Air Force Overhaul

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 5, 21 January 1937, Page 7

Air Force Overhaul

Pre°a A.aaociation.)

TW0-YEAR SCHEME British Expert or Loan to Dominion SURVEY COMPLETED

(By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. A thorough reorganisation of New Zealand'a Air Force and defence aviation is to be made during the next two years by WingCommander tbe Hon. E. A. Cochrane, of the Royal Air Foroe. Arrangements have been completed between the British Aix Ministry and the New Zealand Government for the retention of the Wing.Com. mauder's advisory services on loan for that extended period in this country. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, iq making this announcement' yesterday, said that Wing-Commander Cochrane already had made an initial survey of aviation in the Dominion and had inspected the principal aerodromes and equipment, particularly at Hobsonville (Auckland) and Wigram (Canterbury) . "The Government has received and considered a preliminary report from Wing-Commander Cochrane, who has done excellent work §ince his arrival in New Zealand a few months ago," continued the Minister. "As a result of that report the Government decided to request the British Air Ministry to extend the loan of its representative officer to the New Zealand Government for two years. This the British authorities agreed to do, and Wing-Commander Cochrane will undertake the reorganisation of the Air Force of the Dominion during the period of his extended engagement. ' ' The Minister explained that arrangements had also been made to bring Squadron-Leader L. Isitt down from the Hobsonville base to Wellington for the purpose oi co-operating with WingCommander Cochrane and Wing-Com-mander T. M. Wilkes and other officers of the New Zealand Air Force and Defence Department. "The work of reorganising the Dominion 's Air Force will be put i'n hand at once under the advisory direction of Wing-Commander Cochrane," said Mr. Jones. "It is planned to make a comprehensive survey of the system of military aviation in New Zealand with a view to an early development o± air defence on the best possible lines. Full consideration will be given to the questions of aixcraft, aerodromes, ground equipment and the traming of pilots. Many details and requirements have already been submitted to the Government by Wing-Commander Cachrane, but in view of his extended engagement for two years, and the fact that he will make further recommendations, it is not proposed in the meantime to publish his preliminary report.' ' Discussing the future of Hobsonville aviation base, the Minister emphaticaliy denied that it had been condemned by Wing-Commander Cochrane. "The British Air Ministry 's expert oificer has inspected both the Hobsonville and Wigram aerodromes, but there is nothing in his preliminary report to indicate that the Hobsonville aerodrome will be discarded under the prospective scheme of reorganisation," the Minister added. "It can be said that whatever changes are made — and some changes are inevitable — Hobsonville will be retained as a military aerodrome."