N.Z. AIR FORCE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 158, 1 April 1937, Page 10

N.Z. AIR FORCE

Government’s Plan For Reorganisation

HEADQUARTERS STAFF SET UP Separation From Defence Department Under the Government’s plans for tlie reorganisation and development of military and civil aviation, including the establishment of an Air Board for which the necessary legislation will lie brought down next session of Parliament, the New Zealand Air Force has been 'separated from the Defence Department. An Air Headquarters Staff has been set up, with offices in Wellington. „ ~ „ The Minister ot Defence, Hon. F. Jones, who is also in charge of aviation, announced yesterday that the Go-vernor-General, Lord Galway, had approved of the following appointments, to take effect from to-day

Chief of the Air Staff.— Wing Commander the Hon, R. A. Cochrane, A.F.C., Royal Air Force. Chief Staff Officer— Equipment: Wing Commander T. M. ’Wilkes, M.C., R.N.Z.A.F. Chief Staff Officer.— Personnel: Squadron Leader L. M. Isitt, R.N.Z.A.F. Air Staff and Intelligence Officer.— Flight Lieutenant A. do Terrotte Nevill, R.N.Z.A.F. Staff Officer.— Equipment: Flight Lieutenant T. .1. Denton, R.N.Z.A.F. Staff Officer.—Personnel: Flight Lieutenant W. Man, R.N.Z.A.F.

Civil Aviation.

Controller of Civil Aviation.— M ing Commander T. M. 'Wilkes, M.C., R.N.Z.A.F. Chief Assistant to Controller.— Mr. J. M. Buckridge. Chief Inspector of Aircraft.—Mr. R. C. Kean. Air Secretary.— Mr. T. A. Barrow.

The Minister explained that temporary accommodation for tlie new Headquarters Stall’ of the Royal New Zealand Air Force had been secured in one of tlie Railways Departments buildings near the junction of Bunny and Featherston Streets, in Wellington. All communications should be addressed to the Air Secretary.

Wing Commander the Hon. R. A. Cochrane, of the Royal Air Force, is the advisory expert who came to New Zealand on loan from the British Air Ministry some six months ago to make a survey of aviation in the Dominion and report to the New Zealand Government on developmental needs and reorganisation of military air services. On January 21 last the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, informed “The Dominion” that tlie Government had been so impressed by Wing Commander Cochrane’s excellent work and his preliminary report, that it had requested the British Air Ministry to extend the loan of its representative officer for two years. This the British authorities agreed to do, and Wing Commander Cochrane undertook the reorganisation of tlie Air Force of the Dominion.