EXPANSION OF AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23741, 12 September 1942, Page 7

EXPANSION OF AIR FORCE

_—-e “Large Operational Establishment ” REVIEW BY MINISTER (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept.-11. "Our contribution to the air strength of the United Nations is large, and in proportion to the size of our population it may truly be described as outstanding,” the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) said to-day in the course of a brief survey of the development of the Royal New Zealand Air Force since the outbreak of the war. The present strength of the New Zealand Air Force at home and abroad was nearly as large as that which would have been considered suitable for a first-class power before the war, he said. A .. . “Our present overseas strength is so large that if all the flying personnel were engaged in one raid it would be about on a scale equal to the gigantic attacks on Cologne and Essen, and this strength is constantly growing," Mr Jones said, Some people might wonder how this had been achieved in three years, but the answer was that New Zealand had embarked on an expansion scheme in 1937. By the employment of the latest machinery and modern methods of construction, aerodromes and buildings had been prepared for a large air training programme at the outbreak of the war. New Zealanders had been sent overseas fcr service in the Royal Au Force before the war, and others for training, and this had enabled operations under the Empire Air Training Scheme to commence with a minimum of delay. Although it had been possible to make a flying start, it was realised that, if momentum were to be gained, air training facilities would have to be expanded and every effort had been made to anticipate requirements by speeding up aerodrome construction and station building. New Zealand owed a deep debt of gratitude to those respon* sible for the planning and construction for, in addition to meeting commitments under the Empire air training plan, their initiative and energy had led to the Domnion being converted into a formidable opponent in the air. Not Unprepared When Japan entered the war they had been faced, with the rapid expansion of air operational strength, Although the energies of the Air Department had previously been bent chiefly upon training men for overseas, the possibility of an extension of the war had not been lost sight of and, when Japan launched her treacherous attack, New Zealand was not unprepared. “As a result of earlier planning we were again able to move off from a flying start in the development of our operational strength,” the Minister continued. “However, I do not want to give the impression that this was an easy matter. We were faced with the Eroblem of supply, and in addition we ad to undertake considerable reorganisation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force to provide for a large operational establishment as well as substantial training facilities. We have been able to do both.” Mr Jones said that New Zealand had been able to add substantially to the operational strength of the _ United Nations air forces in the Pacific, and the Dominion was capable of attack and defence on a large scale, • using modern types of aircraft. This expansion was being continued. The Minister expressed warm admiration of the magnificent record of New Zealand flying men. New Zealanders had taken part in almost every operation of note carried out by the Royal Air Force, and in three years had won 275 awards for bravery and devotion to duty in the air,