N.Z. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28013, 6 July 1956, Page 18

N.Z. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

FOURTH AIRMAN SELECTED

CORPORAL P. H. TATE, OF CHRISTCHURCH

A fourth member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force has been selected to take part in the New Zealand expedition to the Antarctic at the end of this year. He is Corporal Peter Howard Tate, aged 37. a wireless operator-mechanic stationed at Wigram.

' Corporal Tate, who has had more ' than 10 years’ service experience, will I act as second operator and electrical : mechanic with the expedition He ! joined the Royal Air Force in 1938 ; as a wireless operator, and saw service with the British Expeditionary ' Forces in France during the early days jof the war. He participated in the I evacuation of Dunkirk in May. 1940. | After completing a wireless opera-tor-mechanics’ course in England, I Corporal Tate took part in the North African landing and later in the invasion of Italy. He stayed in Italy attached to an Army-Air Force supj port control unit before going to I Jugoslavia with No. 73 Squadron. IHe was demobilised in 194:i. He owned various small businesses until December. 1952. when he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The other airmen in the Antarctic flight are Squadron Leader J. R. Clavdon. Firing Officer W. J. Cranfield. and Sergeant L. W. Tarr. They will be part of the 22-man permanent New Zealand party for the TransAntarctic Expedition. Corporal Tate will be a member of the 17-man support party with the expedition.