H.—37

Regular schedule services are now being operated from New Zealand to Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, the Solomons, and for considerable distances north and west of this area. Services are also operated to Fiji, Tonga, the Ellice Group, Western Samoa, and American Samoa. In addition to regular services, many special flights of an urgent courier nature are operated between New Zealand and practically every flying-field in the South Pacific area. Since the inception of the E.N.Z.A.F. Air Transport Service there has been no accident involving injury to a passenger. During the year just ended pilots in our transport squadrons covered over five million miles. Our Operational Training Units have continued to function under the general plan already laid down, with some changes designed to meet changing personnel requirements in the forward area and, where possible, to increase the efficiency of training units. In the field of gunnery training new methods were introduced, with gratifying results. During the year the Flying Control organization was brought under the control of the Directorate of Operations. A School of Flying Control was established at New Plymouth, additional control centres were set up, and, generally speaking, increased emphasis given to measures designed to provide for the safety of aircraft engaged in all types of flying. Operational statistics are shown at Appendix A of this report. Organization and Staff Duties In the year under review major changes in the organization of the E.N.Z.A.F. have been carried out. The principal items of organization have been the transference of additional operational squadrons to the Pacific and a complete revision of flying training due to the termination of New Zealand's contribution to the Empire Air Training Scheme. _ The planning of organization and administrative details resultant from these changes formed the major activity in this Directorate during the period. With the transfer of the Operational Squadrons to the Pacific, decentralization of administration in New Zealand was considered unnecessary, and the two remaining Group H.Q.s in New Zealand located at Auckland and Christchurch were disbanded. All units in New Zealand, and also the Fiji Area and Norfolk Island, are now under the direction of Air Department. Very close attention has been paid to the economy of man-power by constant review of the strength of units and control of establishments, particular attention being paid to reducing strengths of New Zealand units to a bare minimum. The total reduction in New Zealand strength from June, 1944, when a complete surveywas made, to 31st March, 1945, was 5,932. The greater portion of this reduction was due to the closing of stations rendered unnecessary by termination of the Empire Air Training Scheme. The change in administration by disbandment of Group Control is also responsible for considerable saving, but has made necessary the retention of a substantial staff in Air Department. An Establishment Committee was set up in Air Department under the chairmanship of the Chief of the Air Staff for the purpose of determining matters of establishment policy. Establishments which are promulgated each month and amendments which become necessary are submitted to the Establishment Committee for confirmation. A major change in the organization of the E.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific was carried out by the formation of New Zealand Air Task Force ; this organization was formed in anticipation of the assumption of "operational responsibility for the area at present controlled by Commander Aircraft Northern Solomons (Comairiiorsols). It is planned on a basis 'that will enable assumption of administration and logistic responsibility at the appropriate time. The long-range planning of this is to keep the Administrative H.Q. as close to the operational area as possible and to reduce base areas to a minimum requirement for lines of communication. A summary of changes in New Zealand units carried out during the year is as follows : Northern Group H.Q., disbanded; Southern Group H.Q., disbanded; No. 1 Port Depot and Mangere, closed and reformed Bemuera ; Delta Station, closed ; Ashburton, closed ; Tauranga, closed ;' Levin, closed ; Eongotai, closed for training ; accommodation of Air Department staffs, Non-effective Pool' and transient personnel opened at Anderson Park. Close liaison has been made with overseas H.Q. Missions and Liaison Offices. With the increasing number of E.N.Z.A.F. personnel in India, approval of the establishment of a Liaison Office in that country was obtained. A Liaison Office was also established at Noumea absorbing the existing Port Depot staff. ° Empire Air Training Scheme Following a gradual reduction of intakes from September, 1944, the Empire Air Training Scheme was officially terminated on 31st March, 1945. New Zealand's quota of contributions of aircrew to this scheme has been fully maintained throughout the period of its existence, and the figures are remarkable for a country with such a relatively small population. Personnel Although the requirements of the squadrons in the Pacific area and the formation of the New Zealand Air Task Force, as agreed to by War Cabinet, necessitated an increase in the number of personnel in that area, this was more than offset by the projected cessation of the Empire Air Training Scheme which permitted the closing of a number of stations in New Zealand. The overall reduction resulting from this and other factors approximates to 12J per cent, of the strength of the R N Z A F as at 31st March, 1944. ' " ' " Awards . n?® 4 ™ B°[ a 7n J^ 8 t0 N ! w Zealan< * air personnel granted annually during the period Ist April, 1940 to 31st March, 1945, are shown at Appendix B of this report. Casualties Particulars of casualties to personnel both overseas and in New Zealand are tabulated at Appendix C of this report.

2