NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23973, 14 June 1943, Page 6

NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS

BOMBER’S DOMINION [ TOUR I TWO THOUSAND MILES j IN 12 HOURS j When the Avro Lancrster bomber landed at Ohakea yesterday afternoon - and completed the first instalment of i its tour of New Zealand, it had flown - ; close on 2000 miles in slightly more i' than 12 hours. On Saturday it went 11 north almost to Taumarunui, and yesr j terday it went as far south as Inver- : i cargill. In between it visited almost ; 1 every town of any size in the South 1 1 Island and the southern half of the . North Island, I On Saturday the Lancaster was In j the air Lorn D a.m. to 4 p.m„ and made I only two landings—at Blenheim and 1 Wigram. From Ohakea it flew up the west coast of the North Island, passing over Marton, the Maori settlement at Katana, Wangailui, Patea, Hawera, Eltham. Stratford, Inglewood. New Plymouth, Waitara, and then back over almost the same route to Feilding and Palmerston North. The Lancaster ran into rough weather with low clouds on the hill., near Taumarunui, so the capI tain decided to turn back, and the bomber flew round Mount Egmonf and down the coast again. The activities of R.A.F. bomber pilots early in the war were recalled when the Lancaster passed over Palmerston North and staged a leaflet raid. Each leaflet carried a picture of a Lancaster bomber, and an appeal to citizens to invest in the Liberty Loan. From what the crew could see from the air. the raid was quite successful. From Palmerston North, the Lancaster flew south over the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts, visiting Woodville, Pahiatua, Eketahuna, Masterton, Carterton. Greytown, and Featherston. Most of the time the aircraft cruised at a speed in the vicinity of 200 miles an hour and flew low enough to give the crowds below a good view. Every tail building in Wellington was black with people when the Lancaster arrived, and the . streets were crowded, while there were people at th > windows of all the houses on the heights. The Lancaster spent some time over Wellington, and then headed across Cook Strait for Blenheim, where a stop was made for lunch. Leaving Blenheim at 2.35 p.m., the Lancaster flew down the coast to Kaikoura. and then carried on to Parnassus, Waikari, Culverden, Amberley Rangiora, and Kaiapoi. Each town had a good view of the bomber as it circled over, and then turned south again. From Kaiapoi the Lancaster came straight in to Christchurch, landing at Wigram just before 4 p.m. Soon after 9 a.m. yesterday the Lancaster took off to cover the rest of the South Island. It circled over Christchurch and Lyttelton, and then flew ; on over Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, and south to Dunedin and Invercargill. Then it turned north to fly over Lums- : den and Queenstown, and cross the island to strike the west coast at lone- - ly Jackson’s Bay. Flying up the West Coast, it passed over Hokitika. Grey- , mouth, Westport, and then went on to ' Karamea, Takaka, Nelson, Wellington. < and back to Ohakea. To-day the Lancaster will comolcte - its tour by flying over the rest of the North Island.