BOMBERS FOR DOMINION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22554, 9 November 1938, Page 12

BOMBERS FOR DOMINION

LONG-RANGE MACHINES ARRIVAL NEXT YEAR STATEMENT BY MINISTER FOR DEFENCE The first of the 30 Vickers Wellington bombing aeroplanes ordered by the Government for military service are expected to arrive in New Zealand towards the end of next year, according to an announcement made by the Minister for Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in a telephone conversation from Wellington with “The Press” last night. Mr Jones said it was claimed that the Wellingtons were faster machines and possessed longer range than the Vickers Wellesleys, two of which landed at Darwin on Monday after breaking the non-stop flight record by 856 miles. The Wellington bombers, he said, would be flown to New Zealand from England. The recent flight of the Wellesleys was of special interest to New Zealand, because the Wellingtons would not only be flown to Australia, but across the Tasman to New Zealand.

Some of the pilots who had been sent Home from New Zealand to the Royal Air Force would be selected to fly the Wellingtons to New Zealand. As far as possible. New Zealanders would be selected to form the crews for the machines. This would apply to 30 airmen, who would be leaving New Zealand shortly to receive further instruction in the Royal Air Force. The crews of these machines would receive highly specialised training in the handling of modern aircraft. “It is hoped that by the time these new bombers arrive in New Zealand the military aerodromes at Ohakea and Whenuapai, in the North Island, will be completed,” said the Minister. “Our objective is to have everything ready at the same time. We must have the trained personnel to operate this aircraft when it arrives, and so also must we have all the administrative and instructional buildings completed. If the machines came out now we would have nowhere to put them.” The Minister said he felt confident that the buildings at the two aerodromes would be ready by the end of next year. There .was a lot of work to do, but he was gratified with the progress that had beep made at both Ohakea and Whenuapai.

Reference to the second-hand aircraft which would be sent from England for training purposes and for the territorial squadrons was made by Mr "Jones, who said that he had received no definite information, but be expected that some of these would arrive in New Zealand within a few months.