MOSQUITO AIRCRAFT

Chronicle (Levin), 15 October 1946, Page 4

MOSQUITO AIRCRAFT

-Press Association

DELIVERY FLIGHT DELAYED

By Telearavh-

AUCKLAND, Oet. 14. An unexpeeted Jelay has oecurred in the delivery flight from Australia of the four Mark lll Mosquito trainer aireraft, the first of their type to eome to New Z'ealand. The crews and ground - staff left last week for Brisbane to eollect the aircraft which were expected to reach .-Whenuapai today or rtomorrow but' latest radA'ice is that they may not fly- across "the Tasman by way of Norfolk Islaiidj 3for about thfee weeks. The aircraft have been bought froui the Royal Australian Air Force to train pilots selected to fly later model Mosquitos from the United Kingdom to New Zealand early next year. They will be based at Ohakea on their delivery flight from Australia. They are expected to be accompanied by a Lincoln .bomber of the R.A.A.F. earrying the New Zealand ground crews that accompanied the eight aircrew members to Brisbane. The New Zealand party is commanded by Bquadron Leader R. M. Mclvay, well known.as the pilo,t of the Gloster Meteor jet plane brought to New Zealand some months ago. With hini he has three other Mosquito pilots : Squadrou Leader J'. D. Robbius, D.F.O. and Flight Lieutenants I. O. Breckon, D.F.C. and bar, and A. George, D.F.C., D.F.M. The party also includes four navigators, an engineer officer and a small group of teehnicians. All were passengers to Australia last week in a Dakota aircraft of No. 41 (transport) Squadron of the R.N.Z.A.F.