H.—37

1945 NEW ZEALAND

AIR DEPARTMENT (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR 1944-45

Presented in pursuance of Section 7 of the Air Department Act, 1937

REPORT BY THE HONOURABLE F. JONES MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE AIR DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945 Mr. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to Parliament the report of the Air Department for the year ended the 31st March, 1945. The report covers the work of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in outline only, and also gives a brief resume of civil aviation activities during the period. I wish to express my grateful appreciation of the energy and enthusiasm with which the members of the Royal New Zealand Air I 1 orce and civilian members of the Air Department have discharged their duties in this the sixth year of the war. REPORT BY THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945 The Hon. the Minister of Defence. I have the honour to submit the following report on the Royal New Zealand Air Force for the year ended 31st March, 1945. The chief features of the past year's activities have been — (a) The termination of the Empire Air Training Scheme, which has resulted in the cessation of the flow of aircrew personnel to Great Britain for service with the Royal Air Force ; and (b) The conduct of operations by the R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons in the South and South-west Pacific against the Japanese. The level of these operations has been maintained with success, and squadrons have moved to forward operational bases in the Bismarcks area. There has been a considerable reduction in the total strength of the R.N.Z.A.F. in New Zealand. Operations The past year has been notable for the manner in which operational squadrons of the R.N.Z.A.F. continued successful operations against the Japanese and maintained steady advancement and movement forward to new locations. During the year the South Pacific Command was declared to be a garrison area, and it was decided that the responsibility for protection of these British possessions should be accepted by the R.N.Z.A.1., but squadrons surplus to these requirements would be made available to C.-in-C. South-west Pacific Area for operations. The garrison commitment has been steadily reduced during the year, until, by March, 1945, authority had been given for the release of all fighter and bomber-reconnaissance squadrons from the area, leaving only the two flying-boat squadrons in the South Pacific area. The role of our fighter squadrons, in particular, has undergone a considerable change. Whereas it was one of air combat, our squadrons are now being used almost solely in providing air support for ground forces engaged against enemy ground forces and installations. The support being given to the Ist Australian Army in the Bismarcks and to the 2nd Australian Corps on Bougainville is in keeping with the best traditions of the R.N.Z.A.F. and has won unstinted praise from the Australian Army. With the extension of the activities of the R.N.Z.A.F. farther and farther from New Zealand, the need for additional air transport became very pressing. The fact that fewer ships have been routed via New Zealand since American Forces are no longer based in this country has necessitated the transport of practically all of our personnel by air to and from the theatre of operations. _ An additional transport squadron was accordingly formed, and both squadrons have been given additional aircraft. During December the fleet was further augmented by the arrival from the United Kingdom of four Sunderland flying-boats, which were formed into the Flying-boat Transport Flight based on Mechanics Bav.