RIGHTING A MACHINE.
[THE CADET WING.]
The Cadet Wing, like its younger and larger brother the School of Aeronautics, found shelter at its birth in buildings most kindly loaned by the University of Toronto. This was at the beginning of March, 1917.
Prior to this, all R.F.C. cadets recruited had been equipped, accommodated and generally looked after at Victoria College by the Canadian Officers Training Corps, of the University of Toronto. This unit, together with the School of Infantry of the District, continued for some weeks to ration the cadets, but during hours of parade they came under the Cadet Wing for instruction.
Already there were in existence the Recruits Depot, Stores Depot and “X” Squadron at Long Branch. Up to now there had been no tuition prior to flying, except such as could be given by the much overworked but extremely efficient 2nd Lt. in command at Long Branch.
The strength of the Cadet Wing was, to commence with, some 50 cadets, taken care of in ground instruction by 2 officers, 3 non-commissioned officer instructors and some two or three clerks. Lectures covered artillery observation, organization of troops, military law and such technicalities as rigging, engines, etc. It will, therefore, be seen that the two officers in charge were required to call upon the sum total of their knowledge and experience to discharge their official duties. The wing was fed direct by the recruiting office, since cadets did not at first pass through Recruits Depot.