WINGS CEREMONY AT WIGRAM

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24581, 1 June 1945, Page 4

WINGS CEREMONY AT WIGRAM

♦ REFERENCE TO WAR IN PACIFIC GROUP CAPTAIN NICHOLLS’S COMMENTS The- part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the war against Japan was referred to hy Group Captain G. A. Nicholls at a wings presentation ceremony at Wigram yesterday. He said the end of the European war did not have any immediate or material effect on the present organisation. As long as Government policy provided for participation in the Japanese war the Air Force organisation would need to be maintained at a substantial level. Groilp Captain Nicholls said that, as training tapered off. there would be some reorganisation of training stations, but Wigram, as a permanent Air Force training station, would remain and would probably absorb other phases of training. • The Royal New Zealand Air Force was at present the only air power between the Japanese stronghold of Rabaul, where there were still a few serviceable aircraft, and New Zealand. The Royal New Zealand Air Force had the record of being the only force which had been actively engaged in the Pacific war from the very beginning until now. Group Captain Nicholls said the position in the Pacific was under control, but, as the Americans had found to their cost on Tarawa, Leyte, Iwo Jiraa, and now on Okinawa, there was hard and bitter fighting ahead. The end of the Japanese war was of particular importance to New Zealand, -because it was the Japanese Empire which had been the direct threat to New Zealand. New Zealand had a substantial part to play in the final phases. Training efficiency must be maintained and fighting spirit must be as keen as ever. The harder the work that was put into it. the greater's would be the chance of shortening the war. Group Captain Nicholls presented wings to the following: Corporal" R. J. Murray, Leading Aircraftmen J. R. Nicholls, A. D. Blain, R. E. Cheal, R, H. Coombe, D, M. Dallison, J. V. Evans, N. C Forbes, C. L. Hickey, D. S. Hoggard, G. Hurst, S. F. Jones, D. S. Julian, D. B. Lester, D. I. McCormick, H. C. McCraith, K. D. Macfarlane, J. L. Nielsen, J. A. F. Ramm, G. D. Rice, A. M Richards, J. M. Rodger, A. Smith, L. A. Shepherd, T. D. Stewart, P. J. Watson, H. T. Williams, M. C. Williams, R. K. Wood, J. H. B. Worgan, R. A. Wright, and C. M; Pharazyn. Winners of trophies were: honours student, Leading Aircraftman Nicholls; air to air firing, Leading Aircraftman Worgan; air to ground firing. Leading Aircraftman Hurst; medium steep glide bombing, Leading Aircraftman McCraith; low level bombing. Leading Aircraftman Wood.