THE AIR FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 October 1940, Page 4

THE AIR FORCE

NEW ZEALAND’S PART MINISTER ON REMARKABLE EXPANSION. PARTICULARS OF CASUALTIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Casualties totalling 187 have occurred to New Zealanders in the Royal Air Force in Great Britain since the war began, it was stated by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones in the House of Representatives yesterday. The figures quoted by the Minister were: — Killed, 79; missing (believed killed), 23; missing, 49; prisoners, 15; wounded 21. The decision to provide additional squadrons in New Zealand was an indication, Mr Jones said, that the country was going to do its job in the event of war coming to these shores, as well as interesting itself in the defence of the British Commonwealth. That expansion would mean additional expenditure and buildings. “We want to provide a better protective force for New Zealand,” he said, “and we are going to use the Air Force in conjunction with the other forces. We do not want to interfere with personnel for the Empire training scheme, which will cost £7,500,000 over three years and a half. Great Britain is providing most of the aircraft for that, and we have been well treated.”

Previously, the high educational standard required for the Air Force prevented many men from joining, but under the new scheme 3000 lads were attending secondary schools at night or taking the correspondence course for training as pilots. That was a splendid achievement. The force in New Zealand today totalled 5714, of whom 383 were officers. The men numbered 5331, of whom 727 were technicians and 648 air crew. Before the war, 402 men were sent from New Zealand to the Royal Air Force and from thd outbreak of war till September 19, 1940, 641 had been sent The ’figures were: Pilots, 189; Observers, 98; air gunners, 179; armourers, 30; wireless operators, 50; fleet air arm, 95. A total of 85 more men would be sent shortly. Including those already left, the output by December 1 next would be 1465, comprising 674 pilots, 322 observers and 469 gunners. Mr Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago): “Are they all fully trained?” “Yes,” replied the Minister, “but they will receive additional training overseas. The figures include some of the observers and airgunners who are going to Canada about the end of this month.” Mr Polson (Opposition, Stratford): “How many of our men have been participating in the war at Home up to date?” o . “We have approximately 1000 flying men in the Old Country,” replied Mr Jones, who said that the building up of the Air Force in New Zealand had been justified by results.