Re: Almost all went to USA/Canada for flying training.
Not so, Danny. Another keen memory has my Course standing outside Highbury Hotel, with Cpl Allway walking along the rows, little air force clerk following with paper lists in his hand. He touched each student on his way, saying to the clerk alternately, "Canada", "Rhodesia" "England". Anxious to see large parts of the world as early as possible, I stood with my fingers crossed, but I was one nominated to train at home. One big advantage was that I was posted to 219 Squadron 11 months after commencing ITW.
In later life with the RAAF I discovered that some Aussies were more than 2 years completing their training, due to the long travels from continent to continent.