THE TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 7

THE TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

Press Association.)

New Planes Ordered by the Government RE0RGAN1SATI0N PLAN

(By Telegraph—

\ ' .WELLINGTON, M Nigbt".Plans for tbe Teorganisation of tbof Territorial Aif 'Potce with a view tbf . plaeing it. on a more satisfaetory foOt-l ing were announeed to-nigbt by tbe' Minister of BefOnee. "Tbe Territorial Aif Pofee formed in| 192'3 a# a part-time volubtbef origanisa-j tion compriSes bfeadquarters and f ouft squadrons alloeated respectively to ' Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Otago," said Mr. Jones. *^A ■$ preSent ; tbese squadrons co'nsist of pil6'ts only Wb6 in tbe psst bave lindfergone ten days' annual training at tVigram witbout eitber grdund staff or aircraft, and Witb lifnited annual training- mucb useful tima would be required in Un emergeicy before tbese squadrons could take #n effective part in local' defcnee. .Tbe Covernment ias,- tbefdfore, decided tO: pkoe tbe1 Ter ritoriaf Air Porce on -a pfoper footing afid a start will be made tbis year with tbe Wellington squadron. -• ' ' An .order batf been placed for 42Baffiii ,aif6faft fof delNery during tbe nest few1 montbs'. TbeSe aircraft dfejSigfied a# tdfpfedo-bombexs for use in" tbe fleet air arm are now being replaced by later types and tbns - Iffiva beconie available for ^ otber.. ,u§e#. THeir petfdfmance altnbbgii "b"eldw t&at necei-. s&if f6r rtfbdeiii EUf6peanrednditions ik' adequate for Tg6o'hbais&nc6> abd patrdt wo'fk M tb# Cfedb *" Straib afe& wbi^i|. wouid *be tbeir ib' "New Zealand.; It Is- pfcipdsed iti s'tar# fe'cruiting forj beUdqu&rf brs' and" tito*- fligbts bn Octq-q ber 15, but .no* appiieatiofiS sbould bjdj made^until. a. notice setting; oufc^tbe- r®-j quiteinfenta #I>i>eafsin.tbe ^fera. "The 'squadrqn will-be provide'd Witb city - . beakquaffers,.-: aqd- pfemiifesi . in Stufdee streef bave bde'n ' rented fof . tbis purp'ose. ■ Rere evebin^ and weekeftd inStfucfcion S^ aefo-engines, figging, #lfeiess teiegTapby, nafigation bnd pbotograpby, ettf.y will be givbn wbilstj aifefbft wiQ be available at E6ng"6tai| To provide practical experience in main-j tenance and afiford opportun'ties for fly-| ibg traimng. ; i Squadron-Loader E. A. Gibson, aero-j 'dfomo engineef of ffie Public ifrofk-s| . Dgpartment, bas been appointed to c6'fa-[ bifind tbe squadron and will be assisfed! |fey Eligbf-Lieatenant H. B. Burrell as| aSiutant and by warrant and non-c6ni-j pmissioned offieefs from tbe regular air1 ;f6f£e.,wbo .will ftet a| instructors,^ ■ ... .