AIR DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25069, 10 November 1942, Page 2

AIR DEFENCE

RAPID DEVELOPMENT COMMAND REORGANISED (P,A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. A number of interesting changes had taken place in recent times in the higher appointments of R.N.Z.A.F. officers, said the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, to-day. He added that he was not at liberty to go into the details of the organisation of air defence, but in brief the R.N.Z.A.F. in New' Zealand was now divided into three groups, northern, central, and southern, which related to the air defence of the whole territory of the Dominion and particularly to the principal ports and cities. The Minister said that group headquarters had been established, from which operational control was exercised in co-ordination wtih the respective military and naval commanders. The three groups were commanded respectively by Group Captain M. W. Buckley, Group Captain J. L. Findlay, and Group Captain G. S. Hodson, all of whom hold the rank of acting air commodore. Another group, under the command of Group Captain G. N. Roberts, has for some considerable time been established at Fiji headquarters, which has responsibilities extending beyond that group of islands. Group Captain S. Wallingford, who until recently was a member of the Air Board for personnel, has been detached for duty with the admiral commanding airci'aft, South Pacific, and has the responsibility for the R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons in the Islands. Headquarters in London

The Minister went on to say that the increasing strength of the Royal New' Zealand Air Force overseas and the necessity for close collaboration between the Air Ministry in London and the Air Department in Wellington in matters affecting the equipment, manning, and tactical development of the R.N.Z.A.F. had necessitated the establishment of R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters in London to replace the air liaison mission there, which was at present headed by Air Commodore L. M. Isitt. Wing Commander F. R. Newell recently returned from that post, and Wing Commander T. W. White had been appointed head of the New Zealand air mission at Ottawa with the rank of-acting group captain, and in place of Air Commodore Isitt, who had previously held that post. In the meantime, the Minister added. Wing Commander J. Seabrook had been appointed air attache at Washington for duties with the United States Air Forces, and Wing Commander (Acting Group Captain) H. C. Bevan had been appointed air member of the New Zealand joint staff mission at Washington, which was part of the combined chiefs of staffs’ organisation charged with strategical planning and policy matters. Experienced Officers

The radical developments which had taken place in the air defence of New Zealand, Mr Jones added, made necessary the obtaining of experienced senior officers and others to undertake duties which demanded modern experience of air operations. One of these officers was Air Commodore S. F. Vincent, who had a wide knowledge and experience of fighter operations in England, France and the Netherlands East Indies, and who after completion of a period of special duties in Australia had been loaned to the R.N.Z.A.F. for a limited period. Until recently, as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, he had been in charge of operational training and developments in New Zealand. That post had now been vacated on his relieving Air Commodore A. de T. Nevill as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. Air Commodore Nevill, who for the past five years had been a member of the Air Board, was now on his way to London for special duties. Recently he had been engaged in negotiations in Washington, after paying visits to the New Zealand squadrons in the Islands, to the South Pacific commanders and the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet.

Mr Jones said that of the 11 senior officers he had mentioned eight were R.N.Z.A.F. officers, all of whom had at some time served with the R.A.F. Six of the officers mentioned had served in England during the present war.