BRITISH AIR STRENGTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22722, 7 May 1937, Page 11

BRITISH AIR STRENGTH

FIVE , NEW SQUADRONS PROGRESS OF EXPANSION (Received May 6, 5.5 p.m.) British Wirpless RUGBY, May 5 The formation of five new squadrons, ■which is announced in the latest Air Ministry orders, will within the next few days increase the strength of the Metropolitan Air Force, home defence, coastal command and Army co-opera-tion units to 113 squadrons, or only ten below the number scheduled for completion /under the Royal Air Force expansion programme. Once 12-3 squadrons are in being individual squadron aircraft armament •will be increased to augment the aggregate firSt-line strength of the Metropolitan Force to 1750 aeroplanes. The present first-line strength is approximately 1400 machines. Four of the five new units will be armed with bombing aeroplanes, three with medium bombers and one with "heavies." The fifth is the seventh of the general reconnaissance squadrons, units which have been created during the past two years. AIRCRAFT FOR AUSTRALIA ■: ~i ... / PURCHASES IN AMERICA (Received May 6, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 5 Australian arms purchases from the United States in April totalled £20,089, of which £20,000 was spent on aircraft and parts. /