A Canadian Press
despatch from Ottawa reported that Air Mininster C.G. Power, speaking in the
House of Commons Monday night, stated that transport aircraft for the movement
of troops in the defence of Canada would be available in 1944, a year earlier
than had been expected.
The field at Pennfield Ridge, N.B. would be kept open as a
transport school, he said.
"We have found that transport aircraft we ordered two
years ago to transport troops from one end of Canada to another will come in
1944 instead of 1945,", said Maj. Power.
This indicated the progress being made by the United States
aircraft industry, he added.
Maj. Power said the training in transport work would be best
for young men in light of future aviation needs.
Heavy Liberator transports required longer runways like those
at Pennfield Ridge, which had been an R.A.F. school. The Liberators carried a
crew of seven or eight against a crew of about four carried by the Venturas
which have been used.
He said he assumed
there were about 1,400 men at Pennfield Ridge at present and then the R.C.A.F.
took over there might be about 1,000.
Editor's Note - During last year Pennfield had more flying
hours than any station in Canada excepting those in the Prairie Provinces.
SOURCE: The Saint Croix Courier (St. Stephen, NB) - April 13, 1944.
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