Mr J. J. Busch, Manager, Dies

Press, Volume C, Issue 29587, 9 August 1961, Page 8

Mr J. J. Busch, Manager, Dies

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 8, i Mr J. J. Buscfc, general manager of the National Airways Corporation, died in Wellington last evening. He had a fine record in both civil and military aviation and was an able administrator. Although Mr Busch had been in poor health for some time, after a serious illness last year, his death was une spec ted. Yesterday he presided over a conference of senior executives of the corporation and died soon, after returning to his home. He ; was 56. | His interest in aviation dated from 1929. when he ‘ was a trainee pilot* of the

Canterbury Aero Club, of which he' was later captain and chief instructor, taking passengers to all parts of New Zealand before scheduled airlines were established. In 1938 he joined Union Airways of New Zealand, Ltd., and became divisional senior pilot at Palmerston North. On the outbreak of war in 1939 he became chief instructor, RN.Z.A.F., at Ohakea. < Pacific Commands After a tour of duty in Australia, Mr Busch commanded No. 2 General Reconnaisance Squadron and held various station and squadron commands in the Pacific. Returning from Guadalcanal in 1943. he was commanding officer, Ardmore,

but went back to the Pacific the next year as senior air staff officer of the New Zealand Air Trsk Force. He was awarded the 0.8. E. and mentioned in dispatches. After the war, Mr Busch resumed airline flying with Union Airways, and became assistant operations manager until his selection as heed of the executive staff, in January, 1953. He had recently returned from an extensive tour overseas studying airline development. Mr Busch is survived by his wife and a son ana daughter.