AIR FORCE DAY AT WIGRAM

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27914, 10 March 1956, Page 2

AIR FORCE DAY AT WIGRAM

CROWD OF 30,000 EXPECTED FLYING DISPLAY FOR 90 MINUTES The Minister in charge of Civil Aviation (Mr T. P. Shand), the Chief of Naval Staff (Rear-Admiral J. E. H. Mcßeath) and nearly 200 official guests, incuding diplomatic and service representatives of many Commonwealth and foreign countries, will be present to inspect the Royal New Zealand Air Force station. Wigram. today when Air Force Day celebrations will be held. The station will be opened to visitors at 10.0 a.m.. 15 minutes after the special buses leave Worcester street for Wigram. An attendance of 30,000 is expected. The station has made extensive arrangements for the supply of hot water, ice-cream and other refreshments for picnickers. Trains from the south will stop at Sockburn for passengers wishing to go to Wigram. The Transport Department has asked that motorists should comply with all directions given by traffic officers and air force patrols. The department's chief patrol officer in Christchurch (Mr W. J. Tait) said yesterday that compliance would mean easier and quicker entry and exit at the beginning and end of the display. A flying programme will start at 2.30 p.m. and will last for an hour and a half. The programme is as follows: Formation aerobatics by Vampire aircraft of No. 75 Squadron; supply dropping by a freighter of No. 41 Squadron: handling display of a Devon; formation flying by Flying Training School Harvards and “Aerobatics on Request’’ of small boys; demonstration by a Sunderland flying boat: exhibition of flying by R.A.A.F. Canberra: general handling by Bristol freighter of No. 42 Squadron: Delivery by air of anti-aircraft unit: paratroop drop from an R.A.A.F. Valetta; dive-bombing attack on antiaircraft units by Harvards: formation aerobatics by Central Flying School Harvards: flying display by R.A.A.F. Canberra; a R.A.A.F. Neptune demonstration of flying characteristics; high speed runs and aerobatics by Vampire.