TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27733, 10 August 1955, Page 9

TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

MUSTANGS TAKEN FROM SERVICE STORAGE AT WOODBOURNE When five Mustang fighter-bombers arrived at Wigram for the Nd. 3 (Canterbury) Squadron of the Territorial Air Force in June, 1952. they replaced the Harvard trainers which had been used since the squadron was established. By the end of next week, the Mustangs will all have left the airfield and their role of week-end-flying aircraft will 'be taken over, not by jets (because Wigram cannot handle and maintain them), but by the veteran Harvards. The first of the squadron’s five Mustangs left for the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Woodbourne yesterday morning. It was piloted during its 30-minute flight by one of the flight commanders in the squadron. Flight Lieutenant K. F. Rollo. A second Mustang will be taken to Woodbourne tomorrow by the acting leader of the squadron (Flight Lieutenant J. B. Brazier), and a third will go on Friday. The other two aircraft will be flown to Woodbourne next week. As Mustangs from Wigram and the other three territorial squadrons arrive at Woodbourne, they will be put into storage. Four will be selected to go to Ohakea to be used for high-speed target towing, for air-to-air exercises With Vampire jet fighters, and for camera exercises. Two pilots of No. 3 Squadron have lost their lives when flying Mustangs-. One was killed in September. 1952, when his aircraft dived into Lyttelton harbour. The other crashed near Springston on April 23 after his aircraft had disintegrated in mid-air. In June, Mustangs in service with

territorial fighter squadrons at Auckland, WeUmgton, Christchurch, and , w ® r e grounded after a technical defect had been found in the undercarriages. The discovery was made after a Mustang undercarriage at Ha C rewo P od d dUring ’ landing run ~No. 3 Squadron is more fortunate rP an -,, e other territorial squadrons. It will not have to build up its Harvard strength, as there are 30 Harvards on the station which are normally used during the week, and can be A VJ ed du ring the week-ends. «,in? ough j the old Harvard trainers will be used for week-end flying. Territorial Air Force squadrons will be given training in Vampire aircraft during their next annual camp. Last month, the Cabinet approved the pur- - additional Vampires to enable this to be done.