NEW AIR CHIEF

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 January 1939, Page 7

NEW AIR CHIEF

GREAT WAR RECORD. WING-COMMANDER SAUNDERS. Wing-Commander Hugh W. L. Saunders, who will succeed Group-Captain the Hon R. A. Cochrane as Chief of the Air Staff of New Zealand next month, is a South African with a brilliant record. In addition to the 1914-15 Star and the British and Victory War Medals, his decorations include the Military Medal, the Military Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, and the General Service Medal with the Irak Clasp. The Military Medal was won for bravery in the field before he joined the Royal Air Force. The Military Cross was “for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.” He destroyed five enemy machines, and shot down four out of control. Dispatches said: “He showed great courage and skill in engaging enemy craft, and did splendid service.”

When he was awarded the 'D.F.C. dispatches said of him: “An officer of exceptional courage, who, since he was awarded the M.C., has destroyed five enemy aircraft and shot down two balloons in flames. While on patrol he observed a formation of seven hostile scouts below him. Diving to attack, he engaged the leader, and, firing short bursts at close range, shot him down nose foremost; the remainder of the formation scattered in all directions.” The Bar to the D.F.C. was awarded “for gallantry and unflinching example on all occasions, especially during the operations around Samawah, where he descended to very low altitudes to drop food and supplies on the garrison at Samawah and the gunboat Greenfly. This officer’s machine has been put out of action by hostile fire on several occasions.” Born in Johannesburg 44 years ago, he was educated at the Marist Brothers’ College, and in the four years before the war he studied gold mining. Three weeks after the outbreak of hostilities he joined up as a private in the 10th Witwatersrand Rifles, later becoming a sapper in the South African Engineering Corps. In 1916 he was transferred to the South African Horse, and from December, 1917, until the end of the war he served with the R.F.C. and the R.A.F. ,in France. He received a permanent commission to the Royal Air Force as a flying officer in August, 1919. The following year Wing-Command-er Saunders spent in Egypt, and in 1920 was sent to Irak for three years. During that period, in 1921, he was promoted to flight-lieutenant. Work at headquarters and at the Air Ministry followed, and, in 1929, he became squadron-leader, after taking a staff course at the R.A.F. Staff College. In 1932 he was appointed to the command of No. 45 (B) Squadron of the Middle East in Egypt. On returning to England after three years he was promoted to wing-commander.