LINK IN DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 23352, 23 August 1939, Page 3

LINK IN DEFENCE

THE NEW WOODBOURNE AERODROME PROGRESS OF BIG UNDERTAKING [Per United Press Association.] BLENHEIM, August 24. The building of the new Defence aerodrome at AVoodbourne has been pushed to a stage when it is possible to realise the dimensions of the undertaking and the part it will play, both ns a training school for pilots and as an important link in New Zealand’s first line of defence. Contracts representing £94,000 of the £400.000 that the huge scheme will eventually absorb have been let and a number of them have been in progress for months. Of the staff accommodation buildings several arc practically completed, and the first of the permanent personnel will arrive in the course of a few days. _ /Ihe framework of one of the giant hangars, each of which* covers an acre • of land, is now in readiness for_ the outer covering of corrugated ir.on. Several large sections of another are already in place, arid the remainder have been cut out, bolted, and laid out on the ground ready for lifting into position. Each hangar comprises 15 great trusses, and as one can be fitted daily, it should be a matter of only a week or so before the second frame,work is erected. Although some delay has been caused by the fact that the contractors are unable to secure the necessary supplies of iron, the whole undertaking is progressing satisfactorily, and should be completed within the scheduled time. This factor is important as the first batch 'of men who will be stationed at the aerodrome will arrive at Blenheim on September 1. Accommodation has to be available by that date for 50 men and 14 officers. It is understood that no planes -will..be commissioned at the aerodrome until next April. The intervening period will be devoted to a thorough preliminary training and other preparatory work. Within recent weeks arrangements have been completed by the authorities for taking over a further 17 acres of land on the opposite side of the Middle Ren wick road. This is to be laid out as an extension of the adjacent 35-acre buildino- block on the aerodrome proper. Here, accommodation quarters will be created, together with another dormitory wing which will be constructed when required. With more land available, provision has been_ made for lawn tennis courts to be laid out on the newlv acquired area. The Quarters for married officers ami men will constitute a small settlement, for 26 wooden houses of varying design are to be erected. Tenders for two of these have already been let and work on the remainder will be commenced at an early date. The 200-aere aerodrome, made famous bv Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who departed from it on his return flight to Australia iu 1928. has undergone a transformation. It bears no similarity to the great undulating pasture from , which the old Southern Cross rose on the long hop to Sydney. The whole . area‘has been levelled and there has *been an excellent strike of grass. By , the time the bombing squadrons arrive ( the runways will be in perfect cqndi- f tlon." : Although provision was origin- , ally’ ' made for the erection' of tour y hangars, it was subsequently decided ; to limit these in the meantime to two. In , view of the enlargement of the | •whole scheme, which now provides for 6 an establishment equal in size to Wig- i ratfi, it is intended, however, to pro- ( deed with the' construction of the re- s raaining two. No tender for this work \ so far has been let. ' j Accommodation for the ranks of the j nerodrome personnel is more ad- ( vanced than is the case with the quar- f ters, for the officers. Two dormitories f for/the men are practically completed and should be iu readiness for occupa- r tion in about a week. An inspection j indicates that the men will be furnished t with living quarters of the highest i standard, incorporating all the conveni- c ences available in a modern home. i

Each dormitory contains accommodation "for 80 men. 40 in each wing. In the connecting link between .the wings are located showed rooms, wash basins, lavatories, and the electrical plant to heat the large quantity of water necessary., There is ample window space, and the quarters are sunny and well ventilated. The foundations arc laid for a recreation building which will comprise a* commodious hall, together with stage_ facilities lor the screening of films, billiard tables, reading rooms, and a canteen, At the rear of the Officers’ block will be the hospital quarters, 100 ft by 40ft. Opposite this will be a concrete building housing a mod-fire-fighting tender and equipment, together with a motor ambulance.

Other buildings either under construction or to be commenced in the near future comprise an n.c.o. dormitory and mess room, which will be required under the larger scheme, a structure devoted to the study of navigation and photography, an armoury, a miniature rifle range, and a machine gun range. Behind the hangars are to be placed various stores, and the structure in which the trainer for blind flying instruction will be housed. Work is also in progress on a 70ft octagonal reinforced concrete water tower, in which 100,000 gallons of water will be stored and from which the pressure necessary to operate the elaborate -sewerage and water scheme will be obtained. As all the construction is timber, the whole of tire building area is bisected by Ain and 6in water mains and hydrants, from which hoses will be run in the event of fire.