AIR FORCE ROLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25001, 18 September 1944, Page 4

AIR FORCE ROLE

WAR IN THE PACIFIC I EXPLOITS OF MEN IN BRITAIN '"if While New Zealand no longer would be "sending Air Force personnel to Canada and Europe, its efforts in the Pacific must be maintained, for in- this area the Allies were faced with a determined and fanatical enemy, said Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Isitt, Chief of Air Staff, in a broadcast address last night [j in connection with the Victory Loan - If He expressed the opinion that ilia I§lf| Pacific war would be no It Ip would be a difficult and costlv process fl demanding increasing efforts, for Japan! 1 ese resistance would stiffen as the Allies advanced. "The war in the Pacific is by no means over," said Air Vice-Marshal Isitt. "We have formed a task force for the purpose of moving forward, as operations against the Japanese develop while other squadrons will be employed in the protection of vital bases and supply lines. We must have new air. craft and new equipment, and the yery latest in training methods. I&t only Jj this necessary to meet the enemy on the best terms possible, but it is essen. tial to the safety of our -flying men," Importance of Undertaking . After paying a tribute to the exploits ' of both the air-crew personnel and the ground services in the Pacific, Air Vice. Marshal Isitt emphasised that, not only was New Zealand supplying the flying squadrons, but it was maintaining a fufl Air Force organisation of servicing, • supply and administration, or complete units for operations in conjunction with the Americans. Air Vice-Marshal Isitt described the work of R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons in the 1 United Kingdom at the beginning of I' the invasion. The squadrons had not I then moved to Normandy and the men ' were all in great heart. The Coastal 1 Command squadron, engaged in attack- § ing German convoys and shipping along | the coast of Norway and in the N&rth f Sea. shared an aerodrome with an Aus- I tralian squadron of the same type. Tbey 1 called themselves the "Anzac" wing, \ and their exploits gave them every t right to that honoured name. I

No. 75 Squadron j No. 75 Squadron, the oldest | R.N.Z.A.F. squadron overseas, was flv- J ing the latest Lancastcrs and was ex- 11; tremely proud of them. The men were all fit and determined and were anxious I to stay in Europe until they bad 1 finished the war in Germany. The New 1 Zealand fighter squadrons were located [ in the south of England under canvas. One squadron, which was flying - the latest type of fighters, was dealing with | firing bombs and was runnins neek-and-neck with an R.A.F. squadron for the most bombs destroyed. Night fighters and day fighters were maintaining a score of enemy aircraft de« stroved which was always thfe best, or near best, for their area. Wide Scope of Service | There were many thousands of Xew Zealanders serving in R.A.F. squadrons on every tvpe of operation—Bomber Command, Coastal Command, fighters, glider towing, "pathfinders _ and many specialised units operating in close BUp- \ port of the Allied troops driving against the Germans. They have had a very real and important influence on the I results of the war to date. , . ■ I "These results have cost us dearly ltt 1 money, and even more dearly in precious ' 1 young lives, although, lam thankful to 1 say, not so many as we once feared, I concluded Air Vice-Marshal Isitt. B "Unless we win this war outright, and § without reservation, and unless we have jj the force to achieve these conditions, ■ If our children may have to face in their I turn another disastrous struggle against f the forces of aggression.' |

CRISIS AVERTED WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS CONFERENCE ARRANGED '; (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sslutdiy i There will be no interruption with I the normal running of trams and buses 8 on Monday as threatened by the Tram* g wavmen's'Union, for the disputes com- 1 mittee of the union lias agreed to i I suggestion by the Mayor that repre-., g seutatives of the union arid the tram- -i | ways committee of the City Council 8 should meet and discuss their differ- - | enccs, provided the conference can to | arranged without delay. 1 -|| | ' ' • 1

LOCAL AND_GENEBAI g .Rotorua Opossum Season The open season for the taking or | killing of opossums in the Rotorua ac- j climatisation district has been extended I by Order-in-Council from October 1 to November 1. The licences concerned art now valid until noon on November 1. Jewish New Year The Jewish year 5705 started last evening. Services will be held in the Auckland Synagogue today and tomorrow. The Jewish year is of 12 lunar months and the calendar is calculated as from the Biblical creation of the world. Service Pay Warrants | Instances of servicemen having fraud- g ulently cashed pay or remittance | warrants are contained in the annual | report of the Controller and Auditor- | General. The report shows that there | were 52 such instances in the Army v*- | partment, the amount involved total- | ling £446, seven, totalling almost #il> | in the Air Department, and six, total- . ling over £2O in the Navy Department. | All these cases were investigated by | the police and many convictions were | obtained. Record of Air Force . 1 "We have shown in this war jPj | even a small country like New J can produce an air force of formidable |» striking power," said Air Vice-MaraMi . ijAW L. M. Isitt, Chief, of Air Staff, u> « address last night. ''lmmediately| the outbreak of war, the consisted of a handful of offiw" ® n _. . men, with very few aircraft Compa that with what we hare today ana with the tradition which., Ms ! ~®, created and we must agree ( that u* effort has been worthwhile. Teachers in Country . . w It had to be said with regret tn living conditions for teachers l* localities were unworthy of any ttYjJJJ I country, said Mr J. Barnett, P r . e T t ; of the New Zealand Educational lu. tute, at a function in New ul Real community work could nos accomplished by teachers in,tneir spective districts until/the author had made a definite niove to solve. housing problem. In some cases iion conditions in the country as well towns prevented a school from ge the teacher best qualified. : * High Furniture Prices * f„ r „iture High prices for second-hand Turn were paid at a sale at a homesteao , Rangiora, Cajiterbury. A Piano realise .. £250, but the demand concentrated mostly on mahogany tables ana .tn • display of carpets. One mahogany . realised £7O, another £6l, * board £34, a walnut Elding earn £3l, oval walnut table £3O, roun £35. mahogany four-fcoster oea ■ wardrobe £3O, dressing £l9, leather lounge couch ster body carpets £lO2, £8?. .j rer £52 10s. and an eight-piece In" 1 ® , tea set £'2o. ' f \" Chile's National Day ... ce l&r It" ' The national day of Chile or brated today, being the aiinive the defeat and suicide of the aW" President Balm&ceda apf* * <•"'*. IP up of a democratic republic on ; 00 ber 18, 1891. To mark the <gf the arrangements have been matie J. Consul for Chile m Aiickland, McK. Wilson, to receive members. q{ Consular Corps and representa public bodies at the Central H cti ■ morning. Apart from the inter d j rec{e d j ties of Nazi espionage agents ionS) ; §| against hampering Allied OP , lin . Chile has remained comparati m touched by the war., A decision to | off diplomatic relations xv 1 W Chilea° "1 |£ Powers was reached by tn Senate in January of last yea • I