AIR FORCE IN N.Z

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 66, 19 March 1942, Page 5

AIR FORCE IN N.Z

LARGE REINFORCEMENTS. (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., March 18. “Very substantial measures are nowin progress tor reinforcing New Zealand’s air force and equipment from the United Kingdom ana the United States," said the Minister ol Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, to-night. “While these developments are taking place rNew Zealana will continue, without neglecting her own immediate requirements, to play her part in building up the total air strength ot the Allied Nations. "The ever-increasing output of aircraft in the United Kingdom and America would require large numbers of trained air crews, the Minister continued. and while New Zealand could not send avtfiy as many men as originally planner, she would send as many as "possible. Careful plans had been maue to retain a proper proportion for the defence of New Zealand, but large numbers of semr-trained aircrews could not usefully be kept standing while advanced training schools were built up in the Dominion. A considerable number of New Zealanders with war and staff experience were returning to the Dominion to take their place in the expansion oi the Air Force here. Others now undergoing training in Canada, the United States and Britain would return as required. The Minister added that the expansion of the Air Force would mean that ground units would have to be accommodated in centres away from the aerodromes, and he appealed to civilians not to mention such movements.