MILITARY AERODROME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19377, 15 July 1937, Page 9

MILITARY AERODROME

PLANS FOR NEW PLYMOUTH UNDERGROUND HANGARS (Par Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. Underground hangars, a wireless station, and military barracks may be included in the future development of the New Plymouth airport at Bell Block, for. though no official confirmation can be obtained, it is understood that plans to that end already have been prepared.

Should it come to fruition, the scheme would entail the permanent establishment of numerous pilots and members of the New Zealand defence forces, for aeroplane squadrons, including fighters and bombers, would have their headquarters at New Plymouth. Lifts would have to be provided to bring the planes to the surface of the ground in a few seconds. Moreover, besides pilots and mechanics, anti-aircraft units would be stationed there for the defence of the aerodrome.

The scheme, if it were prosecuted, would be in accordance with the present Government policy of developing the aviation arm of the defence of New Zealand.

The plan for the training of civil reserve pilots is already well under way and to the Western Federated Flying Club, of which the New Plymouth Aero Club is a member, would fall the responsibility of training about a dozen pilots. In addition, a new military aerodrome is to be established near Palmerston North in the near future.