STRENGTH GROWS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20537, 23 April 1941, Page 9

STRENGTH GROWS

AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE HEAVY EXPENDITURE REAL)FORTS MADE SYDNEY. April 12. The Royal Australian Air Force personnel has increased one hundredfold since it was established in 1921. With reservists waiting call-up, it has the strength equivalent to three army divisions. Speaking on the twentieth anniversary of the force, the Minister for Air. Mi - . McEwon. said that in 1921 the Royal Australian Air Force comprised ISO officers and men. At the outbreak of the present war it? strength was 2500. To-day there were more men in one large training school in Victoria than in the Royal Aus(ralian Air Force in September, 1929. “This year," said Mr. McEwen

“more than .040.000.000 will be spent on the force, compared with £135,000 spent in the first year of its existence, present commitments under the Empire air scheme approach £50,000.000." Referring to the operations of the Royal Air Force reconnaissance squadrons, Mr. McEwen pointed out that Hudson bombers and other longrange aircraft flew nearly 1,000,000 miles in three months, covering an area o!' more than 15.000,000 square miles at sea.

Best Aircraft of Its Type

In aircraft, too, Australia is gathering strength. The first Beaufort bomber assembled in Australia is expected to be in the air by the end of this month. In refutation of earlier criticism of the suitability of the Beaufort for Australia’s needs, the Australian Assistant Director of Aircraft Production, Mr. .John Storey, who inspected British factories with the Prime Minister in Britain, is reported to have said that the Beaufort is the best aircraft of its type in the world,

The New South Wales Area Controller for Aircraft Production, Mr. 11. Young said that shortly two or Lhrec Beauforts a month will be produced in Australia, and ultimately the rate of production will increase io one a day.

Mr. Young declared that all production difficulties had now been cleared away. “The first bomber,’' he said, ‘ will be turned out in Victoria, because assembly facilities are there. In the near future we hope to have similar facilities in New South Wales."