SEASONED AIRMEN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 121, 17 February 1944, Page 6

SEASONED AIRMEN

In N.Z. Catalina Crews In Pacific THREE HAVE DECORATIONS (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) SOUTH PACIFIC. Airmen who have seen operational service in other war theatres, including three who hold decorations, are well represented in the crews flying and maintaining Catalina aircraft of a Royal -New Zealand Air Force flyingboat squadron on patrol duty in the South Pacific. , Some of them, including ground staff, were at Singapore and' came out just ahead of the. Japanese. ~ Others of the ground personnel have ‘ had experience with a New Zealand Lockheed Hudson bomber-reconnaissance squadron in the Solomons, and the majority of the marine section, who handle the motor-boats, have also had service outside New Zealand. One of the pilots has been on bombing raids over France, Germany and Italy: another flew night-fighters in the tailend of the Battle of Britain and also took part in night intruder raids on the Continent. From Coastal Command comes a navigator who has carried out dangerous patrol work over the Atlantic. Several of the radio operators have been on operations over Germany and The captain of one Catalina holds the D.F.C., won on bombing operations over Europe. An observer has the D.F.M. He served throughout the early Middle East campaigns and in Iraq. A former. New Zealand Hudson pilot now with (he fly-ing-boat squadrons was recently awarded-* the United States Air Medal for distinguished service in the Pacific. (Picture on Page 5.)