NOTABLE AVIATOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 October 1941, Page 6

NOTABLE AVIATOR

NOW SERVING IN EGYPT. ADVENTURES WITH KINGSFORD SMITH. (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service). CAIRO, September 6. There is an interesting link with the adventures of the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in the early flying history of a New Zealand sergeant who for the past few months has been engaged in piloting a reconnaissance plane for desert patrols. It is • also closely related to that period in New Zealand’s aviation progress, from 1930 bnwards, when people of the Dominion were rapidly becoming more air-mind-ed, encouraged by the endeavours of groups of enthusiasts scattered throughout the country.

A popular member of a well-known Timaru family, the sergeant concerned was accepted ill 1930 for a shortservice commission with the Royal Air Force, and proceeded to England. There, he was rejected on medical grounds, and be returned to New Zealand. From 1932 to 1934 he was associated with Wing-Commander “Tiny” White, and together they built up a fleet of five Spartans, reconstructed from crashed machines, and converted from two to three-seaters. These they used for flying passengers on joy-rides, which at ’ that time was a novel and growingly popular form of amusement.

It was then that Wing Commander White left the Dominion to work with Kingsford Smith, who was experimenting with a Codoc machine in conjunction with Wing Commander Wackett with the idea of establishing a trans-Tasman airmail service. The machine proved a failure, and White came back to New Zealand. On the last occasion that the Southern Cross flew to New Zealand, Kings' ford Smith made an extended torn’ of the Dominion, with his famous machine, and it was during this time that the young Timaru pilot contacted him and was given the position of as-sistant-pilot. This position he held until “Smithy” returned to Australia. After that he gave up serious flying, until war broke out, when he applied to join the air force. Offered a post as an instructor, he decided against it and joined the Army instead in hopes of more chance of action, arriving in the Middle East as a private. His extensive knowledge of flying led to his being posted to his present duties, on Work in which the fathomless and uncertain hazards of the desert are sufficient excitement for one normal man’s lifetime.