SINGLE STRIKING FORCE FORMING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 66, 19 March 1942, Page 7

SINGLE STRIKING FORCE FORMING

AIR COMMAND

Fusion Of Australians And

Americans

United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. noon. MELBOURNE, this day. "The United States air forces in Australia are being fused with the R.A.A.F. into a single striking force under a unified command. All resources of men and equipment will be pooled and the policy of supplying the whole force with United States machines of the latest and best types has been recommended to achieve maximum standardisation." This was announced yesterday by Lieutenant-General George H. Brett, chief of the air forces in the Southwest Pacific and deputy-Supreme Commander of all forces in the area. The combined air force thus will be under the same control as the army. Lieutenant-General Brett, who was giving his first Press conference, revealed that he spent a week in Australia in January before assuming command of the air forces in Java. "The foundations were laid then for a hell of a good fighting air force. The building up of an air force in a new country, with unfamiliar terrain and different weather and flying conditions is a big job, but air strength is coming and our job is to keep it rolling without interruption. Laying Plans For Future "While we are laying plans for future developments we are taking what we have to-day and using it to the maximum, we are watching the Japanese areas to the north and praying for a chance to have a swat at them. At the same time our men are putting in invaluable operational and combat training, and we are supplying the Australians with aircraft as rapidly as we can. We have Just given them a lot. Asked how co-operation with the R.A.A.F. was developing. General Brett held up two fingers together. "The Australians and the Americans are just like that," he declared. "We are planning to divide Australia into operational areas. Squadrons and stations will operate as national units to simplify questions of service routine, rations, etc. In the larger organisation we will work as one. We want, to make the best possible use of men and equipment at our disposal. The way to do that is by pooling." Although he recently held military commands, General Brett pointed out that the air force has been his baby for 27 years. Keen, direct and practical in approach, he answered every question fired at him. His answers carried a ring of confidence which became pride when he talked about his "boys." Although careful not to underestimate the Japanese, General Brett believes that "man for man and plane for plane with America's latest machines, we have the edge on them. Give me 100 fighters and give the Japanese 200 and we will lick them any time." Protecting the Public "In Java It was Impossible to carry out the first principle of air warfare, which is never to lose a plane on the ground. Whatever is coming over ft is always policy to get them into the air and give them a chance. In Australia we are preparing to put into effect the British policy of dispersal. i

There are three things we have known for a long time about air defence of civilian population. You must have an efficient aircraft warning service, good anti-aircraft batteries and fighter coverage. With these you can get any group of people to work anywhere at any time. To maintain your hold on an area you must have these."

General Brett added that Australia was getting a lot of anti-aircraft equipment ratner rapidly. "I understand that Britain supplied quite a bit." The general was surprised when asked whether he thought the United Nations would hold Australia. "Hold it?" he answered, "I haven't lost any of my faith in Australians, so l don't even consider tne question. You may have to take a drubbing, but Britain Has taken a drubbing, yet nobody has taken Britain yet."