N.Z. AIRMEN FOR JAPAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1945, Page 8

N.Z. AIRMEN FOR JAPAN

SQUADRON SELECTED. AUCKLAND, December 9. Seasoned operational pilots of the Pacific war make up the bulk of the flying members Of the Royal New Zealand Air Force squadron now assembling at Ardmore before going to Japan next year as part of the forces of occupation to represent'the Dominion. The Royal New Zealand Air Force has chosen its oldest operational squadron, No. 14, which gained an excellent reputation at Guadalcanal, Onclonga, and Bougainville, from 1943 onward, following service in Malaya in,-1941, though no members of the original No. 14 Squadron are included in the aircrews, of the ,present unit. The first New Zealand fighter squadron in the Solomons, No. 15, is represented by the officer commanding the occupation pilots, Squadron Leader J. J. de Willimoff, of Auckland. Both he and his senior flight commander, Flight Lieutenant L. A. Rayner, wear the ribbon of the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for gallantry in action against the Japanese. The 24 pilots for the occupation squadron have been chosen, but the remainder of the officers and also the ground staff have not yet been selected. A selection committee is at present visiting Royal Nev/ Zealand Air Force stations throughout New Zealand interviewing applicants for service with the unit, who are at least double the number required. Nonflying personnel are expected at Ardmore about January 10. The squadron, meanwhile, is undergoing intensive training with its Corsair aircraft, though the type of aeroplane with which it will eventually be equipped is as yet uncertain. Various other items of importance have yet to be decided, including the date of departure and the means of travel from Auckland to Japan. It is possible that the pilots will fly their own Corsairs in stages and that the ground crews will be carried in Dakotas of one of the transport squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The pilots chosen to accompany Squadron Leader de Willimoff are: — A. Flight: Flight Lieutenants L. A. Rayner, D.F.C., D. F. Neville, A. F. Tucker, L. G. Mitchell, C. W. N. Wright, Flying Officers J. A. Murray, W. D. Gain, P. Horton, D. W. Corbett, E. W. Ziesler, Pilot Officer, R. J. Scott, Flight Sergeant Fintoff; B. Flight: Flight Lieutenants D. M. Hutton, J. L. Scott, S. M. Hope, Flying Officers T. R. Rabone, A. R. Speden, M. S. Gunton, G. M. Jennings, D. S. Tie, A. F. Adeane, Pilot Officer, V. Wakeman, Flight Sergeant B. B. Cox.