THE AIR FORCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23216, 1 June 1945, Page 4

THE AIR FORCE

Future Activity (N.Z.P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 31 The end of the European war did not have any immediate or material effect on the present organisation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and so long as the Government policy provided for participation in the Japanese war the organisation would require to be maintained at a substantial level, said Group Captain G. A. Nicholls, addressing pilots at a passing out ceremony at Wlgram to-day.

Group Captain Nicholls said that as training tapered off there would necessarily be some reorganisation of training stations, but Wlgram. as a permanent air force station, would remain, and would probably absorb other phases of training. Their future training was for participating in the Japanese war, and as he had recently returned from a visit to Bougainville and New Britain, he could assure new pilots that the term “mopping up” was a misnomer. The decline in Japanese air power had not left much air fighting, but airmen had an important role in supporting the army, and making tire job of the ground troops less difficult. “The international policy will decide what our Air Force of the future will be,” stated Group Captain Nicholls. “New Zealand still has a substantial part to play in the final phase of the war in the Pacific. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is at present New Zealand's spearhead in the war in the Pacific and the organisation of Royal New Zealand Air Force stations is necessary to support squadrons earning an excellent reputation for themselves. Training programmes will be reduced as soon a.s possible, but there is no use in turning off the waters while the tires are still smouldering, and that briefly is the position to-dnv "