FLIGHT NEXT WEEK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22199, 9 December 1946, Page 7

FLIGHT NEXT WEEK

N.Z. MOSQUITOS JOURNEY OF 11 DAYS FIRST FERRYING TRIP (From A. W. Mitchell, Special Representative o£ tlio N.Z. Press Assn.) LONDON. Dec. 6. The first 10 of the 80 Mosquito aircraft bought by the New Zealand Government from Great Britain will take off from Persliore airfield, near Worcester, for Ohakea at about 8 a.m. G.M.T. on Tuesday. They are being flown by aircrews of No. 1 ferry unit of No. 46 group of the Transport Command. The majority are English, including two flight lieutenants with the D.F.C. and bar. Only one New Zealander will be in this first flight—Flying Officer B. H. G. Nation, of Wellington, a former bomber pilot now serving an extended commission in the R.A.F. Flying an average of four to five hours daily in daylight, it is anticipated that the Mosquitoes will arrive in New Zealand about December 21 or 22. Singing Points on Route The route will be Pershore. Castel Benito. Lydda, Mauripur, Calcutta, Rangoon, Singapore, Java, Darwin. Garbutt. Sydney, Ohekea. All the crews will comprise a pilot and navigator-wireless operator. The aircraft will fly in loose vicks of three, three, four. They will all be in radio contact with eacli other with the leading aircraft in radio contact with stations en route. All the aircraft are carrying spares equipment. It is anticipated that the aircrews will return to England in a British Overseas Airways York airliner, which will leave England for Auckland on December 14. with excess Christmas mail. It is due to arrive about December 22 and is expected to return on December 26.

Visit by High Commissioner

Before the Mosquitoes leave Pershore they and the aircrews will be inspected by Mr. W. J. Jordan. New Zealand High Commissioner, and Air Marshal the Hon. Sir Ralph Cochrane, A.0.C.-in-C. Transport Command, Air Commodore M. W. Buckley, A.0.C.. R.N.Z.A.F. Headquarters, London. The next flight of 10 aircraft will leave for New Zealand some time in January when Squadron Leaders P. Anderson, of Christchurch. H. W. Lamond. of Auckland, Flight Lieutenant K. M. Boles. D.F.C., of Auckland, are expected to be among the crews. Crews who are now training in New Zealand are expected to arrive in England during January to be ready for the February flight. It is pointed out here that the R.A.F. and R.N.Z.A.F. are combining in these ferrying flights in order to give their personnel experience. All the aircraft are new and are camouflaged with regulation R.A.F. markings.