MOSQUITO PLANES

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1946, Page 4

MOSQUITO PLANES

THREE WEEKS DELAY IN DELIVERY FLIGHT FROM AUSTRALIA (P.A.) AUCKLAND, October 14. An unexpected delay has occurred in the delivery flight from Australia of four Mark 111 Mosquito trainer aircraft, the first of their type to come to New Zealand. The crews and ground staff left last week for Brisbane to collect the aircraft, which were expected to reach Whenuapai to-day or-to-morrow, but latest advice is that they may not fly across the .Tasman by way of, Norfolk Island for about three weeks. The aircraft have been bought from the Royal Australian Air Force to train pilots selected to fly later model Mosquitoes from the United Kingdom to New Zealand early next year. They will be based at Ohakea. On their delivery flight from Australia they are expected to be accompanied by a Lincoln bomber of' the R.A.A.F. carrying the New Zealand ground-crews that accompanied the eight aircrew members to Brisbane. The New Zealand party is commanded by Squadron Leader R. M. McKay, well known as the pilot of the Gloster Meteor jet plane brought to New Zealand some months ago. With, him he has three other Mosquito pilots, Squadron Leader J. D. Robbins, D.F.C., Flight Lieutenant I. O. Breckon, D.F.C. and bar, and Flight Lieutenant A. George, D.F.C., D.F.M. The party also includes four navigators, an engineer officer, and a small group of technicians. All were passengers to Australia last week in a Dakota aircraft of No. 41 (transport) Squadron, R.N.Z.A.F.