New Type Aircraft Add to Strength Of Dominion Defences

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1942, Page 4

New Type Aircraft Add to Strength Of Dominion Defences

Press Assn.

Wellington, Last Night,

The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. revealed yesterday that new types of aircraft are being placed in service in the Dominion. He said that most New Zealanders now seen in the air were in new types of fighters and bombers which had been added to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. "In addition to the new operational types," he added, "we have several modern types of single twin-engined training craft which are providing New Zealand air crews with advanced training, instruction and operational experience." Many instructors had returned from active service overseas with the result that operational units were manned by thoroughly qualified personnel. "It is obviouslymot possible for me to give full details of the development of our air policy in this dirqction," M1}. .Tones said, "but I can say that New Zealand's air strength is a considerable factor to be reckoned with in any possible war operations in this area. It may also

be said that we are looking considerably beyond our own shores. We roplise that to beat the enemy we must carry the attack to his bases. We are already co-operating in this task in the Pacific." Referring more specifically to the new aircraft, Mr. Jones mentioned that some types had been engaged for some time in carrying out long-range patrol reconnaissance duties. The Hudson reconnaisance bomber was now a familiar sight in the country. Numbers of Avro Anson reconnaissance bombers had also arrived in New Zealand. These aircraft were most valuable for advanced operational training purposes, while a formidable addition to the fighter strength had been the Kittyhawk, a type which was at present inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese in North Australia.