STRONG PERMANENT AIR FORCE NEEDED

Chronicle (Levin), 9 July 1947, Page 6

STRONG PERMANENT AIR FORCE NEEDED

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WELLINGTON, J uiy b. In support of its opinion that the Government should give high priority to the establishment of a strong per-, maat Air Force backed by an eilicient Air Force Association 1s to conduct ,a Dominion survey of potential strength for a territorial Air Force. After a meeting of the Dominion exeeutive committee of the Air Force Association, a statement was issued advocating a compact but adaptable pernian Air Force backed by an efficient territorial Air Force eapable of rapid expansion to meet both operational emergencies and any accelerated training programme, The statement aeknowledged that there were some difficulties to be overcome and said the committee understood that the Government 's general defence policy, particularly relating to the Air Force, liad yet to be decided and this in turn was bound up with questions of British Commonwealth obligations and United Nations polieies. The committee stated tliat although at present the R.N.Z.A.F. had a substantial reserve on paper, with the passing of time and the development of new types of aircraft presenting new operational and maintenance and tochnical problems, this reserve was rapidly diminishing in potential service elfeetiveness. Tn a - eompnrativelv sliort fipin, doapil e a reserve on' papor rrm-

ning into many thousands, the E.N.Z. A.F. would be without any effectjve reserve. For that reason the executive was unanimously of opijiion that early steps should be taken to re-establish the territorial Air Force for the maintenance of a reasonably effibient reserve and for carrying Air Training Corps training to a higher le,vel, The object, it was considered, should be to have at all times an ethcient permanent Air Force, with emphasis on training and maintenance aspects, eapable of being rapidly expanded into a large training. organisation baeklng strong operational forces. The personnel of the permanent force should form the lcey with personnel of the reserve eoming forwarcj to provide immediate training' and operational staffs, thus bridging the gap between the plaein'g of the service on an emergency footing and the *compl«tion of training ■ of recruits. Tlie committee hoped everv effort would be made by those coneerned to ensure there was no bar to reeruiting and it suggested that branclies might take steps to compile" lists of members and others interested who would be preparqd, if opportunity arose, to join the ■ ferril orini Air Force. . .