TO FERRY MOSQUITOES FROM UNITED KINGDOM

Chronicle (Levin), 8 January 1947, Page 3

TO FERRY MOSQUITOES FROM UNITED KINGDOM

FlfTESN FLYING CREWS TO LEAVE OTIAKEA. Fifteim Mohquito tlying ertnv.s will icavc Ohukua 011" Friiiay for Whenuapai, pruceediny froni tiiere during the weekend via Auslraiia and Sinyapore, to the L'nited Kiiigdom, where tliey will piek up uew Mosquito aireraft and flv tlieni to A'ew Zealaud for JXo. 75 Squadron. The offieer coininanding the Squadron, which is based at Ohakea, is WingC'ommander J. E. Watts, A.F.O., wlio will remain in New Zealand for organisation purposes. .Squadrou-Leader (J. Ik Haigent, D.S.O., D.F.C., will eominaud the ferry tiight. Wlien the crews return from England tliey hope to bring with tlieni the nienientoes of IXo. 75 Squadron uliich iia\e remained at the squadron 's Jast English headquai'ters-Squadron-Leader Eaigent is an appropriate agent for Ihe eolleetion of tliese trophies as he coniniamled the : squadron during its .Jast moaths -ovaa liurope, and led the Lancasters over Brenien in Ihe Jiual raid. As a flightconunaiuler in the re-formed squadron, lio.hopes to bring back the souvenirs inorder that the tradition of the squadron may eontinue uubrokeu., Pp'i- iiioreitkian two'.muulhs the crews have been btisy traiuing. o-n .the foUr Mojtquitoes rccent.Jy fiowir out from Auslraiia AJI ■ihe crews waived Christmas leave in order to eomplete their traiuing seliodulo early. Pilots ltevv to I the type, have diseovered that Ihe eonversion to Alosquilo flnng has been an agreeable cxperience. Litlle inslruction has been necessarv in Ihe Uying of the world \s fastesl couvenlionul aireraft as j tlio Jeast experienceil |>ilol in the ! squadron has comploted at least 1500 . liours flying. Higii Moralo. | As may be dedmed fi'om tlie faet ' that Ihe crews chiiue to furfeit their | leave priyileges, morale in the nquadron is liigh, particularly in the i'ace I of the flight. to and from England. Jn addition fo a. streniious flying pro granime. the crews have followed a jrigoruua achedule. of sports, marksman- ; ship leetures and groond inaintenauee. { Alosqui (o erens consisl, of (wo meii ! the pilo) anil Ihe radio-navigator. The

t 1 a 1 1 (.' r liave u m 1 1* rg o u i 1 f pc n i a J c o 11 ry e^» ; at Wigram, where radio-operatorR liavp studietl navigation aird nnvigatora have learued the tricks of radio operators. i .Monday was the big day at the end | of a long period oi inlensive. Iraining wlien the erews were appoinled, and i iinal instructious were received for t'he I momeiitous fligh' fo the Uniferl King I eloin to bring back Ihe squadron 's own • aireraft. | Of even more nofo is Ihe inten.se 111terest and devofion lo Ihe fame-iilled j tradition oi the squadron shovvn by the j ground stafl. With antieipalions of the j trip to England, ii was 110 less than natural that the. airerevvs would sacrij lice inucli lo eomplete their training 1 quicldy. "For the ground crews, howj over, tiiere w as no such iuduccineut. Theirs has been merely the goa'J of an organisation worthy of the name of No. 75 .Squadron. With only such inj tangible rewards alicad of tiiem, tliese I crews have worked from dawn ti 1 1 dark I for weeks. Tliey too, forgot about ; norma) leave privileges, including I Ohristmas leave, in order to mnintain the four aireraft used by the squadron I in traiuing, and to learn from experij ence the particular idiosynerasies of , Ihe new aireraft. For tliein it lias j been a long aml streniious fight for | knowledge under uuglamorous condii tions and it is to the credit of the I squadron 's engiueer offieer, Squadron- | • Leadcr H. H. Smith, and his two lc.adling wariant-oflicers, F. B. Weldon and j It. W. Itead, that such spirit lias been i inculcated into the important "meu beliind, the sccnes. ' ' Names of Crews. Tlie crews will travel to England by K.N Z.A.F. Dakota aireraft of No. 41 Transport Squadron, and later trips may be made by Sunderland aireraft. The list of erews leaving 011 Eriday, the pilot being mentioned in each. ease, is: — Squadron-Leader C. H. Baigent, D.S.O., D.F.C., Flight-Lieutenanf D. E. Sisley; Squadron-Leader E. F. Watson, A.F.fl., Flight-Lieutenant M. Kidson, D.F.G., A.F.M.; Squadron-Leader J. D. Robins, D'.RC., Fngiit-Lia .teiianc A, Cr.

W'ebbv ; Squadron-Leader ft. M. MeEay, A.F.C., Fliglit-Lieutenant (4. S. Martin; Fiiglil-Lieutenant J. II. L'ooke, FlyingOfliccr H, It. Smith; Flight-Lieutenant K. (4. Jeil's, Flight-Lieutenant J- D. Cnrrett; Flight-Lieutenant O. Brabyn. Flight-Lieutenant D. A, Duthie; FlightLieutenant J. It. Wenden, Fliglit-Lieu-teiiant A. F. Jaeobsen, A.F.C.; FlightLieutenanl G. It. Simieh, D.F.C., FlightLieutenant B. Coberoft; Flight-Lieuten-ant E. G. lleaton, Tliglit-Lieutenant P. A. Morgun; Flight-Lieutenant E. B. Bolt, D.F.C., Flight-Lieutenant E. J. L)yer; Flight-Lieutenant I. L. Breckon, U.F.G., Flight-Lieutenant E. Willianis; Flight-Lieutenant It. K. Garnliam, Fliglit-Lieutenant «T. R. MeGlymont; Warrant-Offieei' P. F. Pritchard, Warrant -Offieer F. Ilazel; Flight-Lieutenant P. A. Stewart, D.F.C., D.F.M., FlightSergeaut Jt. Creig.