SEARCH FOR MISSING AIRMEN

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1946, Page 5

SEARCH FOR MISSING AIRMEN

MANY NEW ZEALANDERS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR Received Monday, 8.10 p.m. LONDON, April 1. Nearly 1000 New Zealand alrmen who were reported missing during the war are still not accounted for, and to this day nothing more has been heard of ! them since they took off from their airI fields on operation3 against the Ger- • mans. But slowly and diligently the I search is heing continued to trace their I last resting-piace. Many, of course, probably landed in the sea and no trace I of them will ever he found. j The work of locating graves is heing carried out hy the R.A.P. and Domin- ' ion Air Forces missing research inqulries service, witn which 14 New Zeai landers are working. They have at j their disposal cajjtured German docuj ments, which already have he.ped to ac- ! count for over 5C0 New Zealanders. In j addition, nearly 400 inquiries affecting New Zealanders have also been m.de. it is a gigantic task — some 40,000 airmen from all the Brinsh and Dominion forces still have to be traced — and quick results cannot be expected. four separate units have been established to cover ali paris oi Evu'ope over which the R.A.F. operated. No. l, with headquarters at Le Mans, will search over a large part of France; No. 2, with headquarr-ers at Brusseis, will cov^r ixo land and Belg.um and subsequenily that part of Prancs not in the territory of No. 1; No. 3, with headquarters at Eshjerg, will work in Denmark, Norway and part of Germany; and No. 4, with headquarters in Hamhurg. will be responsiole for Germany and is at preseut working inside the British Zone. Thus far no- search parties have been allowed into Russian territory, but it is hoped that they will later. Each unit is divided into six separate sections, each havmg ftve "search ohiccrs. ' ' All the information will he coordinated at R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters, London. Photographs of the graves will he senfc to nexi-of-kin when the olicial records are complete, and fresh information will te cabled to the Air Departruent. Wellington. It is emphasisad that the search will be slow — at iuast oue year in France and 18 months in Germany — but relatives may rest assured that every step is heing taken to make a thorough check.