MOSQUITO AIRCRAFT

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1946, Page 9

MOSQUITO AIRCRAFT

PURCHASE FOR NEW ZEALAND FROM R.A.F.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 1.

“The Government has approved of the purchase of a number of Mosquito aircraft from the R.A.F. on very favourable terms for the operation of three squadrons of the R.N.Z.A.F.,” said the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) to-day.

“The number involved,” said the Minister, “will fulfil requirements for five years, after allowing for attrition caused by normal wastage. More than a third of the aircraft are new and the remainder have had relatively slight use. “The aircraft will ’be flown out from Britain to New Zealand through R.A.F. Transpqrt Command staging stations, and as far as possible these flights will be done by air crew of the R.N.Z.A.F., although it appears that R.A.F. assistance will be required. The Air Department is p’reparing for the training of the air crew required for ferrying and crews already experienced on Mosquito aircraft will be utilised whereever available.” Experienced Airmen.

Mr. Jones said that advantage had already been taken whilst skilled tradesmen were in Britain with the Victory contingent to retain them there to obtain experience in the aircraft and engines at the de Havilland and Rolls Royce factories. This party, he said, comprised Squadron Leader H. H. Smith, Auckland, and 11 n.c.o.’s.

The Mosquitos would be employed in New Zealand to replace in part United States aircraft allotted to New Zealand during the war when the United States was in a better position to supply combat aircraft than was Britain. They would be delivered over a period for employment by the R.N’.Z.A.F., as American aircraft went out of service. Modification of the aircraft for tropical service would delay the first deliveries.

Purpose of Purchase. The Mosquitos will be used by the R.N.Z.A.F. for bombing reconnaissance and as fighter bombers, and one squadron may eventually be located in the Pacific. The aircraft are equipped with Rolls Royle Merlin engines, and can be , used for long-range daylight bombing and escort duties, as well as being useful as high speed intruders. The Mosquito carries a crew of two, a pilot and an air observer, and its armament consists of four 20 m.m. cannons in the underside of the fuselage and four .303 Brownings and a. cine-camera in the nose. It has a cruising speed of 240 m.p.h., and can reach 450 m.p.h. in a dive. Mr. Jones said the purchase of these aircraft was the first step in the ultimate conversion of the R.N.Z.A.F. to British types of aircraft, but the Government had been notified that acquisition of the most modern types was impossible at present.