NEW ZEALAND’S AIR FORCE

Southland Times, Issue 25023, 8 April 1943, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND’S AIR FORCE

AMERICAN AIRCRAFT PROMISED

(Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11.10 pan.) LONDON, April 6. “We are looking forward to modernizing the whole of our Air Force,” said the New Zealand Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, at a Press Conference at the Savoy hotel. “The Americans have promised us a fairly good release of aircraft this year and as they come forward we will have no difficulty in manning them with New Zealand crews. They will be used for the defence of New Zealand and for operations. Up to date New Zealand has sent 10,000 airmen overseas and we have more than 20,000 men in New Zealand being trained for operational aircrews; so when we get modern aircraft they will be a welcome addition to the air forces fighting in the Solomon Islands.”

Discussing the theory that the Germans should be beaten first before attention is turned to Japan, Mr Jone's said: “What if the Japanese proved superior in the Pacific area? I think we have got to take effective steps at the present time against the Japanese. There is no sign that the Japanese are proving superior. The recent knocks they received from Australians in New Guinea and from Americans in the Solomons proved that Allied troops are superior, but I would not say everything is over at the present time or that we have got the best of them. We have no idea if Japan has got fresh plans. Seemingly she is trying to consolidate as much as she can. She works from island to island, using in the main land-based aircraft.” TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN ’

Referring to Tunisia, Mr Jones said: “The situation looks very promising. It should not be long before we have cleaned up North Africa. The Americans have shipped great quantities of aircraft to the Middle East, but they are not neglecting their forces in the south Pacific.”

Mr Jones while going to America visited various Pacific bases, also Honolulu. He was surprised by the developments the- Americans had carried out on Coral Island bases. “It was remarkable,” he said. “I could not conceive that so much could be done in so little time.” Asked whether the New Zealand Division would return home after the Tunisian campaign, Mi' Jones said: “No decision has been taken. It is a matter for the New Zealand Parliament.” ELECTION AND WAR EFFORT

To a query whether the general election in New Zealand would result in differences on th‘e war effort, he said: “No, there are no differences of opinion. I think our people realize we have to win this war and that if Britain fell our position would be untenable.” He added that he had no doubts that the Government would be returned with a bigger majority than ever. Mr Jones said that more air strength was needed in the south Pacific before the Japanese could be got out. New Zealand’s air strength included Flying Fortresses, Hudsons, Kittyhawks—and some Ansons.

Asked whether New Zealand was satisfied with aircraft deliveries, he replied that she would be satisfied if she received the aircraft promised this year. Earlier promises had not been kept because of unexpected demands from other war fronts. “We still want more modern aircraft so that we will have a modern Air Force to be able to put up an effective fight,” he said.

DOMINION’S FORCES

Extent Of War Effort Outlined

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, April 6. New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, who arrived in London today, said that his main mission -was to see the New Zealand Forces in whatever theatre of war they might be serving and to establish any contacts calculated to assist him as Minister of Defence.

Speaking of the Pacific war, Mr Jones said that the Japanese had suffered enormous losses, but as fighters they were tough nuts and it could not be said yet that everything was safe in the Pacific. The Japanese Zero fighter had not lived up to its high reputation gained early in the war. It was possible that this was due to the loss of well trained air personnel. The Royal New Zealand Air Force had’grown rapidly from a personnel of about 100 in 1936 to its position today, when 10,000 men were serving overseas and 25,000 were training at home. New Zealand owed much to the advice of Royal Air Force officers during the two critical years before the war. New Zealand today was in a diffei’r ent position from her position during the last war. Now she had to maintain a standing army for defence as well as to join in fighting overseas. Mr Jones revealed that New Zealand had 20,000 troops in various Pacific bases, though these men had not yet taken part in the fighting. The New Zealand Navy, he said, had grown from 700 men before the war to 7000 men today, of whom 2000 were serving with the Royal Navy. “New Zealand has over 160,000 men in the fighting forces, or about onetenth of her population,” Mr Jones went on. “Yet, despite this great withdrawal of workers, New Zealand can show notable advances in industry. This has been possible because of New Zealanders’ full realization of the vital necessity to help the United Kingdom and the United Nations to win the war.”