EVER ON WATCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 131, 30 November 1942, Page 4

EVER ON WATCH

DEFENCE FORCES

LITTLE CHANCE OF SURPRISE

{Special to "Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Bombers and fighter planes were roaring over Auckland on Saturday. In theory the bombers were hostile aircraft and operating against them was a squadron of fast fighters of the New Zealand Air Force.

Looking at the combat from ground level it appeared as if each was acting independently, and that the whole show was purely spontaneous and without control, but it was revealed to a party of Parliamentarians and members of the Press that in reality every operation up to the time of interception was completely under control, It was revealed, also, that in. the vicinity of Auckland there is a combined operations headquarters at which senior officers of the Navy, Army, and Air Force have a permanent location from which they will operate in complete co-operation in the event of any attack on the Dominion. Just how efficient and comprehensive the organisation is was also shown. The visitors were taken into the operations rooms where was demonstrated the careful and cdmplete watch being kept not only over the coastal areas of New Zealand, but over a very wide range of the Pacific and Tasman Oceans. The movement of every ship and aircraft over that area is known and plotted on huge wall maps, and every move in the war area is constantly under observation. In relation to the coast of New Zealand it was shown how any approaching hostile fleet or air squadron could be picked up by one of .several systems of observation, and action be taken against it, possibly even before it was in striking distance. In view of the fact that the movements of all friendly aircraft or ships are known to the control officers it will be seen that any unidentifiable craft would be presumed to be hostile and action would be taken accordingly. Just how that action would be directed was demonstrated. The interception that was carried out today over the city area was part of large-scale air exercises that have been going on in the northern area during the past week. The visiting party were present in the fighter operations room at the combined headquarters when the operation began. It was learned that "enemy bombers were approaching the city on a raid, and their course was plotted on a huge table map. At the same time the fighter planes going out to the defence were also plotted in position, and the visitors were given a complete picture of what was happening up to the time that the aircraft came into combat overhead. In the same room E.P.S. officers and anti-aircraft officers had their posts, and they were able to keep their organisations fully informed as to what was happening. The party of visitors was' later taken to various air stations where they saw exhibitions of dive and low level bombing.