MODERN FORCE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31076, 3 June 1966, Page 10

MODERN FORCE

Praise By Air Commodore

The Royal New Zealand Air Force was growing into one of the most modern air forces in the world, said Air Commodore A. S. Agar, Air Member For Supply, at the Wigram station yesterday afternoon.

He told 17 aircrew graduates that the R.N.ZA.F. was an effective fighting force. Although the graduates had every reason to feel proud of their achievement their training had by no means ended. “You are entering an environment where advances are spectacular and rapid.” One of the greatest responsibilities was handling men said Air Commodore Agar. General Curtis Le May was given the Aerospace Award of the Year by the Air Force Association of America, not because of his achievements as head of the Air Force or as a former head of the Strategic Air Command, but for his attention to people throughout his career.

An efficient service could only be built around a loyal body of men and women, said Air Commodore Agar. He presented the following awards, trophies and brevets: The Lange Flying Trophy (for pilots). Pilot Officer T. K. Butler, the Flying Training School's Armament Trophy (for proficiency with air weapons). Pilot Officer C. P. Harris: the Astrolabe Trophy (for navigators), Pilot Officer D. White; the Sir Robert Clark-Hall Trophy, Pilot Officer L J. Rae; pilots brevets. Pilot Officers A. J. Mendes, T. K. Butler, C. P. Harris, G. T. Jackson, K. J. Wells, R. C. Andrews, B. M. Bevan, B. R. M. Moran, R. J- De Montalk, B. W. Donnelloy, Flying Officer T. K. D. Reynish, Abdullah Bin Omar and Othmau Bin Sulan (Royal Malayasian Air Force); air electronic officers* brevets, Pilot Officers I. J. Rae, N. J. McNeill and R. W. Singleton; navigators* brevet, Pilot M<«s I- M. Felsell, D. White, D. E. Geddes and G. D. Jensen.