AVIATION IN THE DOMINION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1957, 27 March 1919, Page 1

AVIATION IN THE DOMINION.

ADVISER TO GOVERNMENT,

COL. BETTINGTON’S CAREER

The recently-arrived Aeronautical Adviser to the New Zealand Government, 'Lieutenant-Colonel Peru Bcttington, C.M.G., R.A.E., is an Englishman, a great traveller, 38 years of age. His first experience of active service was with the Imperial Light Horse in the South Af - rican War, when he received the Queen’s and King’s Medtlls with clasps. In the six montH’s Zulu Rebellion of 1900 he served with a composite Mounted Rifles Regiment from- the Transvaal, and was appointed to command a force of raw levies totalling about 1;100. Returning to England in 1910, ho turned his attention to aviation in 1912, wishing to serve with thq Royal Plying Corps when hostilities commenced. At the request of Brir gadier-Genera! Seely, then Secretary of State for War, he attended a conference at the House of Commons for the formation of the Royal Flying Corps. On the outbreak of the world war Colonel Bcttington joined the Royal Plying Corps at the Central Plying School, Salisbury Plain, underwent a three months’ course of instruction in practical aviation and theory of flight, photography, wireless, and aeronautical engineering. He then left for France, remaining there for practically the whole war, with the exception of a period of six months, when ha commanded the air station at Dover. Serving as a Hying officer, (light commander, and squadron commander, he participated as a

combatant in all tin work of the Air Service. Colonel Bcttington also acted us Depot Commander, bis duties including the supervision of the r; construction of machines of all types then in use, and all experiments made in Prance. Just before

the armistice was signed he was appointed “Q” (Chief Quartermaster), Independent Air Force in France, which was engaged in carrying out lengthy bombing raids into Germany, .out nad just completed its arrangements for raiding Berlin three days before the armistice was signed. Colonel Bettington was then appointed staff officer, Hrst-class, to the Air Ministry, and in response to a request from (he New Zealand Government, hs was nominated hy the Air Ministry as Aeronautical Adviser to New Zealand, and accepting the appointment has come out here.

Colonel Bettington, who is to advise the Government on all aeronautical matters, naval, military and civil, will probably ho in New Zealand for some months. Major A. de B. Brandon, D. 8.0., M.C., R.A.F., formerly of Wellington, is officially associated with Colonel Bettington in his mission. Colonel Bettington had two brothers killed in the Royal Flying Corps.