REPUTATION OF R.N.Z.A.F.

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23965, 4 June 1943, Page 4

REPUTATION OF R.N.Z.A.F.

' * THOROUGHNESS ADMIRED OVERSEAS CEREMONIAL PRESENTATION OF « WINGS ” . '"{he goodwill and admiration shown by the Royal Air Force for New Zealand personnel is almost embarrassing, but from my own experience I have A- un 2. that it is well grounded,” said Air Commodore J. L. Findlay, Officer Commanding Central Group, addressing pilots to whom he presented wings” at a Canterbury station of the Royal New Zealand Air Force yesterday afternoon. The reason for this esteem could be summed up in one word—thoroughness, he said. The men passing out had a great responsibility to maintain and enhance this reputation overseas. Apart from individual dependability would be added responsibility for valuable equipment and personnel. Air Commodore Findlay asked the pilots to make it a point of honour to visit their machines and ground crews at least once between sorties. "They are magnificent fellows and we in the air are apt to return from an operation, report to the intelligence officer, and then barge off to the mess for a tankard of beer with no further thought for the maintenance staff,” he said. The "wings” ceremony was a recent innovation, “We thought it infra dig and unfitting that you should just go and draw your wings from store as you would a pair of boots or socks, after undergoing such strenuous training.” Air Commodore Findlay said. "Wings" were the symbol of what was probably one of the best jobs in war time. He asked those who would be disappointed at being retained in New Zealand as instructors to consider that theirs would be a job without which the blood of the R.N.Z.A.F, would not flow.' Those who received their "wings” were;— Corporals C. H. Eadie and D. A. Sandman, Leading Aircraftsmen C. J. Allan, K. A. Banker, D, R. Britton, D. C. Curtis, S. W. Galletly, C. W. Halford, G. A. Horwell, H. J. Lambie, N. McL. Mcßitchie, J. N. Mills, S. Patterson, I. G. Richards, R. V. Signal, A. D. Uffindell, W. G. Winchester, R. U. Anderson. I. E. Blance, P. G. Brown, C. W. Dean. H. R. Falla. T. L. Gardiner, R. H. Hazlett, R, C. B. Lamb, D. A. W. Lee, R. F. Madigan, A. D. Meyer, K. Perry, A. D. Robertson. E. E. Smith. R. A. Waldron, A. McG. Bailey, J. Bowler, R, M. Bullen, J. P. Dickins, D. J. Fyfe, S. Guthrie. N. H, Hewett, M. Lambert. W. B. Mackenzie, T. C. May, M, E. Murrell. J. B. Poulter, J. R. Tones, and C. D. Wilson. Trophies for bombing were presented as follows:—Low-level practice at 250Tt, 12 bombs: Leading Aircraftsman Mills, average margin of error 30 yards; high-level practice at 10.000 ft. 1G bombs: Leading Aircraftsman Lamb, average margin of error. 78 yards. After the "wings” had been presented by Air Commodore Findlay a march past was held. There was a