GRADUATION OF AIRCREW

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28266, 2 May 1957, Page 12

GRADUATION OF AIRCREW

Main Prizes To Dunedin Men

A Dunedin pilot, Flight Lieutenant I. V. Mackay, passed with special distinction and won the Baigent Memorial Shield for outstanding ability when No. 23 aircrew course graduated from the Royal New Zealand Air Force flying training school, Wigram, yesterday afternoon. Flight Lieutenant Mackay gained the highest marks since the No. 8 course. The Air Member for Personnel (Air Commodore R. W. K. Stevens) flew to Christchurch from Wellington to review a graduation parade with a full turnout of four squadrons on the station, and present the Baigent Shield. The shield is awarded to the pilot who graduates with highest marks from the school, provided he passes with special distinction and is above average as an officer. Flight Lieutenant Mackay graduated from the air navigation school in April, 1951, as a navigator and was posted to No. 5 Squadron, Lauthala Bay. He was commissioned in July, 1952. Two years later he passed with special distinction from an air navigators’ instructor course, and between November, 1954, and August, 1956, was an instructor dt Taieri and the Air Navigation and Signals School. Sword of Honour Another Dunedin man, ActingPilot Officer L. G. Young, won the Merton Sword of Honour, awarded for the best all-round officer displaying high qualities of leadership. Officers from other branches and former navigators are not eligible for the award.

Acting-Pilot Officer Young was a Regular Army cadet for two years until 1950, and a field engineer instructor in the Army for four years before being commissioned. An instructor at the school of Military Engineering, Linton, during 1954 and 1955, he was administration and accounting officer with the Central District construction squadron for the next two years. He joined No. 23 combined aircrew course in April, 1956, to train for the National Airways Corporation, but later decided he liked the air force and v/ished to make the service his career. He has been accepted for a commission. In addition to the Sword of Honour he gained a distinguished pass.

Air Weapons Trophy The Air Weapons trophy was won by Acting-Pilot Officer M. N. Rogers, of Timaru; and a distinguished pass by Acting-Pilot Officer P. K. Siinpson, of Auckland.

The graduates, who received their brevets from Air Commodore Stevens, were:— Pilots—Flight Lieutenant Mackay, Acting-Pilot Officers B. M. Aarons (Auckland), D. J. Burfitt (Auckland), W. H. Howell (Lower Hutt), Rogers, Simpson, B. J. Souter (Mosgiel), Young (Dunedin).

Navigators—Acting-Pilot Officers C. A. J. Krijt (Harlem, Holland), A. L. Lawless (Wellington). Signallers—Cadet Signallers A. R. Barrett (Bingley, England), W. R. Cowan (Wanganui), D. L. Draper (Wellington), V. E. Elliot (Reefton).