NEW ZEALANDERS OFF TO JOIN R.A.F.

Chronicle (Levin), 25 July 1947, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS OFF TO JOIN R.A.F.

-Press Association

Rv Telearavh

WELLINGTON, July 24. "T'm oue of 700 New Zealanders who will be leaving this couutry to joiu the It.A.F. during the next year, because of the indelinite reception my ap plication to rejoin the R.N.Z.A.F. received, " a Wellington man with a re cord of air operations in the European theatre told The Post today. "I have been interviewed, but I have heard notliing further from the Air Dcpartment. Neither have any of my friends in the sanie position. ' ' With my flving life not getting any longer, I can 't alford to wait indefinitely. On top of tliat, the Mosquitos are going into storage. "The trouhle with the R.N.Z.A.F. is that it is top heavy; instead of the administrative side being there to service the squadrons, what there is of the squadrons apparently services the 'admin.' people." The R.A.F. favours ex-opcrational men for its permanent personnel. On the otlier liand, the story is told of a New Zealander whose wartimec flying eareer linished in a P.O.W. camp, and whose flying services were not wanted by tlie R.N.Z.A.F. in peacetinie. Others did, liowever. He is now a test pilot. "What decided me was that the R.A.F. said, ' Here are your rates of pav and conditions of service,' with notliing indelinite," was another man's comment. "The New Zealand details supplied in this respect were very unsatisfactory and vague. " "I suppose another war will see New Zealand caught flat-footed with obsolete aircraft, " was a third eomment. "Still, nobodv could blame us for tliat. We tried to join the local force, but now that's losing its senior opc-rational oflicers. Some of the most distinguished have already gone back to the R.A.F., wliere they have prospects and a ■ chance to do something. " ,