war against japs.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 213, 8 September 1943, Page 4

war against japs.

N.Z. DIVE-BOMBER UNITS

TRAINING WELL UNDER WAY (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Tuesday. A further step in preparations by the Royal New Zealand Air Force for offensive action against the Japanese was announced by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, to-day, when he stated that dive-bombing squadrons, using Douglas Dauntless machines, were being formed in the Dominion and that actual training operations were well under way. "New Zealand air crews and ground personnel of the R.N.Z.A.F.," the Minister said, "have for some time been undergoing courses of instruction at a North Island station in the operation and maintenance of dive-bombers. The training is sufficiently far advanced to show that the New Zealand personnel will be as successful in the operation of dive-bombers as they have been with other types of aircraft overseas." The Minister pointed out that this step was in line with the Government's policy of employing the strength of the R.N.Z.A.F. in increasing weight against the enemy in the Pacific in co-operation with other Allied forces in the area. "I cannot say just when and where these aircraft will be employed against the Japanese, but people may look forward, before long, I hope, to further news of successes to add to the already excellent record of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific," added Mr. Jones. "We are proud of the high tributes that have been paid by senior American commanders to the work of our fighter and bomber reconnaissance squadrons in the forward area. "This is, however, by no means the end of the story, for it is our plan to send forward new squadrons, such as dive-bomber and torpedobomber squadrons, and to re-equip our bomber and fighter squadrons with newer and better types of aircraft. In short, we shall be able to take an increasing share in the air war in the Pacific and the weight of our effort can be counted as really substantial."