FLYING BOATS USED

Evening Star, Issue 25674, 24 December 1945, Page 7

FLYING BOATS USED

RETURN OF INTERNEES (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec/23. In order to speed the return to New: Zealand of military personnel and former internees of the Japanese who have been awaiting transport from Australia, two (R.N.Z.A.F, Catalina flying boats have been used in an emergency service between Fiji, Auckland, ana Sydney. \The first to arrive from Sydney reached Auckland to-day with 22 passengers. The second aircraft has been delayed at Sydney for 24 hours, and is expected to reach Auckland tomorrow. Both aircraft were based at Suva, and after the emergency call was received they flew to Aucikland on Friday, bringing- with them a number of Air Force personnel awaiting passage home. They went to Sydney on Saturday loaded with Royal New Zealand mail. - Service personnel who returned were Squadron-leader F. J. Mathews (Auckland) , Flight-lieutenant R. - Barlow (Wellington), Flight-lieutneant R. E: Murrell (Upper" Hutt), Flying-officer •E. P. Adams (•Wellington), Flyingofficer L. H. Fines (Wellington), Fly-ing-officer C. W- Weir (Auckland), Captain A. H. Findlay (Katikati), Lieutenant E. H. Thompson (Morrinsville), Lieutenant R. P. Evans (Auckland), Lance-sergeant H. A. Cover, A.I.F. (Eltham), Lance-corporal R. Northrop (Wellington), and Gunner J. G. Campbell (Wellington)Two New Zealand members of the W.A.A.A.F., Flight-officer M, F. Fearnley (Otaki). and Corporal IM. L. S. Baxter (Whakatane), also returned on the aircraft. The following former civilian internees of the Japanese were on board:— The .Rev. E, G. Jansen (Masterton), Mr J. Gordon (Port Chalmers), Mr G. J. M. Loader (North Auckland), Police Sergeant J. E. Hayward (Whangarei), Miss A. Lilburne (Auckland), and Miss F. M. Wilson (Napier).