FOUR SUNDERLANDS

Evening Star, Issue 25325, 6 November 1944, Page 6

FOUR SUNDERLANDS

JOINING N.Z. TRANSPORT SQUADRONS LONG FLIGHT FROM BRITAIN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 6. The outstanding record of the R.N.Z.A.F. transport squadrons operating between New Zealand and the South Pacific was referred to by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) to-day, when he announced that a valuable addition to the squadrons is now on its way to the Dominion. Four Sunderland flying boats were recently allocated to the R.N.Z.A.F., and they are being flown from the United Kingdom by New Zealand crews. They will be used to supplement the existing R.N.Z.A.F. air transport organisations.

" The increasing scope of the Pacific theatre is requiring a corresponding extension of. the system of supply," the Minister said, " and the arrival of tho Sunderlands will represent'another milestone in the development of the R.N.Z.A.F. in this area." FINE RECORD.

Already transport squadrons based oil Whenuapai had flown nearly 4,500,000 miles to maintain the important service of the supply of personnel and equipment to Pacific establishments. The service had been operating since April 13, 1943, and it had been brought to a stage at which the big transport aircraft handled their commissions with almost clock-work efficiency. In addition to personnel, the aircraft carried all types of. equipment and stores, and were used, when necessary, to transport casualties. An example of-the importance of the service was to be found in the. figures for a month's operations recently, when more than 100 tons of freight and 1,220 passengers were carried.

"These trips are not by any means always uneventful," said Mr Jones. "The Pacific can provide some of the world's worst flying weather, and it is a commentary on the skill and experience of our 'men that the squadron's record is suoh a fine one." The Short Sunderland was a military version of the Empire flying boat, Mr Jones added, and it established a magnificent reputation in the British Coastal Command. It had ibeen consistently and outstandingly successful on anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort. The peace-time performance of its four engines gave it a cruising speed of 150 miles an hour, with a much higher top speed. Its normal range was 1,780 miles, but its overload ranger was nearly.3,ooo miles.' 'Modifications could make it excellently suited to transport purposes. ONE DUNEDIN SKIPPER. Mr Jones said the Sunderlands were being flown to New Zealand by R.N.Z.A.F. crews who had completed their tour of operations in the Northern Hemisphere, and they were being maintained by their own crews throughout the 16,000 miles flight.

The crews are as follows (with the captains given first in each case): —No. 1 boat: Flight-lieutenant B. E. Layne, of Hamilton, Flying-officer T. E. Neave, of Kurow, Pilot-officer J. D. Garrett, of Riccarton, Flight-lieutenant P. C. K. Morrison, of Auckland, Flying-officer E. R. Ruffles, of Auckland, and two Australian flight-engineers,. Warrant Officers L. W. Cox and Guriuourie, and a Bristol Company engineer, Mr Jones.

No. 2 boat: Flight-lieutenant J. S. Shepherd, of Dunedin, Flying-officer L. A. E. Schwabe, of Gisborne, Flyingofficer A. Holdsworth/ of Christchurch, Flying-officer N. E. Dawson, of Hamilton, and three Australians, Flyingofficer T. P. Druhan and Pilot-officers A. J. Taylor and! C. S. Mitchell.

No. 3 boat: Flight-lieutenant H. K. Patience, of Khandallah, Pilot-officer T. J. Ladd, of Te Awamutu, Flying-officer C. J. Berry, of Christchurch, Pilotofficer E. W. Buchanan, of Sandringham. Warrant-officer G. N. Roberts, of Paniell,'~Fiight-lieutenaiit N. A. Ward, D.F.C., of New Plymouth, and two Australians, Flying-officer J. Russell and Flight-sergeant P. F. Sheridan.

No. 4 boat: Flight-lieutenant J. C. L. Pettit, of Wellington, Flight-lieu-tenant D. F. Blackmore, of Christchurch, Flight-lieutenant It. E. Stevenson, of Invercargill, Flying-officer A. G. Sutherland, of Invercargill, War-rant-officer D. A. Anderson, of Invercargill, and two Australians, Pilotofficer F. Kerrison and Flight-sergeant G. L. Fry. The officer commanding tho flight. Wing-commander D. W. Baird, A.F.C. ; of Wellington, and the technical signals officer, Flying-officer J. A. Eraser, of Auckland, are also in the fourth boat.