AIR FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 136, 10 June 1940, Page 11

AIR FORCE

DOMINION'S EFFORT

MINISTER GIVES DETAILS

Information concerning the extent of New -Zealand's efforts in respect to the Air Force was given by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) at the concert given by the. band of tiie Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Opera House last night. .

After thanking those who had ar-' ranged the concert on behalf of the soldiers, and Air Force Relations' for the enormous amount of. .vork they had done in providing comforts' for the men overseas, Mr. Jones said perhaps it was not.generally realised that New Zealand had 400 men in the Royal Air Force. (Applause.)

In September, 1938, the Government promised to train one thousand pilots a year in the event of war. Later, it was announced that New Zealand would provide 65Q pilots and 650 airgunners and observers annually. When war broke out the Air Force was immediately reorganised to carry out New' Zealand's promise, and from the outbreak of war to May 24, 217 pilots, observers, and air-gunners had left for service overseas and a further 910 would leave by the end of the year, making a total of 1127. Of this number some would proceed to Canada for further training before being sent to Great Britain. This was in conformity with the Empire training scheme for which, when in full operation, New Zealand would provide 880 trained pilots direct to Great Britain, and 529 pilots and 1400 observers andr air-guri-ners annually. '.