R.N.Z.A.F. OFFICER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 232, 1 October 1943, Page 5

R.N.Z.A.F. OFFICER

GOING TO WASHINGTON (P.A.) Wellington, Sept. 30. The increasingly important part being played by the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Dominion’s war activities in the South Pacific has been reflected in the decision by the Government to appoint the senior officer of the R.N.Z.A.F. as head of the New Zealand Joint Staff Mission in Washington. Announcing this, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, stated that Air Commodore J. L. Findlay, M.C., previously air officer commanding the Central Group, R.N.Z.A.F., would take over from Brigadier A. B. Williams, D. 5.0., the duties of senior member of the Joint Staff Mission. Air Commodore Findlay will also become the R.N.Z.A.F. representative to the combined Chiefs of Staff at Washington, relieving Group Captain J. Seabrook, A.F.C., who has acted in' this capacity for some months. Brigadier Williams, who has been head of the New Zealand Joint Staff Mission for 18 months, has returned to New Zealand within the last few days. Group Captain Seabrook will l;ter return to the Dominion for duty. “The air war in the South Pacific is assuming increasing importance,” stated the Minister, “and the development and equipment of the New Zealand forces and bases with American aircraft and other operational equipment has tended to hrow the balance of negotiations between the United States and New Zealand on military affairs more to the Air Force. During the last 12 months the strength ot the R.N.Z.A.F. in the South Pacific has grown considerably. Our bomber reconnaissance squadrons have been allotted important tasks in forward areas, and they have won the instinted praise of American commanders. New Zealand fighter squadrons have already established a splenj did record against the Japanese, and the ground staffs serving and maintaining our squadrons have been responsible in no small measure for our “New striking units of the R.N.Z.A.F. will be in action in the near future, and more are being prepared to fellow,” added the Minister. “It will I not be long before we have squadrons lof the following types in action: 1 Bomber squadrons, patrol and reconI naissance squadrons, torpedo-bomber squadrons, dive-bomber squadrons, I and fighter squadrons, besides all the essential services for administration, supply and maintenance. This will, of course, involve great increases in the personnel strength and we shall have to deal with many new problems of equipment and supply. The New Zealand Joint Staff Mission in Washington will thus have many increased responsibilities, particularly involving technical questions surrounding the expansion of the R.NZA.F. in the Pacific. Air Commodore Findlay has been selected for this post in view of his long experience, both overseas with the Royal Air Force and in New Zealand with the R.N.Z.A.F.”

Air Commodore Findlay, a son of Sir John Findlay, a former member of the New Zealand Legislative Council, was horn at Wellington in 1895. He attended Wellington College and later the Imperial Service College, England, where he was captain of the school in 1914. At the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the East Surrey Regiment, with which he served in France. He was wounded at Loos and the Somme. In 1917 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. For gallant service in the war he reIceivtd the M.C. and the Legion of .Honour and was also mentioned in clisriatches. After the war he was appointed to a permanent commission in the R.A.F.. from which he resigned to join the New Zealand Air Force on its incention in 1923. In 1929-30 he was attached to the R.A.F. for specialist courses. On his return to New Zealand he commanded an air station till 1938, when he was again posted to England with the R.A.F. on interchange. He commanded a flight ol aircraft, on delivery to Egypt and was then placed in command of a squadron. His next command was an R.A.F. station, where he remained from August, 1940, till July, 1941, when he returned to New Zealand to take up the post of senior Air Staff officer at the Air Department. In July, 1942. he was appointed air officer commanding the Central Group. R.N.Z.A.F., being promoted from Group Captain to Air Commodore in September, 1942. Air Commodore Findlay is a keen cricketer and represented the R.A.F. in matches after the last war.