Huge Increase in Personnel

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 47, 25 February 1939, Page 5

Huge Increase in Personnel

The growth of the Royal New Zea land Air Force has not been confined tc the construction of hangars and the purchase of suitable machines. The personnel has been increased to three times its strength is considerably less than two years. On April 1. 1937, the total of all ranks was 258. Bv March 31 last it had climbed to GOG and at the end of November, 1938, it stood at the large figure of 940, which is very near the thousand mark. Such an expansion for a country the size of the Dominion is more than unusual and shows that the authorities are determined to establish the Royal New Zealand Air Force on a footing comparable with fighting units overseas. The programme approved by the Government in December, 1930, has so fat made satisfactory progress and the following comparative figures show the expansion of the force:—

Because of the need for the training of flying personnel, the Flying Training School at Wigram was the first establishment to be pushed on and facilities at the station have improved greatly in the last 12 months. Additional barracks to accommodate about 200 single airmen and seven married quarters for officers are now ready for occupation

and the new officers’ mess is well on the way to completion. Providing for the technical side, new workshops and new main stores have been completed.

April 1, March 31. November 30, 1937. 1 ’CI 193S. Regular Air Force— Officers •> 1 Airmen 156 Reserve (pilots)— R. N. Z. A. F. Reserve 10 * 16 Civil Reserve Territorial Air Fore< 0 106 157 Officers Airmen .. .. .. 71 73 258 606 946