AIR DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23137, 8 September 1938, Page 10

AIR DEFENCE

AUSTRALIAN FORCE REORGANISATION PL ANB * ENGLISHMAN. AS CHIEFS [FROM OUR OWN CORRKSPOND ENt V ■ SYDNEY, Sept a The almost complete reorganise; of the higher command of the £ 1 Australian Air Force has been autt ised by the Commonwealth Government as the first step in applying the recoil mendations of the report of Air Sir Edward Ellington, of the rZ Air Force, who recently spent a month in Australia investigating the condit; of the Australian force. n

The changes probably will involve a reconstruction of the Air Board and reshuffle of duties in the higher ranks 4 An English Air Force officer is to take command of the Australian force. Th present Chief of the Air Staff," Air Vice-Marshal Williams, is to go to' Lou don under the new exchange system for Air Force officers suggested by Sir Edward. He will be offered an approprf. ate command in England which will enable him to gain experience in latest training and administrative methods.

Sir Edward has been commissioned to make certain inquiries in England touching on the selection of an officer of high distinction for the Australian command. The policy of exchanging high officers, the Government believes will mean that the higher officers of the Australian force will always have a thorough knowledge of modern aerial developments. The reorganisation will extend to the lower ranks of the service and it is probable that changes will be made in commands of several of the Air Force stations and squadrons. Type of Machines to be Used

Another important change as a result of the Ellington report will be a recasting of the plans for the manufacture of aeroplanes for the Australian force in Melbourne by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. The type decided on was an American machine adapted for Australian, use and for the employment of British equipment. Forty of these Wirraways, as the modi! fied type has been called, are in process of manufacture, and this order will be completed, but an order for 60 or 70 machines intended to be placed early next year will be cancelled in favour of later types of fast fighting machines.

The only consideration which will influence the Government to extend th» Wirraway order will be alterations and improvements to make this tyjfe of aeroplane a fast fighting machine. Sir Edward, in his report, expressed the opinion that the Wirraway was not suitable as a fighter ~ because of its comparatively low speed. He stated that a number of the flying accidents in the Australian force were due to disobedience or bad flying discipline, and he recommended an improvement in flying discipline as the-first and most important reform. The accident rate, he said, was definitely worse than in Britain, while before 1935 it was con siderably better. Conclusions Beached by Sir Edward An improvement in the training given to recruits after the completion of the flying training school course was recommended by Sir Edward and he urged that the conditions of service of permanent officers should be improved. AH service squadrons, he said, were below strength and deficient in flight commanders and non-commis-sioned officers. Other conclusions reached by Sir Edward were: —Advanced training and air navigation instruction cannot be put on a proper basis until ,a. new station has been fprmed. The training organisation should be completed at an early stage of the present expansion programme. The maintenance of aircraft is efficient. The best way of meeting the widespread demand for facilities for civilian training is by a scheme on the lines of the Volunteer Air Force in the United Kingdom. It would be a great mistake, said Sir Edward, to attempt to operate more civil air services than can be operated with safety or to work over routes before they are equipped with the latest aids to safety. This applies particularly to night services. The meteorological and wireless direction-finding services are inadequate.