CO-OPERATION WITH ARMY
SPECIAL AIR FORCE UNITS VALUABLE PURPOSE (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 4. For the purpose of carrying out Army co-operation duties special units of the Royal New Zealand Air Force have been established and placed on a fully operational basis. Announcing this to-day, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said further developments in this direction were proceeding in accordance with the general plan of air expansion within the Dominion. “ The Army co-operation squadrons of tho Royal New Zealand Air Force are designed to provide tho necessary air units for reconnaissance and communication for Army formations. These units,” continued tho Minister, “ are, of course, in addition to tho support which would be given by bomber and fighter squadrons, in connection with which modern communication and control organisations arc being introduced, and then wo have also a number of separate air units for assisting in the training of our anti-aircraft batteries. In addition to the value of these units in tho general scheme of defence they are assisting in tho training of the land forces. As is generally realised, the conditions of modern warfare have created new problems in infantry training, quite apart from those involved in the use of new weapons. Attack and defence are now conducted on a threedimensional basis, and troops must learn not only to defend themselves against aerial attack, hut also to take advantage of aerial support. This, of course, involves the co-operation of air and land forces in training as well as in operations, and the Air Force units arc engaged from time to time in cooperation exercises with various branches of the Army, including infantry, artillery, anti-aircraft defences, and mechanised forces. “To assist in the control of Army co-operation units of the R.N.Z.A.F. liaison officers have been appointed by both Army and Air Force for attachment to the opposite service. Thus, although Army co-operation squadrons form a part of the New Zealand Air Force, they are placed under the operational command of the Army,” said Mr Jones. “ The whole matter of cooperation between the services is largely a question of adequate liaison in planning and control, to which the fullest consideration has been given in the development of policy.”.
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Evening Star, Issue 24291, 4 September 1942, Page 2
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367CO-OPERATION WITH ARMY Evening Star, Issue 24291, 4 September 1942, Page 2
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