EXPANSION OF AIR FORCE

Southland Times, Issue 24882, 23 October 1942, Page 5

EXPANSION OF AIR FORCE

Casualties To March (Special) WELLINGTON, Oct. 22. A year of exceptional expansion in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, particularly in the development of additional operational units in the Dominion, is reviewed by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air-Commodore R. V. Goddard, in his annual report for the year ended March 31 last, which was presented in the House of Representatives. The report states that the enlistment of personnel has proceeded satisfactorily, although there has been some difficulty in maintaining adequate reserves of certain classes of volunteers for technical trades. Casualties to personnel since the outbreak of the war up to March 31, 1942, are as follows, those up to March 31,

During the year there were 30 fatal flying accidents involving the loss of 54 lives. Two lives were lost in falls from aircraft, four deaths were recorded in non-service accidents, and two deaths were due to natural causes. Good reports had been received from Empire countries on the general standard and efficiency of the New Zealand trainees, and reports on the training of New Zealanders in Canada had indicated that they are generally above the average in the final placings.

1941, being shown in parentheses:— Killed 529 (157) Missing, believed killed 51 (20) Missing 135 (59) Prisoners of war or interned 132 (50) Missing, believed prisoners of war 6 (Nil) Total 853 (285)