Unveiling ceremony at Wigram

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 8

Unveiling ceremony at Wigram

The unveiling of a Harvard aircraft on an obelisk outside the main gates at Wigram yesterday morning by the Chief of Air Staff (Air Vice-Marshal D. F. St George) recalled that 50 years ago to the day the foundations were laid of military aviation in New Zealand.

The erection of the Harvard also acknowledged the! efforts and endeavours of the| i pioneers of New Zealand aviation. It would stand, said Air Vice-Marshal St George, as an enduring tribute to the members of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force. “As a feature of the Christchurch landscape, I trust that it will also be recognised by : the citzens of this city and | identified with the contribution aviation has made in the history and progress of Canterbury,” said Air Vice-Mar-shal St George. ( For the 15-minute unveiling land dedication ceremony, the 1100 or so official guests I sheltered from the rain in a large tent—so that only the quarter guard, the Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Chief of Air Staff, his escorting officers, and the base chaplains got wet. There was a fly-past by" eight Harvards. Present for the occasion were six men who at one time or another had commanded the Wigram base.,

Heading these was Sir Leonard Isitt. who is now 83. He was in. command of Wigram from 1923 to 1926, and later became a Chief of Air Staff. The other former commanders present were Group Captain F. R. Dix, Air Commodore S. G. Quill, Air Commodore E. C. Gartrell, Wing Commander R. A. Mackinder, and Group Captain T. A. McL. Morgan. In the No. 1 mess after the unveiling ceremony, the Chief of Air Staff presented Sir Leonard Isitt (“the man who started this whole thing off years ago”) with a piece of greenstone on which were affixed the wings of an R.N.Z.A.F. pilot in gold plate. It was, said Air Vice-Mar-shal St George, a small token of the esteem with which Sir Leonard Isitt was held by the Royal New Zealand Air Force and kindred flying associations in Canterbury. After a round of “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” Sir Leonard Isitt expressed his gratitude and said: “I ought to be forgotten by now but it’s nice to know that I am not