ON THE WING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 69, 22 March 1915, Page 6

ON THE WING.

AVIATOR FOR THE FRONT. MR. F. E. SANDFORD IN AUCKLAND. Travelling by the steamer Niagara, en route to England, is Mr. F. E. Sandford, who will be remembered as the first aviator to achieve successful flights in Auckland. He i« proceeding from Sydney with the intention of joining the Koyal Flying Corps for service at the Front. Since he flew with confidence between Avondale and New Lynn, prior to the unfortunate wrecking of the bi-plane Which he and his partner (Mr. Miller) reconstructed. Mr. "Sandford has participated in the stirring events attaching to the capture of Rabaul. He waa one of the first to enlist with the Australian forces after the outbreak of war, and although ambitious for service as an aviator, went to New Guinea in the ranks. On returning to Sydney a week or two ago. Mr. Sandford decided to proceed to England for the purpose already indicated, and chose the Vancouver "route so that he might see his mother, who is visiting California. The young aviator by the way, is a son of Mr. William Sandford. founder of the iron industry in Australia. Speaking of what Australians are doing in the matter of aviation. a.s applied to the present crisis. Mr. Sandford said that a flying corps was operating in the Commonwealth. On their mission to German New Guinea, tbe Expeditionary Force took an aeroplane, in charge of Captain (Harrison, an officer who had learned the art of flying in England. It was not found necessary, however, to unpack the machine. The well-known Australian aviators. Pickles and Hawker were on active service, the former being j I attached to th e naval wing of the Royal

Flying Corps. Ouillftux. the noted ; French aviator, who was flying in AusI tralia when war was declared, had already joined the French Firing Corp. Mr. Sandford expressed the hop 0 that Ihe would soon he at the Front, and "an Ltha. Tiag," _