AUSTRIAN PILOTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20102, 23 November 1939, Page 6

AUSTRIAN PILOTS

REFUGE IN AUSTRALIA

FOUND WEEDING LETTUCE SYDNEY. Nov. 0. Messr, Paul Kroath and Rudolf Kadlotz, the refugees, who claim to have flown German Messerschmitt lighters and bombing aircraft as members of the Austrian Air Force, and who wish to join the Royal Australian Air Force, were found yesterday on Barclay Farm, Carlingford, where they have been employed weeding lettuce beds. Their application to join the R.A.A.F. was sent to the Air Board. Melbourne, and they were requested yesterday to report to the recruiting depot, Harris Street, Ultimo, to-day. Mr. Kadlotz has been living for 10 years, and served for four years with the Austrian Air Force. He was a pilot with the German Lufthansa, and flew twin and three-engined Junkers airliners from Berlin to Vienna, Budapest, Venice, Rome, Zurich and Paris. (His log book shows that he has flown a total of 800,000 kilometres. Mr. Kroath was in the Austrian Air Force for two years. He has flown 400,000 kilometres. “The Messerschmitt fighters are extremely manoeuvrable, despite reports to the contrary." said Mr.

Kroath. “I have flown them. It is I a very good type. The engine is j most reliable. “The guns for German aircraft are supplied by the Steyr (Austria), Krupp (Germany), and Soloturn (Switzerland) factories. I have never seen a cannon mounted on any j German aircraft. The ammunition for German aircraft machine-guns is ] of the same calibre as that used for | infantry rifles. "Germany has more pilots than aircraft," he added. “The pilots are very well trained. They join the Air Force between the ages of 17 and 18. They do their initial flying iri Junkers types, and more advanced training in obsolete military aircraft.” Both airmen said tlmt they resigned their commissions when Austria was taken over by Germany. They left because, like thousands of others, they resented tlie German occupation.