H—37

Applicants for service with the Active Reserve force of 2,000 trained personnel have been enlisted and their training will commence later in 1949. The number of applications from officers and aircrew for service in the T.A.F. and Active Reserve has been satisfactory, but applications for service in ground trades have to date met approximately only one-fifth of the requirements. Non-Regular activities are considerably handicapped at the present time by lack of appropriate accommodation, particularly in Wellington. The activities of the Air Training Corps continued at a satisfactory level during the year. Summer camps held at Whenuapai, Ohakea, and Weedons provided over I,ooo* N.C.O.s and Cadets with practical instruction in aeronautical subjects and a first-hand insight into the varied activities of an R.N.Z.A.F. station. Ab initio flying training was again enthusiastically carried out by 149 Cadets under the Government-subsidized A.T.C. Flying Training Scheme. In addition, 104 Cadets who received flying training last year in this scheme also received refresher training. Equipment Equipment and interchangeable spares have been standardized on British types wherever possible, and only those American aircraft which are essential to the fulfilment of current commitments are retained. However, the limitation of life of aircraft is governed by two factors—the maintenance backing available and the progressive-age factor. The maintenance backing for the British types of aircraft in service to-day is generally satisfactory, with the exception that the provisioning of some consumable spares is causing trouble due to the lack of adequate consumption data. In the case of American-type aircraft the maintenance backing is strictly confined to the planned life of the aircraft type, and, in fact, is becoming increasingly critical owing to the fact that the aircraft types are old and out of current production. It will be necessary to* commence a major rearming programme before the end of 1950. The aircraft strength at the 31st March, 1949, stood at 432. Of this total, 14 Mosquito aircraft were flight delivered from United Kingdom during the year, bringing the total received in New Zealand to 76, and so completing the contract (four aircraft were lost en route). Two Devon aircraft were also received and placed in service for use in the General Purpose Flight. Included in the 101 aircraft which were converted for instructional use, released to aero clubs, sold, or destroyed were 19 lend-lease Corsair aircraft which were destroyed in Japan prior to the withdrawal of No. 14 Squadron and 19 Tiger Moths which were issued to aero clubs. One C6O (Lodestar) aircraft was transferred to the Civil Aviation Branch of Air Department for D/F calibration, and an order was placed in United Kingdom for two Miles Aerovan aircraft for experimental work in soil conservation. All Hudson aircraft were withdrawn from service, and only five selected aircraft, together with a small spares backing, were retained in long-term storage. The reduction to spares of surplus Dakota, Catalina, and Anson aircraft is proceeding. Following a comprehensive review of all motor transport operated by the R.N.Z.A.F. a re-equipping and purchasing programme extending over a five-year period was formulated and submitted for financial approval. Acute man-power shortages in the domestic trades necessitated the arrangement of contracts with civilian caterers at Woodbourne, Mangaroa, Weedons, and Shelly Bay. The messing under these arrangements has been satisfactory to date, and the standard of messing provided by the Service at other R.N.Z.A.F. stations has been maintained. Although substantial progress has been made in the segregation of surplus and obsolescent stocks and their disposal through the War Assets Realization Board, this commitment continues, through staff shortages, to prove an embarrassment to the R.N.Z.A.F. The establishment of stores held at consumer units was reduced and a system of provisioning by stores depots on a regional basis was introduced. The adoption

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