Mission Plane For New Guinea

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28472, 30 December 1957, Page 3

Mission Plane For New Guinea

fN.Z Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, December 28 A group of United States Air Force veterans of the South Pacific was seeking 50,000 dollars to provide a twin-engine plane for missionary work in New Guinea, the “New York Times” reported yesterday. The gift was intended as a token of appreciation to the natives of the islands who helped American airmen during World War 11. A new national group of veterans known as the South Pacific Allies and Neighbours Foundation (S.P.A.N.) had made the purchase and delivery of the aircraft its first goal, the newspaper said. A spokesman recalled’how New Guinea natives nad carried wounded flyers through the jungles to American lines—and how they had helped build runways and mad assisted in other heavy work. “To present them with the aircraft could only pay slightly for such a big debt,” he said. A national campaign had been launched to raise funds, the spokesman said. The plane would be flown over an 11,000 mile route across the Pacific by a crew of veterans, and handed over to the Missionary Aviation Fellowship for operations in New Guinea.