H.—37,

Women's Auxiliary Aie Force. In order to conserve all available man-power resources, it was decided to inaugurate a Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Members of this unit are to be enlisted for the duration of the war, and will be used at all stations to release man-power for combatant duties. It is intended to use the Women's Auxiliary Air Force primarily in kitchen and dining-room, clerical, and stores work, but, in addition, it is hoped to utilize the services of this unit for parachute repairing and packing and other selected aircraft-repair work. Air Training Corps. As a measure to ensure a steady flow of young men as recruits for technical and air-crew training, it was decided to establish an Air Training Corps to cover the age group from 16| to 18 years. Medical Branch. In August, 1940, arrangements were completed for the X-ray examination of all candidates for enlistment in the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Wellington and Auckland centres. In November, this was extended to all the examination centres throughout New Zealand, and now all recruits are X-rayed at the time of their medical examination. All air-crew candidates, prior to their posting to Levin, are now inoculated and vaccinated. The arrangements are made by the Medical Branch, necessitating notices both to the candidates and the hospitals concerned. Operations. During the year, No. 1 General Reconnaissance Squadron has played an important part in the protection of shipping in the approaches to the main ports and in other focal areas, and has carried out numerous patrols and searches. It has also provided escorts for specially important shipping. Routine operational training has been maintained and has reached a high standard of efficiency. A flight of this unit is now operating from an advanced landing-field which has recently been equipped as an advanced operational base. No. 2 General Reconnaissance Squadron, formed on the Ist January, 1941, and a Detached Flight of this Squadron formed on the Ist March, 1941. To date the unit has been employed mainly on operational training, but has on a number of occasions carried out reconnaissance duties in the Cook Strait area. No. 3 General Reconnaissance Squadron is to form on the Ist April, 1941, with a Detached Flight which will operate from an advanced landing-ground. The formation of this Squadron and the Detached Flight should be complete by the end of June, 1941. In addition to the work carried out by Nos. 1 and 2 General Reconnaissance Squadrons, the Service Flying Training Schools at Wigram, Woodbourne, and Ohakea have been called upon from time to time to provide aircraft for reconnaissance duties, which have always been carried out satisfactorily. The organization of these Flying Training Schools is designed to ensure the availability of aircraft for reconnaissance duties (when required) in an emergency. Bomber Squadron. Throughout the war the New Zealand Bomber Squadron in the United Kingdom has continued to operate. This Squadron was responsible for some of the longest reconnaissance flights of the war and at all times has commanded respect. A high percentage of its personnel has won awards. Works and Buildings. During the past twelve months the original programme of works in hand during the preceding year was completed, but owing to the expansion required by the Empire Air Training Scheme and the establishment of General Reconnaissance Squadrons within New Zealand, a greatly increased programme of works and buildings was undertaken. Development of these additional works was carried well forward. The increase in establishment of personnel of the Royal New Zealand Air Force also necessitated small additions to the building and works programmes at the three Elementary Flying Training Schools already functioning, but the formation of a fourth Elementary Flying Training School at Whenuapai required an extensive additional building programme. All new buildings were of the standard mobilization temporary wooden type. All four Elementary Flying Training Schools (at Taieri, New Plymouth, Harewood, and Whenuapai) were in full operation by January, 1941. The increased output of air-crew trainees found the existing accommodation at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, totally inadequate, and after careful consideration of the advisability of establishing a second ground-training school elsewhere, it was decided to enlarge the existing station. Tent accommodation of the Public Works type was provided for all trainees, while additional buildings for messes, lecture-rooms, stores, recreation, &c., and extensions to existing buildings were completed within two months of the decision to expand. The increase in the number of air-crew trainees passing through the Flying Training Schools at Wigram, Woodbourne (Blenheim), and Ohakea also necessitated larger establishments of ground staff, instructors, and aircraft. This required considerable extension to the building programme to provide

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