EFFICIENCY OF R.N.Z.A.F.

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27987, 6 June 1956, Page 14

EFFICIENCY OF R.N.Z.A.F.

“STANDARD IS VERY SATISFACTORY ”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 5.

To be effective in these times of rapid technological advancement, air forces z must be continually re-equip-ping. and the Royal New Zealand Air Force was actively considering its own re-equipment, said Air Vice-Marshal W. H. Merton, who has completed a term as Chief of the New Zealand Air Staff, speaking at a farewell press conference in Wellington today. The R.N.Z.A.F. had reached the stage when it could be expected to meet any call, if it had the equipment, Air Vice-Marshal Merton said. The standard of efficiency was very satisfactory, but the force did not pretend it had reached a full measure of protection.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the defence allocation for the Air Force, he said he preferred to make no comment.

The R.N.Z.A.F. goodwill mission to the United States inquired into jet training methods, he said. All air forces were considering whether they should introduce all-through jet training, and the R.N.Z.A.F. was amassing data to enable the Air Staff to make decisions for recommendation to the Government. If the Territorial Air Force did all its training with jets, this would be centralised at Ohakea. Until any such decision was made it would continue to train with Harvards.

Sunderland flying-boats would have to be replaced eventually, but the type of aircraft to replace them had not yet been decided, Air Vice-Marshal Merton said, in reply to another question. It was receiving serious consideration.

Air Vice-Marshal Merton said he found co-operation among the services excellent. Combined exercises were vital, and they had done much to improve operational efficiency. The scale of these was as big as could be arranged. Squadrons in Malaya

In Malaya the two squadrons were doing very well and had reached a standard of efficiency comparable with that of any squadron in the Royal Air Force.

Recruiting was still unsatisfactory. What was more serious was that the R.N Z.A.F. was not getting sufficient men accepting long-term service—in excess of eight years. Skilled men were being lost and new men had to be trained more often than was desirable. Housing for men requiring married quarters had been a factor in this difficulty, and the matter was being atetnded to. In general, the policy was to provide housing in immediate proximity to the airfield, but there were exceptions to this, as at the Bulls settlement. Air Vice-M-rshal Merton said that he was leaving New Zealand with regret, but the blow was softened by the knowledge that England was regarded as the Mother Country, and he was bound to meet many New Zealand friends there. With him at the conference was the new Chief of Air Staff (Air ViceMarshal C. E. Kay).