N.Z. AIRMEN’S MEMORIAL

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28473, 31 December 1957, Page 8

N.Z. AIRMEN’S MEMORIAL

£2500 Raised By Appeal

WELLINGTON, December 30. A Dominion-wide appeal tot £2500 to install a national memorial to 4149 Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel who died while serving in Commonwealth air forces during the Second World War has been filled. The Dominion secretary of the Air League (Group Captain C. C N. Johnston) said today that more than £5OO bad been subscribed by serving members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Centres from which subscriptions of more than £'loo were received were Auckland ■ (£300). Dunedin (£265). Wellington (£245). Napier (£170), Invercargill (£150), Christchurch (£150) Timaru (£115), and New Plymouth (£115). Two 20-foot stained glass windows will be the main feature of the memorial which will be installed in the Anglican Cathedral at present under construction in Wellington. One of the windows will contain the figure of St Mark, the patron saint of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, against a background depicting the tropical activities of the service in the South-West Pacific. It will also incorporate two symbolic figures—a pilot in flying suit and an airman in tropical uniform. The second window will contain the figure of St. Michael, the patron saint of the Royal Air Force. The New Zealanders’ activities with the Royal Air Force will provide the motif and there will be two supporting figures—one in a flying suit and the other in battledress. A’silk Royal New Zealand Air Force r ensign and an encased vellum book will complete the memorial.