An Enduring Legacy: The Empire Air Training Scheme documentary is a 30-minute film on the history of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS), with a focus on its people and activities in the Riverina region of NSW. This documentary was produced by the Living History Program (LHP) team from History and Heritage – Air Force (HH–AF), along with No 464 Squadron.
The EATS was a major Second World War initiative by the United Kingdom and selected Commonwealth nations (including Australia, Canada and New Zealand) to rapidly train aircrew across common systems and aircraft.
Air Commodore Robert Lawson, Director-General of HH–AF:
"The Empire Air Training Scheme was incredibly successful in supporting the ability of Britain and its key Commonwealth partners to project air power and go on the offensive against the Axis powers during the Second World War".
"It was so successful that the scheme was stopped in 1944, a year before the war ended."
"It is incredibly important for all Australians to understand our rich wartime history, and videos such as this can easily be shared with a wider audience."
The documentary focuses on the history of the EATS in the communities of Temora, Cootamundra, Uranquinty, Wagga (Forest Hill), Narrandera and Coolamon, and connects the past to the present via ongoing Air Force training in Wagga Wagga.
It includes interviews with the Commanding Officer of the RAAF School of Technical Training, the Mayor of Coolamon, and the owner of the property which became RAAF Base Uranquinty during the Second World War.
Wing Commander Rich MacNeil, head of the LHP, says that the documentary focuses on the Riverina because it is a good representation of how the EATS operated in and affected regional Australia during the Second World War, and its lasting influence.
Wing Commander MacNeil:
"With some 40 EATS units across Australia during the Second World War, the scheme brought large sections of the Australian community into contact with the Air Force and helped develop connections which endure to this day".