No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School, Southern Rhodesia

Flight training centers in Southern Rhodesia

Brief History

A war time Elementary Flying training School (EFTS) gave a recruit 50 hours of basic aviation instruction on a simple trainer, such as the de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth. Pilot cadets who showed promise went onto training at a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) where they were awarded their “wings.” The second air station to come into operation was at Guinea Fowl, Gwelo (now Gweru) in twelve weeks from bare veld to the commencement of flying training with No. 26 Elementary Flight Training School. Its construction included provision of water supplies, water-borne sewerage and building a rail siding for the special trains bringing aircrew from Cape Town. Courses lasted 6 weeks and those passing moved on to the Service Flight Training Schools.

No 26 EFTS was operational from August 1940 until August 1945.

Trainee Pilots

• † Alan Wesley Hain 2 Jan - 2 Mar 1943
• † Michael Courthope Haynes 2 Jan - 1 Mar 1942