AVIATION PILOT'S "TICKET."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 280, 26 November 1931, Page 7

AVIATION PILOT'S "TICKET."

GENUINENESS IN DOUBT.

COULTOX'S TERM IN GAOL,

Somo doubt exists as to the genuineness of the certificate of compctcncy for ail air pilot's license, which was found in Coulton's effects, issued in his name and bearing the srgnatiire of C6lonel Brinsmead, Controller of Civil Aviation for Australia. The license shows that it was issued on October 4, 1929. Police records reveal that Coulton was sentenced to imprisonment for two years with hard labour on fifteen charges of false pretences at Singleton, on July 24, 1929, and that he was discharged on May 5, 1930. Although he was released on license before the full term was served, it is inconceivable that he was liberated within three months of being sentenced. The certificate appears to be genuine, for it has the embossed stamp over portion of the attaclicd photograph of the holder. It may have been issued to : him even while he was in gaol, or perhaps issued and not lifted by him until his release. Whatever else he may have been .interested in, Coulton was intensely interested in aviation. His principal aim was to secure money with which to purchase an aeroplane to make a flight from England to New Zealand. He saw all pictures screened in Auckland during the past month in which aviation played a part, and attended the Civic Theatre with a friend to see the picture "The Flying Fool." Coulton, who did not go out a great deal in the day for a young man out of employment, spent much of his time reading, his favourite literature being periodicals dealing with aviation, and mystery stories. But it was aviation he preferred.