DOMINION AIR FORCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 7 April 1934, Page 11

DOMINION AIR FORCE

MORE FITTERS ENLISTED (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, sth April. A party of fifteen young men, selected from' about 600 applicants from various parts of New Zealand, arrived at the Hobsonville Air Base to-day to be trained as fitters. The recruits, whose average age is about twenty-three years, will be permanently attached to the Royal New Zealand* Air Force. They have been engaged as part of the Government’s policy of strengthening the defence forces of the Dominion, particularly the Air Force, and their appointment brings the staff at Hobsonville to a total comparable with that at Wiggram. An announcement was made last month that the Government had ordered twelve Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bombers, fitted with .Pegasus engines. It was then stated that the first two of the machines would be shipped in June. Although no definite allocation of the twelve new machines has been made, it is expected that one flight of four will be stationed at Hobsonville and the second flight at Wigram, with two of the remaining four craft in reserve at each base.

It is planned to train the recruits enrolled at. Hobsonville so that they will be able to assist in assembling the new machines allocated to Hobsonville.