Growing Strength Of N Z. Air Power In South Pacific

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1943, Page 4

Growing Strength Of N Z. Air Power In South Pacific

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The increasingly important part being played by the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Dominion’s war activities in the South Pacific has been reflected in a decision by the Government to appoint a senior officer of the R.N.Z.A.F. as head of New Zealand joint staff mission in Washington. Announcing this, the Minister for Defence (Mr. Jones) stated that Air Commodore J. L. Findlay, M.C., previously air officer commanding the ceptral group of the R.N.Z.A.F. would take over from Brigadier A. B. Williams, D. 5.0., the duties of senior member of the joint staff mission. Air-Commander Findlay will also become the R.N.Z.A.F. representative to. the combined chiefs of staff at Washington, relieving GroupCaptain J. Seabrook, A.F.C., who has acted in this capacity for some months. Brigadier Williams, who has been head of the New Zealand Joint Staff Mission for 18 months, has- returned to New Zealand within the last few days. Group-Captain Seabrook will later return to the Dominion for duty. Negotiations with U.S.

“The air war in the South Pacific is assuming increasing importance,’’ stated the Minister, “and development and equipment of New Zealand forces and bases (with American aircraft and other operational equipment has tended to throw the balance of negotiations between the United States and New Zealand on military affairs more to the air force. During the last 12 months the strength of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the South Pacific has grown considerably. Our bomber and Reconnaissance squadrons have been allotted important tasks in forward areas and they have won the unstinted praise of American commanders. New Zealand fighter squadrons have already established a splendid record against the Japanese and ground staffs serving and maintaining our squadrons have been responsible in no small measure for our successes. New Striking Units “New striking units of the R.N.Z.A.F. will be in action in the near future and more are being prepared to follow,” added the Minister. “It will not be long before we have squadrons of the following types in action: Bomber squadrons, patrol and reconnaissance squadrons, torpedo-bomber squadrons, dive-bomber squadrons- and fighter squadrons, besides all the . essential services for administration, supply and maintenance. “This will, of course, involve great increases in personnel strength and we shall have to deal with many new problems of equipment and supply. “The New Zealand Joint Staff Mission in Washington will thus have many increased responsibilities, particularly involving technical questions surrounding expansion of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific. Air-Commo-dore Findlay has been selected for this post in view of his long experience both overseas with the Royal Air Force and in New Zealand with the R.N.Z.A.F.” Distinguished Record

Air Commodore Findlay is a son of Sir John Findlay, former member of the New Zealand Legislative Council. He was born in Wellington in 1895 and attended Wellington College and later the Imperial Service College in England where he was captain of the school in 1914. At the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned as second-lieutenant in the East Surrey regiment with which he served in France. He was wounded at Loos and the Somme. In 1917 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. For gallant service in the war he received the M.'C. and Legion of Honour and was also mentioned in dispatches. After the war he was appointed to a permanent commission in the R.A.F. from which he resigned to join the New Zealand Air Force on its inception in 192.?. In 1929-30 he was attached to the R.A.F. for specialist courses. On his return to New Zealand he commanded an air station till 1938 when he was again posted to England with the R.A.F. on interchange. He commanded a flight of aircraft on delivery to Egypt and was then placed in command of a squadron. His next command was an R.A.F. station where he remained from August, 1940, till July, 1941, when he returned to New Zea land to take up the post of senior air staff officer at the Air Department. In July, 1942. he was appointed air officer commanding a central group of the R.N.Z.A.F., being promoted from group captain to air commodore in September, 1942.

Air Commodore Findlay is a keen cricketer and represented the R.A.F. in matches after the last war.