FLEET AIR ARM

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 127, 25 November 1940, Page 9

FLEET AIR ARM

IT§ PART IN THE WAR

"FIGHTING AERODROMES"

MEN FROM DOMINIONS

"Fighting aerodromes which appear in the most unexpected places to the embarrassment of the enemy," was the description which Commodore W. E. Parry, C.8., Chief of the Naval Staff, applied to aircraft carriers, when speaking last evening upon the work of the Fleet Air Arm in the present war. The majority of the men of the Air Arm, he said, were to be found on these floating carriers, and since May of this year 117 young New Zealanders had left to serve in it. Opportunity would be given for more. "Brilliant chapters have already been written in the history of this war by this new combination of Britain's oldest and newest lines of defence —the Navy and the Air Force,"said Commodore Parry. "Inheriting as do the British a traditional love of the sea, and an urge to explore *the unknown, and particularly that comparatively new realm, the air, we have now put the two together into one glorious adventure for freedom. Thus the Fleet Air Arm is more than a fighting force —it is a natural expression of two of the qualities in the British make-up which come to the forefront in times of crisis." Commodore Parry said that in addition to the aircraft carriers there were the aircraft which almost every battleship, battle-cruiser, and cruiser carried, and which were launched by means of a catapult, while steaming at high speed- When their flight was completed these aircraft alighted on the sea alongside the ship, which is manoeuvred as necessary to make a lee of calm water, and were hoisted in by a crane. These catapult aircraft were amphibians and so they could return to a shore base if desired. SEAMEN AND AIRMEN. The necessity for the men who manned Fleet Air Arm aircraft being at home in both elements, the sea and the air, would be readily appreciated. In fact they needed to be equally good seamen and airmen. Most of the men naturally possessed the necessary basic attributes which, backed by the thorough training they received in England and the courage that was the pride of all, made a skilful and proficient force. Primarily it was the duty of the men of the Fleet Air Arm to work in conjunction with the Navy and in this alone they saw a variety of service. This included reconnaissance, which meant seeking out the enemy on sea and land and in the air. They were the eyes of the Navy, whose vision they had increased from a few miles to hundreds of miles in all directions. There was also patrolling, Day after day they scoured the seas for the prowling :^aiders; whether, they be surface ships' or U-boats, .which threatened British merchant ships, and bombed them or guided to the spot the destroyers with . their deadly, depth charges. They patrolled the skies to protect our ships from the enemy bombers. They also gave fight to any aircraft which did not succeed in evading them, 'and they bombed any warships and supply ships which, would dispute the Navy's command of the sea, or, hovering over a target, they directed the fire of our ships many miles away. TAKING THE INITIATIVE. "Besides the operations I have mentioned, our Fleet Air Arm aircraft have and are engaged on offensive operations similar to those of the Royal Air Force,"said Commodore Parry. "In fact, it is in this sphere of their activities that we have heard most about them so far in this war. I refer to the incessant attacks on the enemy's country and the countries he has occu- v pied—his bases, war factories, communications, supplies and fuel stocks, c invasion ports, troop concentrations, and so on. Our sailor airmen are con- j stantly carrying the war into the a enemy's country." p After referring to some of the recent o exploits, of the Fleet Air Arm, includ- t ing the crippling blow it delivered [ against, the Italian Fleet at its base c in Taranto. Commodore- Parry said: j "New Zealand may well oe proud of [ her young men who are making history in the air on the other side of the I 1 world. We have heard much and will ii hear more of the daring deeds of those v in the Royal Air Force and we shall fc have the same words of praise for 7 New Zealanders in the Fleet Air li Arm."

Commodore Parry said that New Zealand candidates for the Fleet Air Arm should offer their services through the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Successful candidates were sent direct to England for training. They were entered in the first instance as naval airmen, second class, and after a period of initial training they were selected, either as pilot or observer, and proceeded to flying training or technical.. training. At that stage they were advanced to the rating of acting leading airman.

All candidates who successfully passed these courses were granted temporary commissions in the Air Branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, those of 21 yeai-s being granted the.rank of probationary temporary sub-lieutenant and those under 21 as probationary temporary midshipman. The age limits were between 18 J and 23 years.