SOUTH PACIFIC DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 24889, 31 October 1942, Page 4

SOUTH PACIFIC DEFENCE

N.Z. Troops Under American Command

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 30. An interesting outline of the part New Zealand is playing in the defence of the South Pacific was given by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in an interview today. He stated that when the Pacific Ocean area was divided into strategic zones of command, the South Pacific area, including New Zealand and various groups of islands to the north, was placed under the command of Vice-Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, who had now been superseded by Vice-Admiral William Halsey.

At that time the command of major units of the Royal New Zealand Navy was transferred to the American command, but squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force remained outside the American command except those squadrons located in the Pacific islands to the north of New Zealand, which came under the command of Rear-Admiral McCain, who had now assumed command of the Aeronautics Bureau in the Navy Department, Washington, and had been replaced by Rear-Admiral A. D. Fitch. Major-General D. Harmon had assumed command of the United States Army forces in the South Pacific area, including that of the United States Army Air Force. While Rear-Admiral Fitch was primarily responsible for all air operations in conjunction with naval operations, Major-General Harmon was more directly concerned with certain of the New Zealand air squadrons from an administrative point of view, said Mr Jones. The Minister added that as a result of the substantial expansion of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the past year New Zealand had been able to send a number of squadrons for service with the American forces in the forward areas. Certain squadrons were located in Fiji and others in other islands. These were principally the bomber reconnaissance type. UNDER AMERICAN COMMAND Referring to. the problems of command, Mr Jones said he welcomed the recent decision that the squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force assigned for operations in the South Pacific should be placed under American command. This did not affect the responsibility of the Air Department for the air defence of New Zealand, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air-Commo-dore R. V. Goddard, remained responsible for the efficiency and operation of air defence in the Dominion. The placing of our squadrons under American command involved the appointment of an air commander to complete the chain of command, and in addition to his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff Air-Commodore Goddard had been appointed commander of the New Zealand Air Forces. Mr Jones added that the New Zealand Army, like the Air Force, also with the agreement of the Government, had passed under American command, but this did not affect the development of the Army and its equipment to the same extent as the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It would be well understood, however, that the movement of New Zealand forces of all three services out of New Zealand for any new commitment was a matter requiring the approval of the New Zealand Government. He gave an assurance that information would not be withheld from the public of the engagement of New Zealand forces in South Pacific operations. At present our forces were not engaged, he said, but he had no doubt that our reconnaissance aircraft were operating in or near some of the recent enemy operations.