TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

Chronicle (Levin), 9 November 1948, Page 7

TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

First Four Squadrons Have Been Formed WELLINGTON, Nov. 8." Tlie lirst four squadrons of the Territorial Air Force were -formed aa, from the beginniug of this month and, traiuing will comnience shortlyj said thfc Miuister of defeuce, Mr. Joues, touiglxt-.ii The Miuister said plaus for the future traiuing of Air Traiuiug Ohdets for the re-establishmeiit of Territorial Air Force squadrous, for the formatioh aud traiuiug of the active reserve,; and for the settiiig up of the general reserv.e, were proceeding satisfactorily. . Man> applicatious had been teeeived from air crews for eurolmeut but vueaucxes still existed in the gro'uud trades . Ljri each of these services,- the- poxxcy for: which was beiug •eoordiuated with that" of other armed services wherever pori'' . sible. The Minister said the A.T.C. baV continued to fuuction well at a streugtJi of approximatelv 5000. Traiuiug pe'riod:--ou Air Force stations are to be- xucreased aud as from uext year it is hoped that the auuqal iutakes' tror various trades iu the territorial squad: rous will be drawn largely from A.T.C. cadets. The Miuister said xuauy applicatioiiB had beeu received for enrolmexxt in. the territorial squadrons aud ^Ithougii there were shortages iu grouud trades, the uecessary adininistrative acti'ou amJ arrangements for selection were- pry-. ceediug. Regular Air Force persoiiuei for instructional aixd other .special. duties with the squadrons; had. already" beeu selected. . .t. The Auckland squadrou will be at taclied to Whenuapai, Wellington tiGhakea, aud COiristphurchya-ud Dunedinto Wigram. .V..' Iu the first yeat, . the /Auckland Wellington and Chriitchureh ^flttadrqxis beiug composite uui'ts, wilb jbe^equippew with Moths, Harvards aud •Oxfdi'.ds an/ the Uunediu fighter 'squadrou avWL have Moths and HarVards.r F.lyiifi' , traiuing will take place at -Whenuapai, Paraparaumu, Wigram/ * hqd TaierF Traiuing in ground trades -will be ar ranged iu. the fou,r ee.xt^res. , Rates of pay had beeu dixxalised anu will be ou the basis of the first yeui: dailv rates for the equivalent- fauk auV ? trade ixi the regular Air Force.* foiu -H-hour parades e([ualling^ o'ue/d'Uv. A'; .- domestic allowances are- pa,vable • Travelliug allowances for weekf parades are ou a xnileage basis. J^eiision for diriablement are the same as for tii . regular Air Force. Officers \vilL recexv ^ an iuitial uniform •gxvaxxt and olJie ' ranks will receive a free iuitial issue o uniform. Mr. Jonos said that initially aud ii order tliat. the balauce qfv trade^ ur.'ih " dustries should -not; 'be ' .?d,is..turbed • voluuteers for the a'ciiVe,'j;esefyCs ar " not beiug acceptediu /tir Force^'tfade' that have a counterpart '•.ih'VeiyiJ' I ifv ' Eiirolments will bc' only for "the follow iug specialised trades1: — Pilots, uavigui ' ors, engijie and air frame, electrical ano' ixistrumeut, armament, signals, open tion and maintenance, aduiixxistrati \u and marine, and general duties officers. The respoxise from air erows liad been' satisfactory and altliough fhere anshortages in ground trades, "it "is'expecf" ed sufiicient selections will have been made to enable traiuiug to begin earl_, in 1D4SI. Altliough au active reservis will receive refresher traiuing,- moat o. his tiine iu the 'game will be giveu t.i learning new practices aud procedures Aunual camps will be heltl at the nxaii Air Force stations, mainlv in tio summer months. The scale of issue o.' uniform, uniform grain,, upkeep allowance, rates of pay, travelliug allowances and pensious, will l»e ou the sanie basiri as for the territorial squadrons. The Minister emphasised that ali "durationof war'' personnel who do not applv for enrolineut in the Territorial Air Force, should notifv the Air Departmeut whether the.v wisli to be placed on the active reserve or general reserve. Mr. Jones said tliat while splendid work of members of the Women 's Auxiliarv Air l-'orce during the war years, was fullv appreciated, it was not intended to include women in the territorial squadrons or active reserve in the formation . stages. There was, howewr, ever.y possibilitv of including women in a limited uumber of frades as i llic traiuiug schemes developed. Women

- — » ■■ ^ who wished to -give service agaiu, in •the' "Air Force ' should the necd arise, 'should eurol iu the general reserve. The Minister said emplo.vers were cooperatiiig with these essoutial volunteer services. The Publie Service ('0111mission had ag reed tliat public sorvants could be released t'ore a traiuing period pfntxp' to il4'-'dak-s>'without- prejmlice to aunual leavb/kn'd Other emplo.vers were giving siiiiilar edoperation.