THREE SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24135, 29 November 1941, Page 10

THREE SERVICES

SHARING THE BURDENS NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN SPLENDID RECORD IN WAR (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Friday ■"From time to time the public attention is focused on one branch of the armed services to the exclusion of,, others," said Air-Commodore H. W. L. Saunders, Chief of the Air Staff, speaking to members of the English-speaking Union. ''At times it appears that the main burden is falling on one service, and other services are not pulling their weight. But appearances are deceptive. "Whatever the appearance is the burdens are equally shared," he continued. "Successes are entirely dependent on the co-operation of all three services—Air, Navy and Army—and civilian services behind the line." A great deal of misconception and misunderstanding existed in regard to, Crete and Greece, said Air-Commodore Saunders. Many had asked why was the co-operation by the air not evident in these campaigns. The Plain Fact "The Air Force did its best, but the fact is that we did not have the aircraft," he explained, "Britain did not start arming early enough, with the result that at the outbreak of war, and even 18 months later, Britain had not caught up with Hitler.

Air-Commodore Saunders outlined the enormous strides made in the last few months in the production -of a vast Empire war potential. He praised highly the foresight and endeavours of the New Zealand Government to build a strong Dominion Air Force. At the outbreak of war considerable extensions to the training organisation had been put in hand. The organisation was able to expand to its full extent within 15 months of the outbreak of war. No other Dominion had yet completed its expansion. Tribute to Government "The Air Training organisation ensures that we have a large number of fully-trained personnel for use in emergency," Air-Commodore Saunders added. ''Altogether the New Zealand Government may well be proud of its war effort in the air. It had the foresight before the war to lay the foundations on which to build up the large Air Force organisation required in war. New Zealand was therefore in a position to help at once. On a population basis New Zealand has more men serving in the Royal Air Force than any other Dominion. "How splendidly New Zealanders are serving in the Air Force is amply proved by the fact that New Zealand airmen have-won one V.C., four D.S.O.'s, six D.F.C.'s with bar, 102 D.F.C.'s, and 23 D.F.M.'s. There is not one operational unit in the R.A.F, which does not include a number of New Zealanders on its strength. All are happy; all are doing well."