R.N.Z.A.F.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLX, Issue 22028, 30 July 1941, Page 5

R.N.Z.A.F.

A Force In Every Sense Of The Word SUCCESS OF MEN OVERSEAS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 29. “The Royal New Zealand Air Force is now a ‘force’ in every sense of the word.” said the Hon. F. Jones, dealing with this branch of the services in the course of a speech in the House tonight. Since the outbreak of the war applications for enlistment in the RK.Z.AJ’. totalled more than 30,000 and the total personnel engaged in the Air Force in the Dominion was now more than 11 times greater than it was at the beginning of the conflict. The effort had not been solely directed to supplying personnel for Canada, the Air Force in Britain and local requirements, as they had been able to meet requests for the maintenance of a unit at one of the Pacific Islands. Speaking of the accident rate among training personnel, the Minister said a study of the data showed that many of them were due to errors of judgment, negligence and low flying, and a large number of the accidents had taken place in winter when flying conditions were not of the best. The accident rate compared more than favourably with that in other countries. Mr Jones said he could assure the House that no stone had been left unturned to protect New Zealand from invasion, and the air training scheme alone ensured that there would always be a large number of trained personnel available in the Dominion in case of an emergency. The Minister also paid a tribute to the success of our airmen overseas, stating that to date they had received more than 100 awards and honours, including one D. 5.0., three George Medals, three D.F.C.’s with bar. 77 D.F.C.’s, nine DF’JJ.’s and 11 Air Force Crosses. _