R.N.Z.A.F. AND R.A.A.F. AIR CREWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 14 October 1942, Page 2

R.N.Z.A.F. AND R.A.A.F. AIR CREWS

STATUS LIKELY TO BE IMPROVED FORTHCOMING LONDON CONFERENCE (Rec. 1.0 p.m.) London, Oct. 13. The status of New Zealand and Australian air crew members fs likely to be improved as the result of a forthcoming London conference between representatives of those two air forces and the R.A.F W says the Associated Press of Britain. Canada, the fourth partner in the Empire Air Scheme, has already departed from the original policy whereby commissions were granted to air crew personnel on a fixed percentage of pilots, observers and others. A Canadian Air Force spokesman said Canada had for some time been pursuing a more aggressive commissioning policy for all air crew members than the R.A.F. or any other Dominion. “The Canadian policy is that all air crew personnel shall be commissioned if of a commissionable quality.” he said. , “They have the right to apply for commissions through their commanding officer, without necessarily awaiting his i recommendation.” The abolition of commissioning on a percentage basis would remove the most serious obstacle in the way of more for New Zealand and Australian air crews, who have earned a status equivalent to their American and Canadian comrades.— P.A.