N.Z. AIR FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 150, 29 June 1929, Page 9

N.Z. AIR FORCE

"Wing-Commander S. Grant-Dalton, D.5.0., A.F.C., has been appointed Director of Air Services, New Zealand Military Forces, in succession to Major T. M. Wilk.es,. M.C., who is leaving for England shortly to undergo a two

years' special course of training. WingCommander Grant-Dalton, who will leave England for New Zealand on 16th August, passed through the Boyal Military College, Sandhurst, and was posted to the Yorkshire Regiment as secondlieutenant on 24th January, 1906. He was transferred to the Eoyal Flying Corps on 4th October, 1915, and served in Egypt in 1916, in England in 163.7, and in the Middle East in 1918. For his war service ho received the Distinguished Service Order, Bar to Distinguished Service Order, Egyptian Order of the, Nile- (4th Glass), and the Air Force Cross. He commanded the 64th Naval Wing in the Middle East in 1919, and in 1920 was promoted to the Com-

mand of Headquarters of the Palestine Group. Later, he .filled various high appointments .in the. Royal Air Force m England. In making the announcement to-day of Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton's appointment, the Minister of Defence (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) said: "New Zealand is fortunate, indeed, in obtaining such a man on the administrative side. In addition to being a distinguished airman, he is an able administrator of aviation -affairs, and is well qualified to take charge of all matters affecting civil aviation." Mr. Wilford added that Sir John Salmond, Air Chief Marshal, and Sir Hugh Trenehard, late head of the Eoyal Air Force, had most strongly recommended Wing-Commander Dalton for the important position in New Zealand. •