CONTROL OFFICER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 102, 1 May 1940, Page 6

CONTROL OFFICER

FOR T ASM AN FLIGHT. 10-YEAR R.A.F. CAREER. FLIGHT-LIEUT. G. R. CAN A VAN. An important part in yesterday s inaugural transtasman flight of the 1H ing boat Aotearoa was played by Flight-j Lieutenant G. R. Canavan, Government control officer for the port of Auckland. He had control of the boat for half the journey, and another control officer at Rose Bay took over GOO miles out. Flight-Lieutenant Canavan hod an outstanding career of over 10 years in the Royal Air Force. Born in Wellington, educated at the Southland Boys' High School, he went to England first in 19.10 and entered a flying training school at Grantham, Lincolnshire, where he obtained a "distinguished pass." From there he was posted to No. 09 Xiglit Bombing Squadron, at Upper Heyford, near Oxford. His first connection with the fiving boat side of the service came in 1932. He took a flying boat pilot's course and was posted to the No. 201 Flying Boat Squadron at Calshot, which is opposite Cowes, in Southampton Water. Prominent Yachtsman. At Calshot Flight-Lieutenant Canavan became actively interested in yachting and was appointed secretary of the Royal Air Force Yacht Club and to the committee of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, which is responsible for the running <-f one of the hardest ocean races in the world —the 025 miles event from Fast net Rock, south of Ireland, to Lowes anil back to Plymouth, held every two years. In the 1935 event Flight-Lieutenant Canavan l>ecaiiic the only New Zealander to sail his own boat in the event. His craft, the ex-12-metre boat Ennneline, finished seventh in a field of 20 boats, which included the noted United States bout Stormy Weather, owned by Mr. Philip Le Boutlier. Ennneline had a history, as one of her previous owners before Flight-Lieutenant Canavan was Queen Wilhelmina of Holland. When at Calshot, too. he won the Snssoon trophy for an Air Force round the Isle of Wight race of between 50 to 00 miles. Knew Lawrence of Arabia. One of the men whom he knew at Calshot was "Aircraftsman Shaw," otharwise Lawrence of Arabia. He recalls that those in the service were a-ware of his identity, but it was never made public. At the time Lawrence was engaged in research work" connected with high-s|>eed marine craft. After being granted a permanent commission, Flight-Lieutenant Canavan was in 1930 attached to the Royal Navy for a six months' course in naval co-opera-tion. He also acted as ship's adjutant in the R.A.F. troopship which makes a three-months' trip each year to Basra. India and lwck and transports R.A.F. personnel to and fro.

His next post was at a flying boat squadron at Pembroke Dock, Wales, and while there the crew of which lip. was captain won the Sassoon Trophy for photography. This was the first and only time on which a flying boat crew lias been successful. After a jieriod in Singajmre, FliglitLicutcnant Cauavan was posted back to hngland owing to ill-health, and two years ago was posted as a chief ground instructor at a school in Wiltshire, gliding a decision of the Air Council on the question of his retirement owing to illhealth. In 1030 Flight-Lieutenant Canavan was married in London to Miss Barbara Kent, of Holland Park, London, and thev have a small daughter. Eventually lie was retired, and then ]m received the appointment of control officer at Auckland, a post he has filled since October of last year. Flight - Lieutenant Canavan's wealth of experience in flying boat control will be a great factor in the successful operation of tho transtasinan flying boat service.