DIRECTOR RESIGNS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 81, 2 October 1931, Page 9

DIRECTOR RESIGNS

SQUADRON-LEADER WILKES

TO SUCCEED

Wing-Commaiider Grant-Dalton has relinquished his position- as Director of Air Services in New Zealand, and will remain in the Dominion for some months before returning to England.

It is understood that Cabinet decided last night that Squadron-Leader T. M. Wilkes, who previously occupied the office of Director of Air Services, shall succeed Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton.

Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton, D.5.0., arrived in New Zealand two years ago, and immediately on his arrival commenced to organise tho Dominion's air services, during which he paid special attention to aero clubs in all the. principal centres. He was educated at Uppingham and Sandhurst, and received a commission in the Yorkshire Regiment at the age of 20. During the intervening years he has served in Cyprus, Egypt, Khartoum, and India, and. was adjutant of the Fifth Battalion when he was wounded at Ypres, in April, 1915. He then transfered to the Royal Plying Corps, and qualified as a pilot in January, 1916, going to Egypt, where he was eventually severely wounded and lost a leg. Besides gaining mention in dispatches, he.was awarded *he Distinguished Service Order and a bar, the Air Force Cross, and the Order of the Nile, an Egyptian decoration. After the war he commanded the 64th Naval wing in the Middle East, and in 1920 was promoted to the command of the headquarters of the Palestine -Group, later holding many important appointments, including the-command of the Armament and Gunnery School at Eastchurch, Kent. •' _ Squadron-Leader Wilkcs, M.C., is one of the best known airmen in New Zealand, and has been closely associated' with' aviation in' the Dominion since its inception1 shortly after the war ended. Prior to that, in 1916,, he was a brigade major with the 2nd Infantry Brigade. The following year he became employed with the Boyal Air Force and remained with them from September-of that year Until June, 1918. After holding a number of staff appointments, both in France and New, Zealand,, he was appointed xifficer comanding the special expedition to Fiji in 1920. He again became connected with aviation in July, 1920, when he. was made General Staff Officer for Air Services and Secretary to the. Air Board. At the be : sinning of 1924 he was Staff. Officer, Air Services, and in 1925 Director of Air Servibes, a post which he vacated to take up the position as .liaison.,-offi-cer at London in: 1929. •.While, there h & did particularly :. good. work, and his recall when, the; office was shut up; as an economy. measure. was regr.ette.tt by all with whom,he was associated; especially that large family of young New Zealanders holding short-term commissions in the Boyal Air Force.