DEFENCE BY AIR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1938, Page 7

DEFENCE BY AIR

. NEW ZEALAND POLICY OUTLINED FUNCTIONS OF BOMBING PLANES EFFICIENT RESERVES NEEDED. GROUP-CAPTAIN COCHRANE’S SURVEY. The aim behind the policy of the Air Department was to train pilots to take their place in the service in the event of war, declared Group-Captain, the Hon. R. A. Cochrane, Chief of the Air Department, in the course of a comprehensive survey of New Zealand’s air defences, at a meeting of the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club last night. The men, he added, had to be trained, not only to fly but to fight, which was much more complicated than just flying at an aerodrome. The president of the club, Mr A. McDonald, occupied the chair. All aero clubs were now linked with the defence of the country, said Group Captain Cochrane, in that they were providing the bulk of the training. On the other side of the world things were moving so quickly that the more one could get in touch with all opinions the better it would be. He was sure that if it had not been for. the pioneering work on the various clubs throughout New Zealand during the past 12 years he would not have been there at all. Progress in aviation was fairly continuous and quite satisfactory and they wanted to try to build up a liaison between the service and the Clubs. He referred to the programme being carried out at the Wigram Aerodrome and said that although that was rather hard on the individual clubs, as soon as they could get more ’planes in the country the service could link up more with the clubs and the better all would be pleased. BOMBERS AND WARSHIPS

By defence, he said, he meant defence by aeroplanes rather than defence against aeroplanes. Attack by ’plane was exceedingly remote except from a few ’planes which might be brought by ship, for any attack on New Zealand must come from ships. That was the clue to the defence force that was needed It was far better to sink a ship than to shoot down any planes it might be carrying, and for that reason the need existed for bombers to sink ships rather than for fighting aircraft. Fighting aircraft could not operate unless it had a great deal of warning of attack. The major cities of New Zealand were on the coast and could not receive adequate warning and if they did not have bombing planes the enemy machines could be in and out before our machines were off the ground. What was required was aircraft that could go out and attack enemy ships in New Zealand waters. —’planes that could go out a long way. MODERN MACHINES Group Captain Cochrane referred to to a letter which had appeared in the Press in which it was stated that the 30 planes that had been ordered by the Government were obsolete. Actually, however, they were the latest type in use, and most suitable for New Zealand's purposes. It was necessary that they should have a highly trained personnel to handle the expensive machines and equipment. The standard was even higher than that required of commercial pilots. Apart from ordinary navigation they would be required to navigate by celestial means, which had not been normal in the past. On top of that there was all the training necessary for the warlike and fighting quality of the machines. They could not do much good unless they could go out and hit the ship, which required very careful training. They had received a very good response for trainees, but there was still a great deal of work to be done. The policy was to have regular squadrons, which would be located at Bulls and outside of Auckland and those stations were in process of being built. TRAINING AT WIGRAM Passing on to deal with the training school at Wigram. Group-Captain Cochrane said, that it was designed at present to turn out 48 pupils a year. They did a six months’ course each, and some of them went on to the R.A.F., while others remained in New

Zealand. After stressing the importance of a well-equipped and well-or-ganised depot and referring to the training of ground engineers at Hobsonville, Group-Captain Cochrane said that the training of those men at present constituted a problem. They were turning out 120 mechanics to start with, but it was necessary to attain the 900 mark within three years. That was a tough job on the; trained personnel, which had to impart its knowledge to such a large number. He dealt with the value of the territorial squadron, which he described as the second line of defence. The Baffin planes they were using had been criticised, but he had seen them sitting as solid as a rock at Rongatai in a 70 miles an hour wind, and they were quite fast enough to chase a ship, which was their job. They were extraordinarily suited for the purpose. RESERVES NEEDED QUICKLY The third element in the organisation —the reserves —was most necessary for the expansion of the force in the event of emergency, and, while normally a reserve was built up over a period of years, they had had to devise ways and means of building them up very quickly. The object in view, he continued, was to train the pilot so that he could take his place in the service in the event of war. Tire man had to be trained not only to fly, but to fight, which was more complicated than just flying at an aerodrome. In 1917 the loss of craft was far more due to crashes and lack of training than to enemy action, and in view of the expensive planes and equipment they could not afford losses in war. The way to overcome that was more thorough training, which could be done far better in peace time than in time of, war. The object of the civil scheme was to put pilots through their initial training and leave the advanced course until a time of emergency. The advanced work would occupy only about five or six months. The civil reserve at present was being trained only in the use of light aircraft, but later it was hoped to give them experience with the lastest types of fighting machines.

In answer to a question of Mr P. F. Fagan, Group-Captain Cochrane said he considered it would be an excellent idea for technical school pupils to be taught the fundamental requirements of a ground engineer. There was a wealth of talent in the schools, but so far no practical scheme had been evolved. CLUBS IN DIFFICULTIES

The president. Mr A. McDonald, said the greatest difficulty facing clubs today was the shortage of pilot instruc-

tors. There was intense competition from commercial air services and the clubs had to bid. barter and auctioneer with those who could afford to pay to secure the services of a competent instructor. The Wairarapa club was without the services of an instructor and he wondered whether the Defence Department could provide them with even a temporary man. With no revenue coming in, it would cost the club £7O or £BO a month for the next two or three months. The position was not peculiar to the Wairarapa. but existed throughout New Zealand. In the circumstances the clubs could not carry on. They could not blame instructors for looking to their future, and it was up to the authorities to help the clubs out of their difficulties. Group-Captain Cochrane said they were as short of instructors as were the clubs, but he was not in a position to suggest any practical solution at the

present time. Group-Captain Cochrane was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr G. W. Sellar.