PLAINS RESHAPED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1939, Page 5

PLAINS RESHAPED

AUSTRALIA’S AIR FORCE CONTRIBUTION CO-ORDINATION OF EMPIRE EFFORTS. MANUFACTURE OF ENGINES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY. October 31. It was announced tonight after a Federal Cabinet meeting that the whole of Australia's air force plans have been recast as the result of conferences between the Australian and British Governments. The Prime Minister. Mr Menzies, said the air expeditionary force, which was still in process of formation, would not be sent abroad. Instead. Australia's future air plans would depend on the decisions made at the Canadian conference. The immediate assistance that Australia would give the British Government would be to leave in England the nine' Sunderland flying-boats d.ue tc. be sent to Australia and in addition provide 17 officers and 166 airmen as crews who would become an Australian reconnaissance squadron.

The British Government, had requested that Australia should continue to manufacture large plane engines ot the type required for the Beauforts for internal use and export, which would mean a tremendous expansion in the aircraft industry in Australia. Mr Menzies added that every effort would now be put forward to speed up the construction of engines of the fighter type. ’