LEGION OF MERIT

Evening Star, Issue 25083, 26 January 1944, Page 8

LEGION OF MERIT

AWARD TO R.N.Z.A.F. MMQRE <P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 25. The United States Legion of Merit (with the degree of officer) has been conferred on Air Commodore S. Wallingford, R.N.Z.A.F. He is a son of Major J. A. Wallingford, of Auckland. In the last war Air Commodore Wallingford saw service with the mercantile marine, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force. He has distinguished himself as a crack rifle shot. Born in England in 1898., Air Commodore Wallingford came to New Zealand at the age of 13. He was educated at the Auckland Grammar School. Too young for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at the beginning of the last war, he worked his way to England and joined the Artists' Rifles. He graduated from the Royal Air Force Training Brigade in Egypt as a pilot officer in June, 1918. For a year from November, 1921, he held a senior post in the Fiji Constabulary, Suva, and was also acting inspector for Navua and Levuka. In June, 1929, he was appointed to the New Zealand Permanent Air Force. Air Commodore Wallingford took part in operations by H.M.S. Dunedin in Western Samoa between January and April. 193°- ' „ , , * In 1936 be went to England to undergo a course at the R.A.F. Stafi College, and to act as New Zealand liaison officer at the Air Ministry. He acted in an official capacity at Westminster Abbey during the coronation ceremony in 1937. Shortly before the outbreak of the present war Air Commodore Wallingford was to have commanded a flight of Wellington bombers on the trip from England for service in New Zealand, but the arrangement was cancelled. After further service in England he returned to New Zealand, where he was appointed air member for personnel on the Air Hoard. He assumed the post of air officer commanding R.N./.A.*. Forces Pacific Islands area, and was subsequently promoted to his present rank at the beginning of last year.