N.Z. Dakotas and Crews Available To Join Berlin Food Ferry

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22695, 21 July 1948, Page 5

N.Z. Dakotas and Crews Available To Join Berlin Food Ferry

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 21. The help of six Dakota aircraft, each manned by a fully trained and highly experienced crew in carrying food into Berlin, is available from New Zealand should the Government decide, in response to a request from Britain, that it will offer the services of the Dominion’s only transport squadron. No. 41 R.N.Z.A.F. unit is now, to a

greater extent than ever before, free to undertake such a special mission becaue of the temporary and indefinite suspension of the Royal Air Force Transport Command service from England to Singapore with which No. 41 squadron was maintaining the link to New Zealand. All available transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force are on the Berlin “lift.” The York planes being used to carry from Britain to Singapore men for the R.N.Z.A.F. have been diverted to the more urgent work of ferrying supplies into Berlin and the New Zealand squadron, which was carrying the men from Singapore •to Whenuapai, has thus been suddenly relieved, at least for the present, of its most important task. No. 41 squadron at present is maintaining a temporary service to Fiji and may make some trips to Australia to bring across the Tasman servicemen from Japan, but otherwise its aircraft and crews are catching up on their routine flying training. Few units would be better suited than the New Zealand squadron to the exacting flying involved in Britain’s enterprise. Its Dakotas, although few in number, can carry a worth-while load of between two and three tons. Moreover, No. 41 squadron is manned almost exclusively by crews which proved themselves during the Second World War in every theatre.

SOVIET FIGHTERS “BUZZ” BRITISH AIRFIELD

(10.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. The British spokesman in Berlin said that between eight and 10 Soviet Yak fighters flew at 1500 ft. across Gatow airport doing rolls. They appeared to have taken off from the nearby Russian air base at Dallgow. American officers said two of the Yaks swep down to “buzz” Gatow field. They then climbed and made a “belly pass” at an American Skymaster transport plane which was passing over the field.

The British said they were not convinced that either the incident was deliberately provocative but both have been reported to the Soviet representaties at the Berlin air safety centre who promised to investigate. British authorities protested to the Russians against direct violation of the air safety regulation by the Russian fighters. Major-General Brownjohn, the Brit-

- Ish deputy Military Governor, sent a ' strong Note to Lieut.-General Dratvin saying that if such violations .were re- ■ peted and incidents resulted Russia * i’would be held responsible.