FAMOUS AIRMAN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 161, 29 September 1941, Page 6

FAMOUS AIRMAN

LINK WITH KINGSFORD SMITH

There is an interesting linl? with the adventures- of the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in the early flying history of a New Zealand sergeant who for the past few months has been engaged in piloting a reconnaissance plane l'or desert patrols. It is also closely related to that period in New Zealand's aviation progress, from 1930 onwards, when people of the Dominion Ave re rapidlj becoming more air-minded, cncournged by the cndeaA'ours ol groups of enthusiasts scattered throughout the country. A popular member of a avcllknoAvn. Timaru family, the sergeant concerned AA T as accepted in 1 !KH) for a short service commission Avith the Iloyal Air Force, and proceeded to England. There, he was rejected on medical grounds, and he returned to Ncav Zealand. From to IJKU he was associated Avith Wing-Comman-der "Tiny" White, and together they built up a fleet of fiA'e Spartans, reconstructed from crashed machines, and converted from tAvo to three-seaters. These they used for flying passengers on joy rides, Avhich at that lime. Avas a novel and groAvingly popular form of amusement. It Avas then that Wing-Commander White left the Dominion to Avork with Kingsford Smith, Avho Avas experimenting Avitli a Codoc machinc in conj, unction Avith Wing-Comman-der Wackett Avith the idea of establishing a trans-Tasman airmail service. The machine proved a failure, and White came back to Ncav Zealand. On the last occasion that tlifi Southern Cross flew to Ncav Zealand Kingsford Smith made an extended tour of the Dominion Avith his famous machinc, and it Avas during this time that the young Timaru pilot contacted him and Avas given the position of assistant pilot. This position he held until "Smithy" returned to Australia.

After that he gave up serious Hying, until war broke out, when he applied to join the air force. Offered a post as an instructor, he decided against it and joined the Army instead in hopes ofi more chance of action, arriving in the Middle East as a private. His extensive knowledge of flying led to his being posted to his present duties, on work in which the fathomless and uncertain hazards of the desert are sufficient excitement for one normal man's lifetime.