AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4642, 20 May 1938, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

IMPORTANCE OF DARWIN. It is significant that of the £24,800,000 to be spent during the next three years in the Government's new programme £8,800,00 is to be devoted to the Royal Australian Air Force, says an Australian writer. In view of the greatest importance to be attached to the Air Force in the future it is interesting to review briefly the expansion of the service in recent years and to explain the origin and meaning of the Salmond Scheme.

The Royal Australian Air Force as it is constituted to-day came into existence in 1921. It was then equ'pped with a number of war-time machines given by the British Government, and the authorities were satisfied with these planes until about 1926. Present Strength. By 1935 the Royal Australian Air Force personnel totalled 1098 officers and men, and the Citizens' Air Force 1378. Australia possessed 85 machines —33 Moth trainers, 23 Wapitis and seven Bulldogs (fighters and general purpose aircraft), three Seagull amphibians and two Southampton (patrol), and 17 Hawker Demons. In 1936' eight Avro cadet trainers, seven Seagull amphibians, three Hawker Demons, one L.J.W. Gannet. and one Dragon Rapide were added. At the present time the Air Force has a first-line strength of 114 war planes and a personnel of 2120. Cadets for training are entering Point Cook Air Force School at the rate of 96 a year. During the next two years the force will be increased to 200 war planes and the personnel to 2472 officers and men.

Darwin will be provided with two squadrons, another squadron will be stationed at Brisbane, and three more at Canberra. Another unit, equipped with two squadrons, is to be stationed on a site to be selected on the New South Wales coast, probably in the vicinity of Newcastle. Pearce (W.A.) is to be provided with an additional squadron. Squadron No. 23 (City of Perth) was established at Pearce aerodrome during the early part of March, when the officers and ment arrived from Laverton (Vic). The full strength of the squadron is 11 officers and 135 airmen, with 12 aircraft (Hawker Demons and Avro Ansons). A Citizens' Force unit is to be added, and the equipment increased to 17 aircraft.

Importance of Darwin. - The decision to station three squadrons at Canberra arose following the recent mock battles and fleet manoeuvres off the South Coast, when six Hawker Demons and five Avro Ansons effectively co-operated with the fleet, using Canberra as a base. Undoubtedly the most important aspect .of the present expansion scheme is the decision to strengthen the defences at Darwin, which is the most strategical 'centre in the Commonwealth defence system. An additional two Air Force squadrons are to be formed, and, in addition, dock facilities for naval vessels up to the light cruiser class are to be provided. Long-range Bristol bombing planes, which were ordered from England last year, will be stationed there to co-operate with the military and naval forces.