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N.Z. AIR FORCE

Radical Changes And Developments DEFENCE OF DOMINION Experienced Officers From Overseas Recent developments and appointments in the Royal New Zealand Air Force were discussed in a. statement issued last evening’ by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. He said that following the substantial increase in the strength of the R.N.Z.A.F., not only in the South Pacific but also in overseas theatres, and in consequence also of radical changes and developments' in the functions and organization for air defence and operations, more particularly in New Zealand, a number of interesting changes had taken place in recent times in the higher appointments of R.N.Z.A.F. officers.

“I am not at liberty,” said Mr. . Jones, “to go into the details of the organization of air defence, which involves, as everyone kn&ws now, technical developments of a great complexity, though simple in principle, and of a secret character, In brief, the R.N.Z.A.F. iu New Zealand is now divided into three group?, Northern, Central, and Southern, which are related to the air defence of the whole territory of the Dominion and, in particular, to the principal ports and cities. Group headquarters have been established from which operational control is exercised in co-ordination with the respective military and naval commanders. The three groups are commanded by Group Captain M. W. Buckley, M.8.E., Group Captain J. D. Findlay, M.C., and Group Captain G. S. Hodson, C.8.E., A.F.C., who all hold the rank of acting air commodore. Another group, under' the command of Group Captain G. N. Roberts, A.F.C., has for some considerable .time been established. in Fiji, the headquarters of which has responsibilities extending beyond that’ group of islands. Squadrons In Islands.

i “Group Captain S. Wallingford, ADC, till recently member of the Air Board for Personnel, has been detached for duty with the Admiral Commanding Aircraft. South Pacific, and has responsibility for R.N.ZA.F. squadrons in. the Islands.” The Minister said that the increasing strength of the R.N.Z.A.F. overseas and the necessity for close collaboration between the Air Ministry in London and the Air Department in Wellington in matters affecting the equipment, manning and tactical development of the R.N.Z.A.F. had necessitated the establishment of an R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters in London to replace the Air Liaison Mission there, which was at present headed by Air Commodore L M Isitt, C.B.E. Wing Commander F. R. Newell had recently returned from that post, and. Wing Commander T W. White, E.D., had been appointed head of the New Zealand Air Mission at Ottawa in the rank of acting group captain and in place of Air Commodore Isitt, who previously held that post. In the. meantime, Wing Commander J. Seabrook, A.F.C., A.D.C., had been appointed Air Attache at Washington for duties with United States Air Forces and air developments, and Wing Commander (Acting Group Captain) H. C. Bevan had been appointed air member of the New Zealand Joint Staff Mission at Washington. This mission was a. part of the combined chiefs of staffs’ organization charged with strategical planning and policy matters. Experienced Senior Officers. “The radical developments which, have taken place in the air defence of New Zealand have necessitated obtaining experienced senior officers and others to undertake duties which demanded modern experience of air operations,” said 'Mt. Jones. “One of these officers is Air Commodore S. F. Vincent, D.F.C., A.F.C., who has a wide knowledge and experience of fighter operations in England, France and the Netherlands East Indies, and who. after completion of a period of special duties in Australia, has been loaned to the R.N.Z.A.F. for a limited period. Till recently he has, as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, been in charge of operational training and developments in New Zealand. That post has now been vacated on his relieving Air Commodore A. de T. Neyill, C.8.E., as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.’ „ „ “Air Comraodore-'Nevill, who for the past five years has been a member of the Air Board, first as Air Member for Supply and latterly as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, is now on his way to London for special duties. Recently he has been engaged in negotiations , in Washington, after paying visits to New Zealand squadrons in the Islands, to the South Pacific Commanders and to the Commander-in-Cbief, Pacific Fleet.” ' The Minister explained that not only was it’necessary to bring back experienced air personnel from overseas, but it was also necessary that representative officers should gain intimate experience of air developments and air operations in other theatres of war so as to ensure a steady development, of the R.N.Z.A.F. in New Zealand. Of the 11 senior officers he had mentioned, eight were R.N.Z.A.F. officers, all of whom had at some time served with the Royal Air Force. Six of the officers mentioned had served in England during the present war.

xlir Commodore Stanley Flamank Vincent, D.F.C., A.F.C., R.A.E., entered the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 and subsequently transferred to the Royal Air Force on its formation in 1918; He-saw active service in France in 1916-1 i. As a group captain in command of fighters lie took part m air operations during the Battle of Britain and over France, (luring which he shot down five enemy aircraft and won the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was wounded in combat over France. On promotion to air commodore in 19-11 lie joined the Operations Staff of Fighter Command iu England and was subsequently sent out to command a group of Hurricane squadrons then embarked for the defence of Singapore. The speed of ’the Japanese progress frustrated the formation of the fighter group, and on arrival at Singapore, Air Commodore Vincent was sent immediately to the Netherlands East Indies to set up air defence organizations in Sumatra and Java. In Java he commanded the British Fighter Force, including No. 488 (N.Z.) Fi"hter Squadron during the Japanese invasion operations. The air commodore was one of the last to leave Batavia. On arrival in Australia he was given charge of tlie development of tlie fighter defence organization of the R.A.A.F. Since his arrival in New Zealand in June, 1942, he lias held the apointment of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19421110.2.23

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 39, 10 November 1942, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,020

N.Z. AIR FORCE Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 39, 10 November 1942, Page 4

N.Z. AIR FORCE Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 39, 10 November 1942, Page 4

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