COMMAND OF NAVY JET SQUADRON

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27688, 18 June 1955, Page 9

COMMAND OF NAVY JET SQUADRON

Christchurch Man’s Appointment (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 15. A Christchurch man has been appointed to command the Royal Navy’s latest all-weather jet fighter squadron. He is Lieutenant-Commander M. H. J. Petrie, formerly of Wairakei road, who was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Navy in 1949. The new squadron, No. 892, will be formed at Yeovilton (Somersetshire) early next month. It will fly Sea Venoms. Lieutenant-Commander Petrie was born at Greymouth and educated at St. Andrew’s College, Christchurch. In World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Volunteer Reserve with the Fleet Air Arm. Recently he has been attached to the Directorate of Air Training at the Admiralty. Before that, he did a spell of duty in the United States, flying new American jet aircraft. Aged 33, he married in London and has two young daughters, including a baby born last week. Mrs E. N. Petrie, of 83 Wairakei road, heard from her son some time ago of the likelihood of this appointment. There is not much chance that Lieutenant-Commander Petrie will return to New Zealand in the near future, as there is no scope for the carrier work in which he is especially trained. Before the war he was on the staff of the Bank of New South Wales. Christchurch.