DOMINION’S AIR STRENGTH

Evening Star, Issue 24286, 29 August 1942, Page 4

DOMINION’S AIR STRENGTH

NEW TYPES IN SERVICE

LOOKING BEYOND OUR SHORES

WELLINGTON. August 29. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) revealed to-day that new types of aircraft are being placed in service in the Dominion. He said that most New Zealanders had now seen in the air the new types of fighters and. bombers which had been added: to the R.N.Z.A.F. “In addition to the new operational types, we have several modern types of single and twm-engmed training aircraft, which are providing New Zealand air crews with advanced training instruction and operational experience,” he said. “ Many of our instructors have returned from active service overseas, with the result that our operational units are manned by thoroughly qualified personnel.

“ Obviously it is not possible for me to give full details of the development of our air policy in this direction, but I can say New Zealand’s air strength is a considerable factor to be reckoned with in any possible war operations in this area. It may also be said that we are looking considerably beyond our own shores. We realise that to beat the enemy we must carry the attack to his bases. We are already co-operating in this task ■ in the Pacific.”

Referring more specifically to the new aircraft, Mr Jones mentioned that some types had been engaged for some tun® in carrying out long-range patrol reconnaissance duties. The Hudson reconnaissance bombers was now a familiar sight in this country. Numbers of Avro-Anson reconnaissance bombers bad also arrived in New Zealand. These aircraft were most valuable for advanced operational training ■ purposes, while a . formidable addition to our fighter strength had been the Kittyhawk type which was at present inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese north of Australia.