AIR FORCE RESERVES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1938, Page 8

AIR FORCE RESERVES

START WITH WIRELESS OPERATORS FOR SERVICE IN EMERGENCY (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, August 3. Provision of reserves who will be available for service in an emergency is included in the programme for the development of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. A start will be made by forming a reserve of wireless operators. This information was given by the Minister 1 of Defence, the Hon F. Jones, in an interview today. These reserves will be built up partly from the personnel who have concluded a period of service with the Air Force and partly from the personnel in civil employment, whose normal occupation provides the necessary basis for an Air Force trade. It is from this latter class that the civil reserve will be drawn. As its name implies the members will remain civilians, but they will be asked to undertake that, in the event of hostilities, they will join the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It is proposed to start immediately with the formation of a reserve of wireless operators and to invite applications from those who have reached a certain standard of proficiency. Instruction in the special requirements of Air Force operating will be given by means of exercises conducted from wireless stations of the Royal N.ew Zealand Air Force. Opportunities will also be given, whenever possible, for members to obtain a limited amount of experience in the air. Wireless operators required for Territorial Air Force Squadrons and for other branches of the reserve of the New Zealand Air Force will, wherever possible, be selected from applicants who are already members of a civil service.