HALIFAX BOMBER ARRIVES

Chronicle (Levin), 24 October 1946, Page 6

HALIFAX BOMBER ARRIVES

♦ FIRST TO VISIT DOMINION , The Koyal Air Foree Halifax bomber Mercury, the first of its kind to5 visit New Zealand, arrived at Ohakea at 7:10 o'elock last evening after a flight of 5 hours 48 minutes from Mascot aerodroine, Sydney. The Mereury left Debden air base, near Cambridge, England, on September 18 on a radio mission to Australia, New Zealand and the Far East. Her route was via Palestine, Iraq, India and Burma with a call " at South East Asia ' Command headquarters. In the gathering dusk, the large 'plane eireled low over Palmerston North and headed straight for Ohakea where it touched down at 7.10 p.m. The c'rew, looking quite fresh after their journey, were met on arrival by Group Captain Cohen, Oliieer Commanding the K.N.Z.A.F. station at Ohakea, and senior ofiicers of the serviee. The ofiieer in charge of the missioh is Air Commodore T. P. P. F. Fagah, and Wing Commander D. H. S. Rusher D.S.O., is deputy olficer in charge of the mission and also in charge of films and publieations. Other ofiicers in the mission are Squadron Leader E. H. Fluke, signals training; Flight Lieutenant C. A. Wood, tele-eommuniea cions equipment and also wireless operator and ofiieer in charge of rations; Elying Ofiieer J. W. C. Douglas, radai equipment, and Dr. A. J. Marshall, training research. The members of the erew of the Mer-" eury are Flight Lieutenant E. E. Harrison, D.F.C., captain; Flight Lieutenant J. W. Bowmer, D.-F.C. D.F.M., seeond pilot; Flying Ofiieer E. Woonton, navigator; Flight Sergeant J. L. H. Wickson, flight engineer; and Sergeants C. E. Callow and J. J. H. Scott, fitters. The purpose of the radio mission is to discuss and explain all current practice and policy in radio training in the Royal Air Foree with the R.A.A.F. and K.N.Z.A.F. Advice will be offered and diseussions held on all problems of radio training, and new equipment will be explained. Dr. A. J. Marshall is travelling with the mission for the purposes of training research. A comprehensive programme of lectures and demonstrations with R.N.Z.A.F. personnel has been arranged while the bomber remains in New Zealand. After spending the night at Ohakea, the crew and members of the mission will visit Wellington today. Technical liaison and diseussions with ofiieers at Air Department headquarters will be lield, and members of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Eesearcli will also attend tliese sessions. The crew returns to Ohakea on Friday and will then fly the Mercury to Whenuapai, where it will remain until Tuesday, when it will take olf for Wigram. The aircraft will return to Ohakea on Tliursday and will leave for Laverton, Australia, on Friday. On the return flight to Britain, the Mereury will make a six-day tour of units in India and will also pay a visit to Air Headquarters in Ceylon.