At Leaside, the 43rd Wing, came final tuition in artillery coöperation. Here the cadet absorbed to his capacity all that science and a particularly brilliant system of instruction could give him. The picture target of former days was reproduced on a huge scale, and from work on this the pupil took to the air. From an altitude of 2,000 feet he noted bursts presumed to be those of batteries, located them on his map and wirelessed their position to the receiving battery station, correcting and directing its fire. Information was sent down describing the effect of barrage fire, the movement of troops, the location of wire and similar details. Contact patrol work was studied, as was indeed every feature of artillery coöperation duty, even to the wearing of gauntlets when sending wireless.
All through the period of training his physical condition was regarded as of prime importance; and continual exercises, so arranged as to develop every bodily power, and, in consequence, every mental activity, were faithfully practised. The result was a human mechanism, fit and alert, sound and responsive, and capable of being brought to the highest possible pitch of efficiency.
At the School of Aerial Fighting came the last step in the development of the pilot. Armed with Vickers and Lewis guns he went through a final course of ground gunnery which demonstrated the problems and mechanics of the art of shooting to the last degree. Taking to the air, first with another pilot, he shot at full-sized silhouettes anchored in Lake Ontario a mile from shore. Later, armed with a camera gun loaded with film, he undertook aerial practice on a brother cadet, the developed film showing the accuracy of his aim. Aerial tactics were carried out, and every imaginable manoeuvre of attack and escape has been observable for months at this most interesting of camps. Finally, equipped mentally and physically, with all that the British Empire could do for him, he left for either overseas as the highest product of the R.A.F., Can., or to the School of Special Flying to be tested as an instructor, an equally arduous but more thankless undertaking.
ENGINE TEST SHED—LEASIDE.
OFFICERS’ MESS—LEASIDE.