UNDER AMERICAN COMMAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 105, 30 October 1942, Page 3

UNDER AMERICAN COMMAND

NEW ZEALAND ARMY AND AIR FORCE

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

ORGANISATION OF COMMANDS

"When the Pacific Ocean area was , divided up into strategic zones of command/ 4 said Mr. Jones, "the South Pacific area, which includes New Zealand and various groups of islands to the north, was placed under the command of Vice^Admiral R, L. Ghormley, who has recently been superseded by Vice-Admiral \V. Halsey. At that time, the command of the major units of the Royal New Zealand Navy was transferred to American command. But the squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force remained outside the American organisation of command, except in regard to those squadrons which were then located, and have since been located, in the Pacific Islands to the north of New Zealand. These squadrons in the islands came under the 'operational command of Rear-Admiral McCain, who has now assumed the post of Director of the Aeronautics Bureau in the Navy Department at Washington and has been relieved as Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific, by Rear-Ad-miral A; D. Fitch. . "As has been announced recently* | D. Harmon has assumed command of United States Army Forces in the South Pacific area,' and. this includes also squadrons of the United States Army Air Force: While Admiral Fitch,' as Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific, is primarily responsible for ail air operations in conjunction with naval operations. General Harmon is more directly concerned with , certain of the New Zealand air squadrons from the administrative point of view. IN THE FORWARD AREAS. "Although I am not at liberty to disclose the strength and location of our squadrons in the Islands, I am able to say that, as the result of the substantial expansion of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the past year, the New Zealand Gov^eminent has been able to send a number of squadrons for Service with the American Forces in the j forward areas. - "Certain squadrons, as is well Known, are located in Fiji; others are now located in other islands. These -.squadrons" are .principally of the bomber ■•■reconnaissance type." Referring to the problem of com-

It was revealed today by the Minister of Defejice (Mr. Jones) that the New Zealand Army in the Pacific area has passed under American command. Mr. Jones also said that a number of New Zealand air squadrons, principally of the bomber reconnaissance type, were operating with the American forces in the Sputh Pacific under American command

Air Commodore B. V. Goddard remained responsible for the efficiency and operation of the air defence of New Zealand, but to complete the chain of command involved in recent decisions Air Commodore Goddard had also been appointed Commander, New Zealand Air Forces.

Mr. Jones said that information would not be withheld from the public of the engagement of New Zealand forces in South Pacific operations if arid when our forces became actively employed.in direct contact %vith the enemy. * At the present time this was not the case, but he had no doubt that our reconnaissance aircraft were operating in or near the scone of recent enemy operations. \

mand, the Minister said that the functions of command were not purely re-* lated to the performance of forces in battle. Responsibility for command carried with it the responsibility for planning for future development and providing the material means for putting future plans into effect. It was highly desirable in any one theatre of war that the Air Force should be indoctrinated and equipped as uniformly as possible in their various categories, and for that reason he welcomed the recent decision arrived at between the United States Government and the New Zealand Government that the squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force assigned for operations in the South Pacific area should be placed under American command: This did not affect tlie responsibility of the Air Department for, the air defence of New Zealand. The' Chief of the Air Staff (Air Cqnimodore Goddard) still remained responsible for the efficiency and operation of the air defence of New Zealand. But the placing of the New Zealand squadrons under American command involved ' the appointment of an Air Commander to complete the chain of command. Jn addition to his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff, therefore, Air Commot doi'e Goddard had been appointed Com-' mandeiy New Zealand Air Forces. COMMAND OF N.Z. ARMY.

Questioned as to whether recent changes affected the New Zealand Army in the same way, the Minister said that the New Zealand Army al* ready had, in General puttick, a General Officer Commanding who, in addition, held the post of Chief of the General Staff. The New Zealand Army, like the Air Force, had also, with the agreement of the Government passed under American command, but this did not affect the development of the Army and its equipment to tthe same extent as the similar change would affect the R.N.Z.A.F.

The Minister added that he presumed it would be well understood, and it was a fact, that the movement of New Zealand forces of all three Services out of New Zealand for any new commitment was a matter which required the approval of the New Zealand , Government before any new measure was put into effect, ».