ADMIRAL PRESENTS BREVETS TO AIRMEN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 14

ADMIRAL PRESENTS BREVETS TO AIRMEN

Twenty-one officers and airmen who graduated from aircrew and flight engineers’ courses at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wigram, received their brevets yesterday from the commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force (Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy) at a special graduating parade. For a naval officer to be the reviewing officer at a parade of Air Force graduates was a signal honour, said Admiral Reedy. Thirty years ago he had himself stood on a parade ground awaiting his commissioning, he said. At the time, Congress was economising, and because of this only half the class graduated as commissioned officers into the Navy. “I was not among them. But with 32 others in the same position we all enlisted as flying cadets with the Army Air Corps. Twelve of us finished the course,” he said. It was then that the Navy came to life and offered the prodigals opportunity for service. Since that time, Admiral Reedy said he had enjoyed a wonderful career. Of all his various commands and appointments he described the Antarctic assignment as the most thrilling and challenging of all.

He urged the graduating pilots always to do their responsible best, because they would then be reflecting the trust, respect, and hope of the people of New Zealand, who were the sponsors of the armed services. Although the graduates had reached the end of one phase the next would be far more challenging, he said. Admiral Reedy presented brevets to the following:— No. 39 aircrew course.— Pilot Officers T. Parameswaran (Royal Malaysian Air Force), P. A. Sherson (distinguished pass), B. J. Mitchell (distinguished pass), R. J. Denniston, R. J. Metcalfe, P. B. Dawson, W. A. Waterhouse, D. S. Lloyd, N. G. Osborne, U. J. Sobiecki, G. W. Hutchinson, and S. J. Cotton, Sergeants L. D. Edgar (distinguished pass), G. S. Auld, M. D. Domigan, E. W. Plank and R. N. Flatt. No. 15 flight engineers’ course.—Sergeants D. T. Roseingrave (distinguished pass), M. J. Rutherford, I. G. Papps, J. A. Peacock. Pilot Officer Mitchell was awarded the de Lange Flying Trophy (for the highest aggregate of marks in flying). The Astrolabe Trophy (for the highest aggregate in practical navigation) was awarded to Pilot Officer Sherson, and the Sir Robert Clarke-Hall Trophy to the signaller with the highest marks on the course was won by Sergeant Edgar.