AIR FORCE OFFICER IN BRAWL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22305, 20 January 1938, Page 12

AIR FORCE OFFICER IN BRAWL

* CHARGED WITH STRIKING SUPERIORS LONDON, January 18. Pilot Officer Frederick Robert McQuire, aged 23, of the 114 th Bomber Squadron, Royal Air Force, who stated that with a friend he flew from Australia to join up, pleaded not guilty at a court-mar-tial at Wyton aerodrome to charges of striking his superior officers. The prosecution alleged that during an inter-squadron guest night on December 9 customary mess games, including cock-fighting, in which officers lay on the floor and attempted to overturn each other with their iegs. was played. Feeling developed, and McQuire twice struck Flight Lieutenant Ash, who asked him to play fair. He also twice struck Squadron Leader Freebody, commanding the 114 th Squadron, who told McQuire to go to his room and then placed him under arrest. Squadron Leader Freebody, giving evidence, said that cock-fighting was a common custom in the three services. He ordered two of the biggest officers to guard McQuire’s room when people wanted to “beat him up.’’ McQuire stated in evidence that he had been a boxer. He apologised for striking his officers. He remembered little regarding the events, as his head got “wuzzy’’ at dinner time. The defence urged that a man of such character should not be lost to the Air Force. Sentence will be promulgated later.