THE AIR FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 57, 5 September 1944, Page 7

THE AIR FORCE

VIGOROUS DEFENCE

A vigorous defence of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and a strong appeal to disregard unfounded rumours' concerning its personnel and efficiency were made last night by Squadron Leader C. W. D. Bell in the course of his presidential address to members of the New .Zealand Founders' Society at their annual meeting. Members of the society are all descended from settlers who came to New Zealand within fen years of the foundation of the colony Squadron Leader Bell said that am attack: on the Air Force was easily started by rumour. It had recently been said that the Air Force was extravagant and inefficient. What was the quality of the pilots and air crew New Zealand had sent overseas? They were gallant and efficient', and had done their job. Arid what of the quality of the greatest of all, those ground, crew , who- serviced :the: aircraft?. There was nobody 30he~world more efficient. Armourers were so trained over months that in the dark they could make adjustments to over two-thousandths of an inch. The same standard was required of engine mechanics, on whom the pilots had to rely for the safety of their planes. All would agree with that, but some might ask, did we need such a surplus of personnel? It was not generally realised that there were 174 separate trade* connected with the maintenance of the Air Force as a fighting unit. With such was it surprising that sometimes there was a slight surplus in one trade or another? There had to be reserves to meet casualties or sickness. Before the war we had only a small force of pilots. With the war m the Pacific came a sudden call for bombers, their .air crews, and ground crews. New Zealand supplied the organisation. Then came the call for fighters. We had sent abroad a group of men who had done a magnificent job in the Solomons. Again, the emphasis had changed, and we had been asked for dive-bombers. Only one "i^t."}. I! ew Zealan<* had flown planes of that type, but the new task had been faced, the lesson -learnt, crews wlT^ und the J°b had-been done. We had been asked' for torpedo-bomb-ers, and, lastly, the call came for Ventura squadrons. Not once had the Air Force failed to mept all demands; That had.required loyal and hard work from all ranks from top to ..bottom Squadron Leader Bell asked his hearers to disregard any ill-founded fight <ing Sforce" Cerning a "^^