EMPIRE AIR FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 December 1939, Page 3

EMPIRE AIR FORCES

ACTION BY DOMINIONS FORMATION OF SQUADRONS. CANADIAN AND AUSTRALIAN DECISIONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. December 2. The Air Ministry announces that in due course squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force will be playing their part in active air operations in Europe. Meanwhile, the Canadian Government has suggested that a Canadian squadron should be formed from the Canadian personnel already serving m the R.A.F. The Air Council has readily agreed and a new fighter squadron has now been formed from Canadian personnel drafted from other units. The new squadron is about to take its place in the air defence of Britain. The Air Ministry states before the war the Commonwealth Government, placed an order in Britain for large Sunderland flying-boats. Most of these have been delivered and are stationed at a base in the United Kingdom. They are manned by personnel of the Royal Australian Air Force who were sent to the United Kingdom for the purpose of flying them to Australia. When the war broke out the Commonwealth Government promptly placed these aircraft and their crews at the disposal of the United Kingdom Government. The remaining aircraft are now being delivered and additional Australian personnel, will shortly arrive in this country to man them. The intention of the Commonwealth Government is that a full Royal Australian Air Force squadron shall then be formed for immediate reconnaissance duties in co-operation with the R.A.F. The complete squadron will be ready for active service with the coastal command early in 1940. In the meantime the Royal Australian Air Force officers and men are fully employed in advance training.