Air Commodore Calder To Be Chief Of Air Staff

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28567, 22 April 1958, Page 14

Air Commodore Calder To Be Chief Of Air Staff

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, April 21. Air Commodore M. F. Calder will succeed Air Vice Marshal C E. Kay as Chief of the Air Staff, air officer commanding the R.N.Z.A.F., and first member of the Air Board. Announcing this today, the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) said Air Commodore Calder’s appointment would be effective from July 1. He would be promoted air vice marshal when he assumes his new appointment. Air* Commodore Calder returned to New Zealand from Malaya last December after completing a twoyear attachment with the Royal Air Force as senior air staff Officer at Air Headquarters. Malaya. He is at present assistant Chief ot the Air Staff. He was born in 1907 and was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School and Canterbury University College, where he graduated a bachelor of laws. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1931 and in July, 1939, transferred to the R.N.Z.A.F. as a squadron leader and was posted to Wigram as chief flying instructor. In July, 1941, with the rank of acting wing commander, he was appointed commanding officer ot Ohakea. In January, 1942, he was posted to the Air Department as Director of Training, a post he held until March, 1943. Air Commodore Calder saw service in the Pacific as commanding officer at the R.N.Z.A.F. station, Fiji, with the rank of acting group captain. He returned

to New Zealand in 1944, and was appointed Director of Posting* and Personal Services. His next appointment was as Air Member for Personnel. In January, 1947, he was awarded the C.B.E. In December, 1947, he began a 12 months’ course at the Imperial Defence College, Camberley and shortly after his return to New Zealand he was appointed commanding officer at Whenuapai. After a further term as Air Member for Personnel, with the rank of air commodore, he was appointed to command R.N.Z.A.F. Headquarters, London. Air Commodore Calder's next posting was to Malaya where, on exchange with the R.A.F., he was appointed senior air staff officer at headquarters. No. 224 Group. In December, 1957, he was awarded the C.B. for his service* in Malaya. Air Commodore Calder is married, with a son and a daughter.