DUTIES OVERSEAS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21009, 4 February 1943, Page 4

DUTIES OVERSEAS

W.A.A.F. CONTINGENT IMPORTANT SERVICE RELEASE OF MEN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. “Recently the first members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force to be selected for duties overseas embarked for service beyond New Zealand.” the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, announced to-day. Mr. Jones said he could not say where the girls had gone but they would serve at air force establishments where previous experience had shown the conditions to be satisfactory. He was sure that the New Zealanders would feel proud that the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, besides doing valuable service on the airfields on New Zealand, had now been judged fit to carry out important work overseas, thus releasing men for service further afield and* meeting personnel requirements for the rapidly expanding operations of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The first overseas party had included transport drivers, medical orderlies, equipment assistants, clerks, meteorological observers and shorthand typists. They were under the charge of a capable W.A.A.F. supervisor and would carry out the same duties overseas as they had done in New Zealand.

“Parents and relatives of girls already serving in the auxiliary force in New Zealand can rest assured that the fact that girls have embarked for overseas service does not mean that all W.A.A.F. members are automatically liable for overseas service,” the Minister said. Fie added that no girl would be posted to overseas duties unless she volunteered and had the full approval of her parents. Girls who went overseas would be well looked after.