MOSQUITO TRAINERS FOR NEW ZEALAND

Chronicle (Levin), 2 October 1946, Page 6

MOSQUITO TRAINERS FOR NEW ZEALAND

— Press Association

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. The four Mosquito aircraft ordered from Australia for training purposes will be flown by R.N.Z.A.F. crews from Brisbane to Ohakea. The machines have been used but no flown exten gively. Squadron Leader B. M. McKay, who flew the Meteor jet-plane when it arrived in New Zealand some montlis ago, will command the flight, and it is expected that the Mosquitos will be escorted aeross the Tasman by a Lincoln boniber of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Mosquitos, whieh are Mark III trpiners, fitted with dual control and without armament, have been purchas ed to train pilots selected to fly Mos quito aircraft from Britain to New Zealand next year. Tliey are likely to be based at Ohakea, where the conversion training will be done, and where the Mosquito squadrons of the Air Force will probably be stationed. Pilots already experienced with the type will have brief refresher courses, and those ivho have not flown Mosquitos before will be given up to 5U hours' training. Special courses for navigators and wireless operators, to enable them to undertake both duties, are already in progress at Wigrani, because a Mosquito carries only its pilot and oue other man, who is navigatoi and wireless operator. The trainers are basically similar to the Mosquitos ordered in quantitv for the New Zealand Air Force, whieh are Mark VI flghter-boinbers intended to replace many of the existiug American types. Crews of the Royal Air Force are expected to fly the flrst of the operational Mosquitos to New Zealand late this year. The first to be flown out by New Zealand crews are due about next March.