AIR FORCE WORK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 28 October 1939, Page 8

AIR FORCE WORK

YOUNG FLYERS' PART NEW PLYMOUTH MEN TYPICAL DESCRIPTIONS A typical description of the part many young Royal Air Force men. some of them New Zealanders, are playing in the war is given by PilotOfficer A. H. Ryan, formerly of New Plymouth, in a letter to a friend in New Plymouth. Writing on September 4 from his station in Yorkshire, Pilot-Officer Ryan said: "Waiting for this war to start was monotonous, doing 24-hour duty and few patrols, but now we are settling into a routine and regular patrols and at certain times can get off the station as relaxation.

"Hubert (Pilot-Officer Hubert Keller, formerly of New Plymouth) is squadron navigation officer and is at present working in our control room. lie is an efficient navigation officer. "I was to have done the navigation course, but was recalled and now take a plane up when required, usually one hour before dawn for three to four hours and in the evening, landing after dark. I carry a navigator, a W.T. (radio) operator and a rear gunner and set sail on an easterly course to reconnoitre, shadow and report on enemy ships, sink any lhat are small enough and to sink submarines. Flying Blind “Sometimes we get clear weather but up to now it's been taking oil without lights in rain and fog. with cloud-hidden barrage balloons on one side and cloud-coverecl hills on the other and flying all the time on to' instrument panel, often not being able to see past the front of the plane. It's rather- fun to just skim along the water, but whenever possible I get height to see better. “So far I've met no hostile aircraft, but my front gun is itching to go. “I’m sorry this war was begun. Its a terrible thing to sink a whole submarine just because Hitler wants h.s way and sends them out. and I ve a fear of hitting one of our own subs. “Balloon barrages and clouds, our own searchlights and anti-aircraft guns all add to our fun and its a little exciting at times. I’ve struck an interesting job even if I don’t get much sleep at night." Life in Northern Ireland

Life at a Royal Air Force station is described in a letter written on September 6 by Flying-Officer Watson Turner from Aldergrove station. 1-1 miles from Belfast, in Northern Ire land. He had been transferred there from North Cotes, near Grimsby, cr the east coast of England, two day.-' after war began. “German submarines are all around the coast here, but our aircraft keep their movements always known, wrote Flying-Officer Turner. "Some of us went into Belfast last night, bin there were very few about. It is hard to find one's way round as every light is screened after dark. I.R.A. Terrorists "When we go into Belfast at night we have to carry loaded revolvers as a safety measure. The I.R.A. terrorists got hold of a soldier there the other evening, tore his uniform off him and then shot him dead. So we have to keep in bunches of four or five and carry guns.” Two days later Flying-Officer Turner, writing again, said that lie was acting flight-commander of the flight at the time. Things appeared fairly normal in Ireland, in which Aidergrove was the only Royal Air Force station. It was a huge station and many New Zealanders were there. He had bought himself a bicycle because the camp was so large that it took a long time to walk anywhere. "As regards the war." he concluded, “people have a firm belief that internal trouble in Germany will play ? big part in its settlement. The morale of the British people is splendid and could not be better. I think the fac' that we are fighting for somethin! really worth while, the crushing of Nazism, is the main reason.”