FLIGHT LIEUT. ERIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1942, Page 6

FLIGHT LIEUT. ERIC

GRIFFITHS

ADVENTUROUS CAREER ENDS

The death is reported, in.a list of air casualties, of Flight Lieutenant Eric N. Griffiths, a New Zealand airman well known in aviation circles, who flew for the Spanish Government v* the Span-ish-War, and was wounded in air combat while fighting over Toledo.

An old boy of Wellington College, he learned to fly with the Wairarapa Aero Club, and for a time accompanied the late Squadron Leader M. C. McGregor and the late "Scotty" Fraser in a barnstorming tour1. He saw service in China, ferrying machines from Shanghai to various warlords. After that he returned to New Zealand, where he acquired a commercial licence, later joining the second

Byrd Antarctic Expedition in 1933. After an unsuccessful endeavour to raise funds for an entry in the LondonMelbourne Air Race, he wdnt to England, and was employed by Imperial Airways. . .

Flight Griffiths's entry to the Spanish War came through a contract to deliver three' aircraft from England to Madrid. After the third delivery' flight he threw in his lot with the Loyalist Air Force,, accounting, during his service, for five fighters and itwo bombers. .He was wounded in September, 1936, when, with a companion, he was escorting bombers some distance over the enemy lines. They were attacked by eight Italian Fiat fighters. His companion was killed, and he was wounded by an explosive bullet, which passed through his shoulder. While convalescing he was placed in charge of a training school ftr pilots.

In 1937 Flight Lieutenant Griffiths returned to New Zealand and married Miss Fay Robinson, of Wellington. He later went to America, where he was employed for a time by the Douglas Aircraft Company, and in 1938 he once again returned to New Zealand and was engaged in commercial aviation.