Veterans support campaign to keep RNZAF intact

The New Zealand Returned Services' Association (RSA) has come out in support of a campaign to reverse the government's decision to scrap the RNZAF's air combat capability.

The campaign is currently being waged by the "Save our Squadrons" organisation.

"In today's unstable and fragile environment, it is astounding that any government should deprive a country of its only method of air defence, and sacrifice, possibly for ever, the Air Force's combat expertise, both in the air and on the ground, which has been accumulated over the past eighty-odd years," said National RSA President David Cox.

"This organisation of veterans believes the decision to disband the three RNZAF squadrons and the subsequent redundancies of well-trained staff should be overturned in the best interests of our country's security", he said.

The RSA is urging its members to turn out in force in protest marches scheduled for Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this coming Wednesday, 17 October.