V.C. AIR ACES.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 384, 16 March 1937, Page 5

V.C. AIR ACES.

Empire Tour Suggested. Rotorua, March 16. As a means 1 of arousing interest" in Empire defence a visit to New Zealand waters by a flotilla of British naval aircraft was suggested by Mr F. W. Doidge in an address to members of the Rotorua Travel Club. Britain, he said, was alive to the fact that the next war Would be a war in the air. Germany had a fighting air force of 10,000 machines ,while Italy had 5600 machines with 10|000 trained airmen. Britain was pledged to a policy of air parity. Britain’s problem was to find the men. A recent White Paper stated that the First Anti-Aircraft Division, which Was charged with the defence of London, was 10,500 short of its establishment of 16,000. Last year Britain ranked sixth amongst the world's air Powers. Britain’s problem was the Empire’s problem. In the next war 1000 trained airmen in New Zealand, available for service Wherever required, would probably- be of more value to Britain than the 220,000 mobilised in the Dominion in the last war. An incentive to air-midedness throughout the Dominions would be provided if Britain were to send a flotilla of armed flying boats- on an Empire tour. Many people would remember the extraordinary enthusiasm aroused by the visit of the American fleet to these waters. Much more inspiring and dramatic would be the effect if a fleet of British bombers were to alight on the Walers of the Waitemata, particularly if their personnel included some of the V.C. flying aces of the last war. An Empire flight of this description wbuid produce results wliSfli would astonish the world. It was a practical suggestion Which Mir Ravage might care to offer at the forth- ■ coming Imperial Conference.