PERSONNEL OF R.A.F.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 12 June 1945, Page 5

PERSONNEL OF R.A.F.

REDUCTION IN NEXT TWELVE MONTHS (Rec 11 a.m.) London, June 11. It is stated in London that the present R.A.F. strength of something like a million men and women will be reduced in the next twelve months by about a third. Women in the Air Force will not be given civilian clothing, but will receive a grant of £l2 10s, together with 56 clothing coupons. The W.A.A.F. represented about 12 per cent, of the total man and woman power of the R.A.F. It is also announced that to continue the war against Japan and yet prevent the R.A.F. from becoming unbalanced by demobilisation, 100,000 men—many of them now serving with air crews—are to be retained by the end of the year. BRITISH NAVAL RELEASES The Admiralty announced that the dispersal of officers and ratings, including Royal Marines, in Age and Service Group I. and all high priority marines and Wrens officers and ratings would begin on June 18 and extend over several weeks. The Admiralty explains that a balanced Navy is essential and as age and service groups are not equally distributed among different branches it is impossible for an equivalent number of age and service groups to be released simultaneously. It is expected that the dispersal ol officers in Age and Service Group I. will be completed by October, with the exception of engineer and medical officers and some classes of warrant officers. It is hoped that officers in Age and Service Groups 111. to VIII. with the same exceptions will be dispersed before the end of the year. If sufficient progress is made with' the dispersal of ratings in Group I. the dispersal of male ratings and other ranks in the Royal Marines in Age and Service Groups 111. to VIII. inclusive should begin in the middle of July and those in Groups IX. to XVI. inclusive after the middle of August. The Admiralty adds that the release of some officer categories and ratings groups will depend on the requirements of the war against Japan and the rate at which various branches are freed from duties **ow being carried out in Europe and Home waters. Th e Admiralty points cut that naval forces in the Far East are being built up as rapidly as, possible from later age and service groups.