VALUABLE SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 33, 9 February 1931, Page 10

VALUABLE SERVICE

PILOTS AND OFFICIALS

woke: night and daYj

Although little mention has been, made of the work done by the officer* of the New Zealand Air Force and clubtrained pilots in the earthquake disaster, the part played by theurhas been no small one. . Pilots and organisers both in the devastated area and at the eentres.flf dispatch worked day and night in an endeavour to grant relief 'for those ia need. According to a resident of Wellington, who, since the day of tha disaster, has been in Hastings and Napier, the work of the flying men was worthy of the highest praise. No hours were too long for them to work, and no distance was too far for them to travel. On the day of the tragedy two aeroplanes, with club pilots at the controls, left the Rongotai Aerodrome for Hastings, and at the same time pilots, at the Wigram and Hobsonville Aerodromes were told to prepare for anyj, emergency. '■ ■ DRUGS BY AEROPI.ANE. As 'the medical supplies in Hastings were all gone, arrangements were mada in Wellington for supplies to be sent up, and on Wednesday morning two aeroplanes were loaded up and. dispatched from Kongotai. Two mora machines were also Bent from tha Wigram Aerodrome to lend assistance iv tbg stricken area. Other aeroplanes, laden with drugs,' followed at varying intervals. The two machines from Wigram were engaged in carrying supplies to isolated districts. One aeroplane, with medical supplies and a doctor on board, made a trip to Waikari (35 miles north of Napier), where blocked rivers and fallen cliff faces had cut off all Ipominunication. In several cases whero it was impossilylo to land, supplies were dropped by means of homemade parachutes. The Director .of Air Services, WingCommander Graut-Dalton, was one of the busiest men in Hawkes Bay, and. under his direction everything went smoothly. In Hastings he organised the taking over of the aerodrome on behalf of the Government, and established it as a Government aerodrome in charge of Squadron-Leader L. M. >Isittr Hapersonally supervised the whole of the arrangements, and the work was carried out in the face of great difficulties. H» was successful, however, in doing every-' thing that was aske.d of him. On ona ordinary day over 60 hours flying wers done and 40 cross-country flights made. Where required nurses were conveyed to the scene of the disaster by means of aeroplanes. The Geologist Department at Wellington have been given: a complete survey by air of all the slips throughout the district. A regular mail service was kept between Gisborne, Napier, and Hastings, and telegrams by the thousands Wei's ' dispatched all over the Dominion by liiearis of air services. ■ •■ A SMART JOURNEY. An aeroplane arrived at the Bongotai Aerodrome at 2.30 p.m.. yesterday with an urgent request from the Hastings' racecourse hospital for medical supplies.. The machine left on the return trip at 4.30 p.m., and the supplies were delivered in Hastings at 6.30 p.m. Other supplies were ordered, but were too bulky for the aeroplane to carry, so they were sent up .by motor-truck, which was.due in Hastings at about 1 o'clock this morning. ; For such a lot of flying around the aeroplanes need to bo kept in good working order, and mention must be made of the two mechanics who hayo attended to that side' of it. Messrs. ,Pellow and! Sheenan worked day and night in Hastings, doing nothing but overhaul the machines as they came in. Heading the team of pilots, who hay« performed valuable service in th'» devastated area are Squadron-Leader-M. M. M'Gregor, -Flight-Lieutenants M. W. Buckley, H. B. Burrell, G. L. Stedman, S. Wallingford, G. B. Bolt, and the late I. L. Kiglit. ' ■• . ' . ' Pilot-Oflieer C. M. Du.thic left Rongotai at 12.15 p.m. to-day with a further supply of medicine.and drugs. Tho organisation of the available flying forces, Defence and private, to meet the emergency, has proved invaluable. The ground engineers have been, kept very busy making minor repairs. The question of complete overhauls has not yet had time to become pressing, but some of the machines have been, kept hard at work. Since Tuesday.2o 'planes belonging, to the New Zealand Air Force and aero clubs have been. continuously operating between the devastated area and Auckland and Welljngton. From Wellington alone over 20 trips to Hawkes Bay with urgent medical stores, mails, and passengers have been made. The following pilots havo' been engaged in these operations: Squadron-Leaders <J.sitt, Seabrook, and M'Gregor; Flight-Lieuten-ants Buckley, Burrell, Stedman, and Somerset-Thomas; Flight - Officer Duthie; and Mr. M'Donald (civilian). These are/from the Wellington district alone. Auckland aero clubs and others have been engaged. Clubs which hays lent 'planes and pilots are: Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, Wairarapaand Marlborough. ■ '