NEW AIR FORCE STATION

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23003, 24 April 1940, Page 8

NEW AIR FORCE STATION

ESTABLISHMENT AT HAREWOOD SIR ROBERT CLARK-HALL IN COMMAND The establishment of a new station of the Royal New Zealand Air Force at the new Harewood aerodrome, for the training of pilots, was announced by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) to “The Press” yesterday. The Minister also said that approval had been given to the appointment Of Air Marshal sir Robert, Clark-Hall, K.8.E., C.M.G., D.5.0., to the command of the H&rewood Station. Sir Robert Clark-Hall, the Minister said, Would take Up his duties at Harewood on May 15, taking the rank of Wing Commander, it had been decided that the new Station Would also be, the station for civil aeroplanes arriving at the city. In future (following the change now announced) civil flying will be transferred from Wigram to Harewood. ’♦'he Harewood aerodrome was constructed by the Christchufch City Council when it became obvious

that the development df Wigrahl as A Royal NdW Zealand Ait Force base would in the near future entail the banning of that ground for -Civil flying, At the outbreak of the war the R%\v gtdurwi yms taken, over by the defence authorities, and since then an extensive building programme has resulted, in the growth of a training establishment almost as big as Wigfam itself, Barracks and hangars have been erected, and other ancilliary buildings, Commander's Career Air Marshal Sir Robert Clark-Hall, R. 8.5., C.M.G.. D.5.0., has had a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force. He .was placed on the retired list at his own request on August 11, 1034, and left for New Zealand with his wife and family. The new commander at Harewaed began his career in the Royal Navy, He Was educated on the training ship Britannia, appointed a sublieutenant in 1902 and promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1003, His’ flying experience dates from.the Very earliest days Of development in the air, He learned to fly in a Bristol biplane on Raiisbury Plain and hiS Royal Aero Club certificate. No, 12 1 ?, is dated August 2, 1011. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in October, 1011, and two years later attaehed to the Royal Naval Air Service for armament duties. From the following July he took charge of experimental work with naval air* craft armament. Sir Robert Clark-Hall, in fact, was largely concerned with the early development of the aeroplane as a fighting machine and his experiments in 1813-1914 with a twopounder gun in the nose of a short pusher float biplane off Calshot have been described as about the most dangerous and gallant exploits in pre-war flying. On the outbreak of war Sir Robert Clark-Hall was appointed Squadron Commander R.N.A.s, in February 1019, he sailed for the Dardanelles in command Of H.M.S. Ark Royal,, a 7450-tpn steamer converted for use as an air-craft-carrier. The Ark Royal performed valuable services and was mentioned in dispatches. In December, 1915, he was promoted to the rank of commander, R.N., and Wing Commander R.N.A.s, He relumed from the Dardanelles in 1916 and next yearwas appointed to command the No, 1 Wing in France, being promoted Wing Captain, R,N,. in December,. 19T?, „ on the formation of the Royal Air .force he was given the rank of lieutenantcolonel. later in 1010, the board of Admiralty, expressing appreciation of the valuable services given by Sir Robert Clark-Hall, stated: “He has twice declined .promotion to Brigadier-Gene-ral. R.A.f,, because he considered that higher rank would impair his usefulness to the fleet, Throughput his time oh the staff of the admiral commanding aircraft, he has worked with absolute singleness of purpose for the advancement of naval flying. After the war Sir Robert Clark-Hall held a number of important posts. On August 1, 1910, his name was removed from the Navy List on appointment to a permanent commission m the Royal Air Force, with the rank of wing commander, On August 8. 1819. he was promoted to group captain andappointed to a command m Scotland, on the formation of the Royal Air Force staff college at Andover m 1922 he was appointed to 'the staff, and in January, 1922, he was promoted to Air commodore. In May. 1824, he was promoted to. the Middle Bast to command the Egyptian Group and m the following December he was,appointed Chief Staff Officer to the Middle East command. In November, 1023 he was appointed to command the Royal Air Force in the Mediterranean, in March, 1029, he Was appointed Director of Eouipment at the Air Ministry and in July, 1931, promoted to air viee-mar-shal. in October, 1931. he was appointed Air Officer Commanding Coastal Area and he was promoted to air marshal in July, 1033,