PLANS FOR POST-WAR AIR FORCE OUTLINED BY SERVICE CHIEF

Evening Star, Issue 26185, 21 August 1947, Page 4

PLANS FOR POST-WAR AIR FORCE OUTLINED BY SERVICE CHIEF

(Special.) WELLINGTON., August 21

“ The post-war Air Force will consist of a regular Air Force and u territorial Air Force,” stated the annual report of the Chief of the Air Staff, presented in the House of Representatives yesterday. While certain regular units were nowestablished on a cadre basis, it had not yet been possible to re-establish the territorial Air Force, owing to a lack of regular technical persohnel, said the report, in that connection it had to be emphasised that the size and efficiency of the territorial force depended entirely on regular Air- Force backing. The commitments of the New Zealand Government under the World Security Organisation, or even in respect of Commonwealth security, could not yet be reduced to a Specific military plane. Nevertheless, the position was sufficiently clear to warrant the retention of an adequate Air Force nucleus, without which the task of .rebuilding the Air Force would become immeasurably more difficult and expensive. Discussing Air Force strength, the report stated that efforts to retain sufficient numbers of trained personnel to meet the minimum flying commitments had met with only partial success. The report adds: “ Unless the position improves in the near future Air Force activities over the next few years will be seriously reduced, and the establishment of auy operational units delayed. It' is, | in fact, on the success attending the efforts to -retain a sufficient nucleus of experienced flying and technical personnel that the efficiency and economy of the Air Force in the next decade will primarily depend. It is clear that a vigorous recruiting campaign will be necessary to maintain the Air Force, and that a considerable period of. training must ensue before any appreciable increase in flying activities can take place.”