RESCUE FLIGHT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 236, 6 October 1942, Page 4

RESCUE FLIGHT

DOMINION AIRMEN

AUCKLAND COMMANDER

N'.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent. Western Desert Aerodrome, Oct. 5.

A New Zealand Squadron-Leader has with him several of his countrymen in an air and sea rescue flight, which undertakes the location and rescue of plane crews from the sea and land. The commander is Squad-ron-Leader S. W. R. Hughes. 0.8. E., who was formerly on the literary staff of the New Zealand Herald, Auckland, and a large proportion of the navigators are New Zolanders.

Skilful navigation of tl.j longrange machines which are employed, is the essence of successful operations. The locating of missing crews is no easy task, particularly as there is often only the vaguest knowledge of their whereabouts, and the searches frequently take the rescuers into enemy territory—dangerous work in daylight for long-range planes.

During the comparatively short time of its existence, the Flight has rescued 118 men, representing a hundred calls. On one occasion four men in dinghies who were rescued, were found to be the crew of a German plane which had bombed the Flight's aerodrame the previous night.

During his air force experience Squadron Leader Hughes has flown more than 20 different types of planes, one of them now being a Fairchild amphibian, formerly the property of Gar Wood, the American motor-boat racer. It was purchased by several American organisations, and presented to the air force. The machine still contains elegant blue cushions, a wash-room and many elaborate fittings.

Eyes of the Navy

Several New Zealanders are engaged on reconnaissance work with a nearby squadron known as "the eyes of the navy." Theirs is a specialist job, requiring, anion other things, a knowledge of different types of warships. They must be able to distinguish, say, a 12in from a 15in gun ship, or a 6in from an Sin gun ship, so that the navy will know the strength of the opposition. The squadron also reports tne positions of enemy convoys in the Mediterranean.

Wearing a New Zealand peaked hat the day I visited the squadron was Sergeant T. E. Armstrong, of Akaroa. who came to the Middle East nearly two years ago, and has been on reconnaissance work for about twelve months.

"It pleases us when we can get our people among those enemy convoys carrying stuff to kill our cobbers," he said. Sergeant Armstrong has been on desert stations during the whole of his time in the Middle East, and has carried out*6s operational flights as a navigator. He has a brother in the New Zealand Artillery here, Gunner R. W. Armstrong. Another brother. Corporal I. D. Armstrong, was killed during the present campaign.