AIRCRAFT MISSING

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 257, 29 July 1942, Page 4

AIRCRAFT MISSING

Major-General Mead And Five Others Aboard FLIGHT OVER SEA

The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, announced yesterday with deep regret that Major-General O. 11. Mead, of the New Zealand Military Forces, together with another Army officer and four members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, has been reported missing during an aircraft flight over a sea route.

"Intensive searches are being carried out in the area where the aircraft was last reporte'd, but unfortunately without results so far,” said the Minister. The personnel involved are: — Major-General O. H. Mead, C.8.E., D. 5.0.; wife, Mrs. Mead, Otane, Hawke's Bay. Lieutenant J. C. Leslie, N.Z. Military Forces; wife, Mrs. Leslie, e/o Mr. T. J. Coulter, Kaitaia. Flying Officer D.. A. Anderson, R.N.Z.A.F.; wife, Mrs. Anderson, 106 Paratai Drive, Orakei, Auckland. Pilot Officer 0. G. Ibbotson, R.N.Z.A.F.; mother, Mrs. D. A. Ibbotson, 6 Heaton Terrace, Brooklyn, Wellington. Sergeant R. 11. W. Wybourne, R.N.Z.A.F.; mother, Mrs. E. K. Wybourne, Gloag Street, Waverley. Leading Aircraftman A. N. Clayton, R.N.Z.A.F.; wife, Mrs. Clayton, 65 Hamilton Road, Cambridge. Major-General Owen Herbert Mead is aged 50. He was educated at Marlborough College, New Zealand. In 1911 he was commissioned second lieutenant in the Nelson Regiment, ami lieutenant in 1913. He left New Zealand with the Canterbury Regiment in 1914, and served in Egypt, Gallipoli, and France. He was promoted captaiu in 1916, aud major in 1917. Tlie same year lie was officer commanding tlie 3rd Brigade Officers' School, and later promoted lieutenant-colonel. He was twice wounded and twice mentioned in dispatches, and awarded the -D.S.O. He held the command of the Ist. 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, Canterbury Regiment, till his return to New Zealand in 1919. He was appointed to the New Zealand Staff Corps in the rank of captain in 1920, and made group commander, Palmerston North. He held other staff appointments, and was promoted major in 1925. In 1926 lie was at the Staff College, Carnberley, England, and was.attached to the War Office in 1929. He returned to New Zealand that year and was. appointed staff officer at Dunedin, and brigade major, 3rd Infantry Brigade. In 1935 he was appointed Adjutant-General, and then held this office and that of Quarter-master-General when they were combined. lie was also, while holding these appointments, second member of the Army Board. In 1937 he was appointed officer conunanding the Northern Military District, and in 1938 an aide-de-camp to the Governor-General. In 1939 lie was appointed Adjutant-General and next year was promoted to brigadier and the appointment of officer commanding, Southern Military 'District, and brigadier conunanding the 3rd Division. He was made a C.B.E. in 1940. He was appointed to tlie Fiji command early this year in the rank of major-general. Major-General Mend married, in 1926, Barbara, daughter of Charles A. Loughnan, find he has two daughters.