DOMINION AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23446, 29 September 1941, Page 3

DOMINION AIR FORCE

HIGH TRAINING STANDARDS REPORT TO HOUSE (P.R.) WELLINGTON, September 26. “The Air Force has in the last year flown nearly 200,000 hours, or a distance of more than 800 times round the world, and the maintenance of aircraft has involved about 1,000,000 man-hours in the fitter and rigger trades alone,” says the report of the Chief of the Air Staff (Air Commodore H. W. L. Saunders) for the year ended March 31, 1941, which was presented in the House of Representatives by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). Casualties to New Zealanders serving with the Royal Air Force from September 4, 1939, to March 31, 1941, totalled 318, the report says. These comprised 156 killed, 20 missing believed killed, 59 missing, 33 seriously wounded, and 50 prisoners of war. Fatal casualties in New Zealand for the year under review numbered 42, including 19 flying accidents, involving the loss of 29 lives. Applications for air-crew training during the year numbered 7518, and there were 8538 for ground staff training. The corresponding totals since the outbreak of the war were 12,162 and 12.974. A return of capital expenditure on the various stations for the year shows a total of £1,456,600. The report adds that since the commencement of the expansion programme of 1937-38 a sum of £3,559,900 has been spent on works and buildings. The maintenance of stations cost £85,686 for the year. "The success of the air training propramme in New Zealand is demonstrated by th.i manner in which New Zealand airmen have acquitted themselves in operations overseas,” the report concludes. “It is apparent that New Zealanders have a natural aptitude for flying, and their training here has enabled them to meet the high standards of the Royal Air Force.