N.Z. AIR FORCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 195, 31 May 1945, Page 6

N.Z. AIR FORCE

ACTIVITY IN FUTURE. WIGRAM STATION TO REMAIN. PART STILL TO BE PLAYED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The end of the European war did not. have any immediate or material effect on the present organisation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and so long as the Government, policy provided for participation in the Japanese Avar the organisation would require to be maintained at a substantial level, said Group Captain G. A. Nicholls, addressing pilots at a passing out ceremony at Wigram to-day. Group Captain Nicholls said that as training tapered off there Avould necessarily be some re-organisation of training stations, but Wigram, as a permanent air force station, would remain, and Avould probably absorb other phases of training. Their future training Avas for participating in the Japanese Avar, and as he had recently returned from a visit to Bougainville and New Britain, he could assure neAV pilots that the term “mopping up” Avas a misnomer. The decline in Japanese air power had not left much air fighting, but airmen had an important role in supporting the army, and making the job of the ground troops less difficult.

“The International policy Avould decide Avhal our Air Force of the future Avill he,” stated Group Captain Nicholls. “NeAV Zealand still has a substantial part to play in the final phase of the war in the Pacific. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is at present NeAV Zealand’s spearhead in the Avar in the Pacific and the organisation of Royal Ncav Zealand Air Force stations is necessary to support squadrons earning an excellent reputation for themselves. Training programmes will be reduced as soon as possible, hut tlieie is no use in turning off the waters Avhile the fires are still smouldering, and that briefly is the position today.”