the army.
(T. J. E.)