TEST PILOTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 44, 1 December 1945, Page 3

TEST PILOTS

NEW ZEALANDERS ENGAGED LONDON, Nov. 30. Now a test pilot w T ith Hawker Aiicraft Ltd., Squadron Leader Frank Murphy, D.F.C., of Wellington, formerly of 486 (New Zealand) Tempest Squadron is leaving England shortly for India. He Will spend some tour months there testing the company s fighter aircraft. Squadron Leader Murphy is one ot the several New Zealanders who timing the war were seconded, while on rest periods between operational tours, as test pilots. Many of them were from the same New Zealand squadron and included Squadron Leaders A. E. Umbers (Dunedin), H. N. Sweetman (Auckland), Flight Lieutenants N. McCaw (Kurow), F. Fittall (Taumarunui)' and R. J. Dali (Christchurch), all of whom were decorated. Squadron Leader Umbers and Flight Lieutenant Dali were later killed on .operations. The pilots tested the new fighters as they came off the production line and checked them for serviceability, before they were handed over to the R.A.F. Flight Lieutenants McCaw, Fittall and Dali did much of the experimental work on the Napier Sabre engine. This often involved flying the aircraft until the 'engine developed faults, which were then rectified. Squadron Leader Murnhv, who did the same type of work, more recently was engaged in developmental and experimental work on new types; not yet in production, including the latest fighter, the Hawker Fury. ' Another New Zealander wlm also ended the war as a test pilot is Wing Commander T. B. Fitzgerald, D.F.C., of Temuka. Squadron Leader J. Starky of Auckland was a test pilot on multiengined aircraft.