NO. 30 SQUADRON HAS SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL REUNION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 7 June 1948, Page 4

NO. 30 SQUADRON HAS SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL REUNION

Memories of a time when Gisborne people offered hospitality to in embers ot the IUX.Z.A.F. in training nt the district air station, as well as more vivid recollections of happenings overseas when the Japanese were still a vital threat in the Pacific area, were revived at the annual reunion of Xo. 30 Squadron and Servicing Unit, R.N.Z.A.F., held on Saturday evening at the showgrounds.

The function fully maintained the reputation of the unit for snappy action and attracted a large number of members of the unit from other districts War Pledges Fulfilled Almost every surviving member was accounted for, either in person or by message, and it was evident that many had come long distances to fulfil pledges given in the operational field, when it was decided to make this district the venue for the annual reunion in postwar days. In token of the affection in which the men hold Gisborne and its people, the Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, was an honoured guest and received many messages of goodwill on behalf of the town. The reunion programme was organised on a comprehensive scale, members gathering early for a dinner which gave Mr. Barney Wallace an opportunity to celebrate suitably his long connection with the R.N.Z.A.F. “types" who trained in Gisborne. Later the gathering saw three films prepared during the later part of the Pacific war by the New Zealand Government Film Unit, depicting the work of the squadron in the Bougainville area and the conditions under which aircraft were maintained and flown in close contact with enemy air-strips. Many of those present were identified in the films and their screen re-ap-pearances were naturally greeted with derisive comment which in no way detracted from the interest of the display. Welcome to Visitors The reunion proper got under way after the films had been shown, Mr. T. Kent opening the proceedings with a welcome to visitors on behalf of the committee, and then handing the chairman’s gavel to Squadron-Leader Noel James, D.F.C. The toasts included ‘‘The King”, proposed by Mr. Kent; "Absent Comrades’ proposed by Mr. Murray Upton; “No. 30 Servicing Unit”, proposed by Mr. Bruce Tidy and replied to by Mr. D. Black, for the fitters, and Mr. Cyril Tune, for the armourers; “No. 30 Squadron”, proposed by Mr. J. Aitken and replied to by the chairman: “Other Units”, proposed by Mr. R. Wakelin and replied to by Mr. A. E. Ingram; “W.A.A.F.” proposed by Mr. T. Vincent and replied to by Mr. B. Whitehead; “The Visitors” proposed by Mr. S. Eastham and replied to by Messrs. N. H. Bull, A. H. Miller ,and Gordon Jones; and “The Entertainers”, proposed by Mr. F. Ladd and replied to by Mr. J. Vagg. High Spirits and Low Flying

There was a good deal of reminiscent merriment when the Mayor, in his reply to the toast of the visitors, referred to the effects of the high spirits and low flying which had characterised the training performances of the squadron in Gisborne, and also to the "noises off” which accompanied the night-flying work of the Avengers in the late stages of training. Mr. Bull assured the gathering that the protests which had been heard from some sources at the time did not represent the sentiments of the great majority of Gisborne people, who then and now appreciated to the full the association between the squadron and this district.

There was no lack of entertainment during the evening, for speeches were pithy and interspersed with anecdotes which spared few members of the unit. A wide range of songs of the R.N.Z.A.F. were revived ,and the evening was still comparatively young when the armourers put on a display of pyrotechnics which, like the flare-path which lighted the entrance to the showgrounds, was characteristically well done. Much later, the unit members dispersed after having registered their thanks to the organising committee under Mr. Kent, and renewed the pledge to return to Gisborne in future years for their annual gathering.