ROYAL AIR FORCE BALL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 4

ROYAL AIR FORCE BALL

First Event Of Its Kind In New Zealand TERRITORIAL SQUADRON'S NOTABLE EVENT With military thoroughness and impressive dignity the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Wellington Territorial Squadron, gave a ball last night which was notable for the brilliance of its presentation and for the fact that it was the first social event of its kind among territorial air force units in the Dominion. The Government and Services were represented and members of the squadron should feel duly proud of the success of their undertaking, which created something in the nature of a precedent for a ball of its kind. Ordered colour and form were conveyed by the appropriate and unusual decorations which transformed the >St. Francis Hall for the occasion. Everything used in the scheme suggested airmindedness allied to military precision. The first thing that m< t the eye on entering the ballroom was a Jupiter aeroplane engine assembled on the stage and draped with bunting, its black cylinders, gleaming rods and shining propeller blades suggesting powerful flight. Lewis guns, manned by “dummy” figures in flying kit, flanked either side of the stage. Replicas of the squadron crest and that of the band held pride of place on the walls, their mottoes “Let the Aggressor Beware” and “Forces of the Air” telling in Maori that for which the unit stood. The New Zealand sparrow hawk squadron emblem graced the wall above the entrance, “hovering’’ with outstretched wings over the heads of all who entered. A large cockade in red, white and blue filled the back of the stage, smaller ones hanging . on the walls of the ballroom and supperroom. New Zealand military flags were draped over the balcony and in the lounges and foyer, forming a background for palms, greenery and flowers. The Air Force flag held pride of place on the wails and bunting, in the colours dark and light blue and red, was draped from the ceiling. High above the dancers’ heads, silver-painted models of an airship and aeroplane were suspended. Training Escapades.

A touch of subtle humour, never lacking in such circles, found its expression In cleverly-drawn caricatures of flying escapades and training, lavishly decorating three walls of the ballroom. Under such pithy titles as “Happy Landing” and “What Did He Tell Me to

Pull,” results of past mistakes and

thrills were recaptured. These escapades all represented things which befell senior officers when they were flying planes and portrayed such real life

incidents as that of the plane which crashed into power lines and cut off

the current; the machine which “piledup” during a landing and the misguided gesture of another flyer who once landed on an irate bull instead of on the ground. These drawing were the work of Mr. Power and a member of the squadron, Mr. Priest. Hundreds of coloured balloons held in the fine silk of a parachute were released from the ceiling among the dancers during

the evening. Spring Howers, palms and greenery decorated the supper-room, the table for the official party having a plaited decoration of the three air force colours down the centre of its white-covered length. The Air Force Band played during the evening, members in their uniforms combining with the colourful dress of the men guests to give that touch of almost “diplomatic” splendour lacking in civilian gatherings. The decorations were the work of members of the squadron, a women’s committee of members’ wives controlling the supper arrangements. The programme was arranged under

the heading of Night Flying Orders, with duties, orders, mess parades and refuelling posts indicated therein. The officer commanding, Squadron leader E. A. Gibson, received the guests at the entrance to the ballroom. and with him was Mrs. J. P. ■Stewart, Waverley, in a full-skirted frock of black taffeta, with short coatee of black Persian lamb. Official Party. The official party Included the Don. and Mrs. F. Jones, Squadron Leader E. A. Gibson and Mrs. J. P. Stewart, the mayor and mayoress of Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop (cerise, gentian blue and green fioral silk suede with front draped skirt, mole cane), the Air Secretary, Mr. T. Barrow and Mrs. Barrow (dusky pink matt crepe striped in silver thread). Group Captain H. W. L. Saunders, Group Captain and Mrs. T. Wilkes (lilac pink frock encrusted with silver metal Howers). Wing Commander and Mrs. A. Nevill (delft blue angelskin dotted in silver), Flight Lieutenant and Mrs. J Agar (black patterned metal cloth with frilled shoulder cape of black net), Flight Lieutenant and Mrs. I. Rawnsley (ivory lace over satin with sash of dawn pink satin). There were more than 500 dancers present, and among those who accepted invitations were:—Hon. and Mrs. V. Ward, Mr. and Mrs. H. Turner (Army Secretary), Group Captain L. Isitt, Squadron Leader E. Grundy, Squadron Leader and Mrs. L. Crocker, Squadron Leader and Mrs. J. Davidson, Flight Lieut, and Mrs. L. Taylor, Flying Officer W.. D. Abernethy, Flying Officer E. B. Waters, Flying Officer and Mrs. J. A. Cooper, Flying Officer F. J. McWhinnie, Flying Officer and Mrs. A. B. Lindop, Flying Officer S. M. Watson, Flying Officer and Mrs. S. Meatchem, Pilot Officer and Mrs. H. Wilton, Pilot Officer and Mrs. C. Martin, Pilot Officer and Mrs. 11. Smillie, Pilot Officer A. Pritchard, Pilot Officer R. Morphy, Warrant Officer and Mrs. Trott, Flight Se.rgt. and Mrs. G. Ellis, Flying Officer and Mrs. Langtry, Flight Lieut. and Mrs. P. E. Hudson, Rev. and Mrs. E. M. McLovie, Colonel R. Miles. Colonel and Mrs. I. T. Standish, Colonel and Mrs. O. 11. Mead, Colonel, Mrs. and Miss Puttick, Lieuten-ant-Colonel and Mrs. S. El. Crump, Lieu-tenant-Colonel and Mrs. E. T. Rollings, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. A. E. Conway, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Parkinson, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. R. A. Row. Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. W. 0. Stevens, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs E. M. Staee Lieut.-Colonel and Mrs. A. J. Manson, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. R. Fenton, Major and Mrs. E. H. Green, Major and Mrs. W. H. Bull, Major and Mrs. G. H. Clifton, Major and Mrs. Twhijrg, Major and Mrs. F. L. Hunt, Captain and Mrs. Loadsman, Captain and Mrs. K. Glasgow, Captain E. M. Findlayson. Captain A. 11. Sugden and Mrs. Sugden, Captain and Mrs. A. E. Gorton. Lieutenant A. Curtis. Lieutenant G. Penglington, Lieutenant and Mrs. F. M.

Jenkins, Lieutenant W. Thornton. Lieutenant and Mrs. A. Andrews, Lieutenant W. S. Williams, Lieutenant E. J. Horwood, Lieutenant and Mrs. R. A. Brice, Lieutenant and Mrs. C. Meacham, Captain and Mrs. Hope-Robertson, Flying Lieutenant and Mrs. Carter, Flying Officer and Mrs. Archibald, Pilot Officer Hogan.