SUNDERLAND SEAPLANES

Evening Star, Issue 25226, 13 July 1944, Page 4

SUNDERLAND SEAPLANES

FLIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, July 12. Four transport Sunderland seaplanes are to be flown to New Zealand by former members of New Zealand Catalina squadrons who have completed a tour of operations in the West African theatre. They will fly in pairs, the -first commanded by Wing-commander D. H. Baird, A.F.C. (Wellington), and the second flight by Flight-lieutenant H. K. Patience ton). Their route will be via the Atlantic and the Pacific, and will cover 16,000 miles. About 120 hours of flying time will occupy a few weeks. There will be 13 stages, and the Sunderlands, which have a range of 3,000 miles, will be maintained by their own crews throughout the flight. The captains, in addition to Wing-com-mander Baird and Flight-lieutenant Patience, • will be Flight-lieutenants J. S. Shepherd (Dunedin), and J. L. C. Pettit (Wellington). Other members of the crews will inc'iude Flight-lieutenants P. C. K. Morrison (Rotorua). D. K. Blackmore (Christchurch), and R. E. Stevenson (Tnvercafgill), Flying-officers T. B. Neave, E..R. Ruffles (Auckland), L. J. Scbawbe (Hamilton), A. Holdsworth, . and C. J. Berry (Christchurch), A. G. Sutherland (Timaru), and N. E. Dawson (Wellington), Pilotofficers J. D. Garrett (Christchurch), T. J. Ladd (Taranaki), and E. W. Buchanan (Auckland), Warrant-officer G. N. Roberts (Auckland), and Flight-sergeant D. A. Anderson (Invercargill).