NEW AERODROME

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20732, 16 February 1939, Page 15

NEW AERODROME

EARLY CONSTRUCTION WORK BLENHEIM AIR SQUADRON (By Telegraph—Press Association) BLENHEIM, Wednesday. The Air Force squadron which is being established at Blenheim will be located on the Woodbourne Estate, the aerodrome embracing the field from which the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith took off in his first New Zea-land-Australia flight in 1928 and which was used by the Marlborough Aero Club for commercial air services during the period 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 the scheme for the defence of the Cook Strait zone. The decision to take the property was subsequently revoked, but in recent weeks a survey had been undertaken and the Minister's announcement was not unexpected. Tenders were invited to-day by the Public Works Department for the erection in timber of temporary 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 the Defence aerodrome, stated the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, 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 be fully adequate for reconnaissance work from Blenheim and give full protection to the central portion of New Zealand. All the machines would be fltte'd with wireless, and part of the equipment of the aerodrome would be a wireless station. The buildings to be erected comprise two hangars and annexes, workshop quarters for officers and men and a wireless building.