H—37

The whole of the responsibility for works, services for the R.N.Z.A.F. was assumed by Public Works Department during September and October, 1945. Work in connection with the compilation of war gratuities and recruiting for the Interim Air Force necessitated, a temporary increase in the staffs of the Directorates of Accounts and Manning. At the same time, general reductions were made throughout the remaining directorates to the minimum staffs necessary to implement reorganization and demobilization activities already referred to, and to administer those post-war commitments approved hy the Government. The following new units were formed on the dates shown: Air Navigation School, Wigram, for training of navigators (Service and Civil), 9th November, 1945; School of Meteorology, AVoodbourne, for training of personnel for Meteorological Service, 22nd March, 1946; and Canterbury Project Flight, Wigram, for meteorological research in conjunction with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 28th March, 1946; and, finally, recruit -depots at Hobsonville and Wigram were opened for the reception of new ■enlistments.

Personnel The following personnel statistics show the growth of the Air Force during the war years and indicate the effect of major policy changes:— Personnel

(a) Total Personnel Strengths

(b) Distribution of Personnel

5

Date. Officers. n New Zealai Airmen. id and Pacifli Under Training. W.A.A.F. Attached to R.C.A.F. and R.A.F. Total. September, 1939 58 493 215 Nil 766 March, 1940 342 2,553 981 Nil ii2 3,988 March, 1941 606 5,074 2,832 6 2,079 10,597 March, 1942 940 6,761 3,153 1,701 4,688 17,243 March, 1943 1,840 18,794 4,443 3,123 5,366 33,566 March, 1944 2,535 22,174 6,124 3,554 7,027 41,414 March, 1945 3,151 22,041 3,582 2,607 4,746 36,127 March, 1946 1,039 4,747 158 629 581 7,154 The peak strength of 42,488 was reached in May, 1944.

Date. New Zealand. Pacific. Attached to R.C.A.F. and It.A.F. Total. March, 1940 3,875 1 112 3,988 March, 1941 8,431 87 2,079 10,597 March, 1942 11,980 575 4,688 17,243 March, 1943 25,590 2,610 5,366 33,566 March, 1944 28,466 5,921 7,027 41,414 March, 1945 22,813 8,568 4,746 36,127 March, 1946 5,852 721 581 7,154 These figures do not include casualties as at those dates.