H—37

Demobilization

Plans for the dis-establishment of Pacific units were put into operation immediately upon the cessation of hostilities, and arrangements made to carry out large-scale repatriation by air and sea The s.s. " Wahine " made three trips from New Zealand to Bougainville in rapid succession and repatriated a total of 1,716 personnel. The remainder of the personnel were returned by specially augmented R.N.Z.A.F. air transport services. In addition, large drafts of aircrew personnel were arriving from England and the India-Burma theatre. To carry out the processes of release in New Zealand, three Non-effective Pools were set up—one each in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch—with a capacity to release eighty to one hundred personnel per day each. These pools arranged final medical and x-ray action, made pay advances and mufti grants, advised personnel on their rehabilitation prospects, issued travel warrants and final discharge papers. In addition to the release of ex-overseas personnel, the pools also handled large numbers of personnel from New Zealand units in those cases where speedier medical and other facilities could be obtained at the pools in preference to local stations. Between VJ Day and the end of March, 1946, 26,928 personnel were released from the Air Force. In January, 1946, large-scale demobilization had ceased, and the Noneffective Pool organization was reduced in size to cope only with the small volume of overseas traffic from the United Kingdom and India-Burma theatres. The slowing-down v of the demobilization rate had enabled units to carry out their own releases The following is a. summary of releases effected between VJ Day and the end of March, 1946:

Of the above, 7,206 personnel were officers and aircrew, mainly from United Kingdom and India-Burma, whilst the balance were ground staff mainly from Pacific and New Zealand units. Personnel have been released, in accordance with a uniform system of priorities throughout the services which cannot give special consideration to the value of individuals to the Air Force. Consequently the loss of key personnel must be accepted even to the embarrassment of the Service in respect of its residual flying commitments A programme of enlistment into the Interim Air Force was approved early in 1946, and two recruit depots were set up. The first intakes commenced in March, 1946. Awards Details of awards to New Zealand air personnel granted annually during the period Ist April, 1940, to 31st March, 1946, are shown, at Appendix B of this report.

6

Month ending— Males. Females. Total. 31st August 1,203 156 1,359 30th September 6,791 661 7,452 31st October 3,073 318 3,391 30th. November 4,436 287 4,723 31st December 3,052 97 3,149 31st January 2,163 99 2,262 28th February 2,856 107 2,963 31st March 1,557 72 1,629 25,131 1,797 26,928