NOTABLE R.A.F. OFFICER

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 6

NOTABLE R.A.F. OFFICER

CHRISTCHURCH VISIT THIS MONTH

AIR COMMODORE SYDNEY SMITH

A distinguished Royal Air Force officer who has served in many parts of the world. Air Commodore Sydney Smith, C.8.E., will visit Christchurch for four days this montji. During his stay in the city, Air Commodore Smith will be the guest of honour at a meeting sponsored toy the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Macfafflane, M.P.) to form a Christchurch branch of the newljja formed New Zealand Air League.

Air Commodore Smith arrives on June 22 and will leave on June 26.

Five Christchurch members of the interim committee of the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Air League are convening the public meeting to form a Christchurch branch. They are Messrs C. H. Taylor. H. Stuart. H. D. Christie, A. C. Perry, and Sir Joseph Ward. The Christchurch branch will probably be formed before the rules governing the New Zealand league are approved. The inaugural meeting will be held on June 22.

Air Commodore Smith, who is 67. was educated at Oundle, England, and joined the Army in 1913. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in 1914, and served in the permanent command in Egypt and Iraq during the First World War.

From 1919 to 1924, Air Commodore Smith was a member of the staff of the R.A.F. College at Camberley. and from 1924 to 1925 was Director of Organisation for the Air Ministry. For the next two years, he was in command of the R.A.F. station at Mount Batten.

From 1933 to 1937, Air Commodore Smith was Air Officer Commanding Far East Command, and in 1938 he became A.O.C. of No. 1 Bomber Group. R.A.F. In 1939 his position was senior air staff officer for Pomber Command, and from 1940 to 1942 he was A.O.C. of No. 33 Bomber Group. Until 1946. he was commodore of the North-east Command Air Training Corps.