Air Marshal In Favour Of Commonwealth Air Force

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28269, 6 May 1957, Page 6

Air Marshal In Favour Of Commonwealth Air Force

An integrated British Commonwealth Air Force is favoured bj Air Marshal Sir Andrew McKee officer commanding-in Air Force Transport Command The suggestion of such a force was put forward last year in the Dominion by Air Commodore Sii Sydney Smith, during a visit tc form an air league in New Zealand. “It is a Government decision but as far as I am concerned myself, we would love it,” Sii Andrew McKee said. He wa? speaking during a press conference on his arrival at Hare wood airport on Saturday. Although he declined to be specifically drawn on the subject of fighter versus bomber aircraft for New Zealand’s air defence, he said that any island country, in his opinion, “wanted something that could get cut over the ocean ' “I do not think this country is in any danger of being invaded, but that again is up to the Government to decide its own policy,’ he added. (Sir Andrew McKee served with Bomber Command as an air commodore during World War ID. R.N.ZA.F. Transports “What’s wrong with Comets?” he asked, when he was requested to suggest a replacement aircraft for the RJN.Z.A.F. Hastings transports. “Too dear?” he said, seeing surprised looks on reporters’ faces. “Well, they are building several new types of jet aeroplanes in Britain for you to look at.” Sir Andrew McKee was in New Zealand last year, after an absence of 29 years overseas. “We are three weeks late this year,” he remarked, and then added, in

answer to a question, that he would make another of his “annual” visits with a turbo-prop Britannia next year if invited by the New Zealand Government. R.A.F. Transport Command has 10 Comets in service now, is developing three squadrons of Elackburn Beverley transports (which have a 50,0001 b payload—greater than the American Globemasters) and will take delivery of its first Britannias next year. On this trip Sir Andrew McKee has not taken the controls of the Comet, but he said on Saturday that he did his jet conversion course “many years ago.” However, he still flies his own DevonSir Andrew McKee said he hoped to retire in New Zealand, and would possibly buy a farm—“but that depends upon how much money I have—farming is most expensive in your country these days.” He was born in Oxford and educated at the Christchurch Boys’ High School, before going to Britain in 1927. He paid a visit to his home town yesterday afteroon.