AIRPORT AS U.S. BASE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29697, 15 December 1961, Page 22

AIRPORT AS U.S. BASE

Gty Council Approval Approval of the base for “operation crow flight’’ being set up at the Christchurch Airport if the airport was selected was given by the City Council on Wednesday evening. Reporting that a survey team of the United States Air Force had inspected the facilities at the airport, the airport committee said other suggested sites for the operation were Melbourne, Ohakea and Auckland. A full investigation had been made of the costs and rentals and a quotation was provided by the City Engineer’s department for site preparation and sealing and for runway extensions to 9000 ft, which would be required by 1963. The cost of the extensions would be met by the United States Air Force. No decisions would be made before January or February, and this would leave only four months in which to complete work on the site, plus the construction of a hangar and associated stores buildings, the committee continued. The Civil Aviation Administration had advised that operationally the airport met ail requirements. It was expected that 150 men would be involved in the task force, approximately 50 of whom would be married and living off the station. The aircraft to be used initially comprised two Canberra bombers, one Hercules and two U2 high-alti-tude weather aircraft. “The operation, which is mainly concerned with securing samples of the upper air for fall-out analysis and the determining of weather effects at altitude, has Government support,” the committee added. Would the extension of the runway accommodate jets? Cr. H. G. Hay asked. The Mayor (Mr G. Manning) : Most likely. The airport manager (Mr A. T. R. Jamieson) had had his “selling cap’ ’on during the two days of negotiations, said the chairman of the committee (Cr. A. R. Guthrey). “We are most hopeful,” he added.