AIR FORCE PLANS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 280, 26 November 1938, Page 13

AIR FORCE PLANS.

TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY. VICKKKS \VKM,IN<;Tox BOMBKBS. (»>■ Telegraph.— I'ress Associllinn.) DUNKDIN, Friday. The of New Zva land's air defence programine was commoiited on genera Ily liy till- Mini-it,.!- „f ]),. f ( , the Hun. K. .tones, in an interview today. I lie Minister outlined \arioiis philips ill iti• ti\ it v being undertaken I>\l he Air Depart mi'iit, and emphasised tlia t eveiv thing possible \% ar* lieing done to o<|iii|i New Zealand with an effect i\e air tone in the event of an emergem-v. "We are still ho|H>fiil that the tir'-t of the :ii> Vickers Wellington bom Iter* wo have ordered will he delivered about thy end of next year," the .Minister S»id.

It i* claimed that these are faster machines and |M>sse-.s a longer range i han tho Vickerw Welleslev*, which recently made a record-lireaking longdistance Hight from Ismalin to Darwin. "By the time the full complement of ■10 aeroplanes i,s here." the Minister added, "our Air Force should 1*» well e«|uij»[ied with Ixmibers."

The Minister said that .">OOO men wanted for the special Air Force Reserve hud been signed up for service in any emergency, hut the Air Department was anxious to have more men. such a* motor mechanics and titter* and turners, and the list* were still lieing kept open.

Arrangements were being made with t lie Railway Department for the establishment of instructional school* in connection with the workshops in Auckland. Wellington, (-hristchurch and Dunedin, Mr. .lone* added. Stejn would Ix l taken as soon as |>o*sible to const i uct suitable buildings at the four workshops, where apprentice* Hearing the, end of their terms would receive about live months' instruction on the repair arid maintenance of aircraft engines and air frames. Instructor* and equipment would be provided by the Air Force and the objective would be to turn out 100 young men a ye&r trained as aircraft ground engineers to form a civil reserve essential to meet air force requirements in time of war.