NEW AIR SERVICE

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

NEW AIR SERVICE

LONDON-SYDNEY CONNECTION FAMOUS MERLIN PLANE REACHES AUCKLAND (P.A.) AUCKLAND, November 5. The first aircraft of a British military service connecting London via Montreal, with Auckland and Sydney by way of the Pacific, arrived at the Whenuapai airfield yesterday. The aircraft was escorted for the last part of its long journey into Auckland by a flight of R.N.Z.A.F. fighters. For strictly military purposes, the service, which is operated by the It.A.F. Transport Command, will be twice weekly, in each direction between Sydney and Montreal, where it will connect with the daily North Atlantic service which has been operating for the past three years. The service will accommodate war priority passengers, troop mail, and freight required for the war effort. The aircraft will call at Auckland and Fiji under its schedule, which is now being discussed. The route of the service is: Montreal to San Francisco, 2,660 miles; Honolulu, 2,420 miles; Canton Island, 1,910 miles; Fiji, 1,280 miles; Auckland, 1,330 miles; Sydney, 1,380 miles; total, 10,980 miles. Converted Merlin bombers, capable of carrying 30 tons all-up load, will be used. A FAMOUS AIRCRAFT. The aircraft which inaugurated the service is a famous one. It is a Merlin No. Al-504, and is one of the earliest ever built. For three years it was on ordinary passenger and freight duties over the North Atlantic between. Canada and Britain; It became known as "Commando"' when it carried Lord Louis Mou'ntbatten on a record-break-ing special flight, when he was developing the commando forces.' Since then this aircraft has taken part in most of the historical political missions of the war, including the conveying of Mr Churchill twice to Moscow. It also took him and other statesmen to the United Nations' conferences at Washington, Casablanca, and Teheran.

the present flight actually started in Moscow, the aircraft bringing Mr Churchill back to England.

From London " Commando " carried Lord Swinton and the British delegation to the International Civil Air Conference in Chicago, last week, and then, after a few hours, set out again with 20 passengers, cargo, and mail for Australia.

"Commando" is unique in appearance. Recently the standard Liberator double-tail fins were removed, and the largest single tail (31ft high) .of,.any aircraft in the world was substituted, and seven feet added to the length. This aircraft has flown over 400,000 miles on special war flights. PLANS FOR SERVICE.

The pilot is Air-commodore Griffith Powell, C.8.E., R.A.F., who will have the general direction of the service from Montreal. He is accompanied by Group-captain W. W. Deane, R.A.F., and Mr R. B. Jackson, who is in charge ; of priorities and traffic problems cover- ' ing the service. Other members of the > crew are:—Flight-lieutenant G. Wright, ■ R.C.A.F., co-pilot; Flight-lieutenant K. Shea. R.A.A.F., navigator; J. R. Bur- ' ton, wireless operator; J. W. Affleck, first flight engineer; M. Andrews, second flight engineer; and Leading-air-craftman W. Stagg, flight clerk. Air-commodore Powell said the first service had not been operated to any , fixed schedule, as the object had been to make all the necessary arrangements en route and to station operations and maintenance staffs. For this reason the mail and freight loads from England and elsewhere had not been great. After a short stay at Auckland the aircraft flew ■to Sydney to-day. Aircommodore Powell expects to start tho return journey within three or four days. As a further number of staff men have to be placed at various stations, aud some' operating arrangements completed, tho service will probably not become a twice-weekly one for three weeks or so, but should be in regular operation by the middle of December.

Air-commodore Powell said that the presence in the United States of New Zealand delegates to the Chicago meeting had been a convenient opportunity for some unusual first-flight covers to be despatched. These included letters from tne members of the New Zealand delegation to Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Isitt, Chief of the Air Staff, Mr T. A. Barrow, Air Secretary, and Mr F. Shanahan. POST FOR NEW ZEALANDER.

Travelling with Air-commmodore Powell and with Auckland as their destination we're Squadron-leader E. Clark, D.F.C., RIN.Z.A.F., Mr K. R. Ellis and Mr H. Victor. Squadronleader Clark is well known in New Zealand, and in pre-war years earned the name of the " Flying Farmer." This officer, who has been attached to the R.A.F. Transport Command since its inception, will be stationed at- Auckland as liaison officer with the various authorities concerned. The other passengers included Squadron-leader W. B. Wight, who is an Australian in the R.A.F.. and who will be stationed at Sydney. Air-commodore Powell said that Dominion crews and personnel would be used as much as practicable, and in New Zealand and Australia operation, maintenance and traffic problems would !be handled by the R.N.Z.A.F. and the R.A.A.F. respectively.