DEFENCE AERODROME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 February 1939, Page 5

DEFENCE AERODROME

SITE IN MARLBOROUGH ACQUIRED HEADQUARTERS OF SQUADRON. PROTECTION OF COOK STRAIT ZONE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, This Day. The Air Force squadron which is being established in Blenheim will be located at the Woodbourne Estate Aerodrome, embracing the field from which the late Sir C. Kingsford Smith took off in his first New Zealand-Australia flight in 1928, and which was used by the Marlborough Aero Club commercial air services during the period in which the Blenheim Civil Aerodrome was undergoing reconstruction. The decision to use Woodbourne constitutes a reversion to the former plan of the Government to resume the area for the purpose of an air station in a scheme for the defence of the Cook Strait zone. The decision to take the property was subsequently revoked, but in recent weeks a survey has been undertaken and the Minister’s announcement is not unexpected. Tenders were invited today by the Public Works Department for the erection in timber of temporary hangars and annexes at Woodbourne. Once negotiations for taking over Woodbourne have been completed no time will be lost in grading and draining the area for the construction of a defence aerodrome, stated the Minister for Defence (the Hon F. Jones) when he was interviewed by telephone yesterday afternoon. The Minister added that the machines with which the squadron would be equipped were on order. They would have a wide range and would be fully adequate for reconnaissance work from Blenheim and would give full protection to the central portion of New Zealand. All the machines will be fitted with wireless. Buildings to be erected' comprise two hangars and annexes, a workshop, quarters for officers and men and a wireless building.