N.Z. AIR FORCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21962, 5 March 1946, Page 4

N.Z. AIR FORCE

APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS 726 APPLICATIONS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 5. A total of 726 applications for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force have been received since the Minister of Defence, Mr. F. Jones, announced last Monday that .the Government had decided to open recruiting to expedite the release of war service personnel and to permit the enlistment of men who desired to seek a career in the air force. Approximately 60 per cen.t of the applications received were from men who were previously in the service. "The response to the appeal for volunteers has been particularly good among air training cadets, 12C of whom h;ive applied for enlistment. From .two Wellington squadrons with a total strength of 61, 35 applications were received.

Air Training Corps’ headquarters said yesterday .that former cadets of the corps who wished to volunteer for service should forward their applications through .their former unit as it would be to .their advantage to do so. The enlistments being received are for periods of 13 .to 18 months or for a term ending not later than March 31, 1948. The recruits will receive the existing rates of pay and allowances and privileges up .to March 31, 1947,' with the exception of the war gratuity, which will cease on March 31, 1946, except in .the case of personnel serving overseas.