FIGHTERS PREPARE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21934, 31 January 1946, Page 4

FIGHTERS PREPARE

MOVE TO JAPAN AIRCRAFT ALLOCATED TRANSPORT BY CARRIER (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 31. The fighter squadron of the R.N.Z.A.F., No. 14, which has been chosen as part of the British occupation force for Japan, will travel from New Zealand in a British aircraftcarrier together with its new aircraft’ and all its equipment. The squadron, which is now assembling at Ardmore, is expected to leave Auckland in about a month's time, and on arrival in Japan it will take up quarters in a hutted camp at Iwakuni, near Hiroshima. While the duration of R.N.Z.A.F. representation in Japan is not definitely known, the term of service for individuals is not intended to exceed one year, and already steps have been taken to begin preparing a replacement unit, No. 15 (Fighter) Squadron. Meanwhile, No. 14 Squadron has been chosen from a large number of volunteers of all ranks and trades and is almost up to its established strength of 290. The unit will be fully self-contained and, in addition to pilots and maintenance crews, will include medical and dental officers aqd their staffs, as well as its own motor transport equipment, accounting, signals and similar auxiliary groups. , The latest type of Corsair fighter aircraft has been allocated to the squadron, which will take 24 of them to Japan. The officer commanding is Squadron Leader J. J. de Willimoff, D.F.C., a fighter pilot with wide experience of the Pacific War. For some weeks he has had his aircrews engaged in intensive training and, before leaving New Zealand, they will undertake further flying. The pilots are for the most part young men with considerable wartime flying on operations to their credit.