NOTABLE CAREER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21152, 21 July 1943, Page 4

NOTABLE CAREER

2 7 YEARS AS AIRMAN

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 21. Born in Christchurch in July, 1891, Air Vice-Marshal Isitt is a son of the late Hon. L. M. Isitt, M.L.C., and i.rayetjecl to England with his family in i9OO, where be received his early education at Mdstyn Plousc, Parkgate, Cheshire, and on the family's return to New Zealand continued his education at the Christchurch Boys’ High School.

Enlisting in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Air Vice-Marshal Isitt became a member of the Rifle Brigade, and .left New Zealand in 1915 with the rank of sergeant. He served with the rifle brigade in Egypt and on the Western Front, and was wounded on the Somme in 1916. While on sick leave in London, he obtained a transfer lo flic Royal Flying Corps, and upon graduation as a pilot was transferred lo Yatcsbury. where* he flew aircraft of the famous Bleriot experimental series.

In June, 1917, as a member of flu'' No. 7 Army Co-operation Squadron in France, Air Vice-Marshal Isitt was chiefly employed on artillery observation and photography in Ypres salient, and served with this squadron until Anri!. 1918. Promoted captain in -July, 1918, lie returned to France with No. 98 bomber squadron as a (light 'commander. During the last two months of 1919, Air Vice-Marshal Isitt was employed in flying all types of German aircraft handed over from Germany to France and Britain under the terms of the Armistice.

Returnin''- to the United Kingdom early in 1919, Air Vice-Marshal Isitt was selected for the first ol tiro long nost-war navigational courses at that time introduced by Hie Royal Air Force, and as a navigational instructor in Scotomber, 1919. he successfully applied for a commercial navigator's license. This license is of particular interest, being the first of its kind to hr; issued liv the Air Ministry and therefore being numbered one. At the same time. Air Vice-Marshal Isitt held a commercial pilot's license for all types of aircraft. Rn'T i'* New Zealand. Air VrcMarshal Isitt was appointed to the command of the new Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Hohsonville, where lie remained until posted to headquarters in Wellington to assist Group Captain the Hon. R. A. Cochrane on the establishment of the RN.Z.A.F. as a separate arm of the services. In 1987 he was appointed air member for personnel and granted (ho rank of wing commander, being nromnled to group captain in July. 1933. While holding this position, ho contributed a great deal to the rapid expansion of the R.N.Z.A.F.. and d was mainly for this work ..that he was accorded the honour of C.B.E, in 1940.