THE R.N.Z.A.F.

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 64, 12 September 1942, Page 8

THE R.N.Z.A.F.

GREAT DEVELOPMENT

MINISTERS REVIEW

"Though it is not possible for me to give the exact figures," said the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) last night, "I can say that the present strength of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, at home and overseas, is nearly as large as would have been considered as that of a first-class Power before the war." This was one of a number of striking facts given by the Minister in a review of the development of te R.N.Z.A.F. He also said that if all New.Zealand's flying personnel at present overseas were engaged in one raid, it would be about on a scale equal to the gigantic attacks on Cologne and Essen; This strength was constantly growing. j It had been possible to accomplish I this expansion within three years because of the programme that had been i put-into operation two years before war broke out. New Zealand had already provided a substantial number of men for the Royal Air Force before the war through the short service commission scheme, an arrangement I under which the New Zealand Government assisted selected candidates to proceed to the United Kingdom. In addition, an air training scheme was adopted shortly before the war through which New Zealand agreed to provide trained air-crew personnel for the United Kingdom, and this was, in fact a forerunner of. the Empire Air Training Scheme which came into operation soon after war broke out. A FLYING START. As a result of the steps that had. been taken before the war New Zealand was able to begin operations under the Empire scheme with the minimum "of delay, and in a remarkably short time air-crew trainees were being sent overseas. Though it was satisfactory to be able to move off from a flying start, every endeavour was made to anticipate future requirements by speeding up aerodrome construction and station building. New Zealand, said the Minister, owed a debt of gr"atitude to those responsible for the planning and construction work in this direction. Not only had it been possible to meet to the full New Zealand's large commitments under the Empire Air Training Plan; the Dominion had also been converted into a formidable opponent in the air. This had not been easy, but the Dominion had been able to augment substantially the operational strength of the United Nations' air forces in the Pacific. ISLAND "AIRCRAFT-CARRIERS." "The United Kingdom has been described as a gigantic aircraft-car-rier moored close to Europe, and it may be equally said that we have a number of island aircraft-carriers in the Pacific, including New Zealand as one of the key aircraft-car-riers," stated the Minister. "Our operational squadrons have increased considerably, and we are capable of attack or defence on a larger scale, using modern types of aircraft. We are continuing with this expansion." The* Minister eulogised the work of the Air Force instructors, those responsible for the planning of the expansion programme, and all others who have -helped to carry it out. He also referred to the magnificent record of New Zealand's flying men, stating that in three years they had won more than 275 awards for bravery and devotion to duty. "As we begin the fourth year of war," he added, "we may look back on three years of hard endeavour and be encouraged, for we are stronger today than we have ever been before. . . . We must see that we do not slacken or falter."