FLEW OVER MT. COOK

Grey River Argus, 7 April 1943, Page 1

FLEW OVER MT. COOK

AIRMAN CHARGED With Disobedience P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. An accusation of conduct prejudicial to good order and air force discipline by improperly obtaining access to information about the posting of personnel, maae afuginst Sergeant Thomas Rodgers Donaghy, was dismissed byj a Court Martial at a Royal New Zealand Air Force Station. Sergt. Donaghy was also charged (1) that in a report he knowingly made a false statement to the effect that on January 27, 1943, having completed a 1 flight authorised as a navigation, flight, he entered in the Flight Authorisation Book initials to the effect that the duty as authorised had been carried out; and (2) that he disobeyed a lawful command given by a superior officer in that, when ordered by his flight commander to carry out a navigational flight, he did not do so. Donaghy, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. The findings of the Court on these two charges will be forwarded to the convener, Air Commodore R. B. Bannerman, for confirmation. The prosecution, in the first charge of misconduct, alleged that Sergt. Donaghy had broken ‘into a cabinet in his Squadron, Leader’s office and obtained information about the posting of personnel. In a statement placed before Court Sergt. Donaghy said that an airman, in sweeping out the administrative office on the station, had come upon a rejected slip bearing notes which appeared to have been taken in a telephone conversation. Indications o.f postings were given, and this was where he had obtained his information. He had been celebrating at a passing-out dance, and he was not prepared to discuss anything he might have said to others there. The prosecuting officer said that his case rested mainly on Sergt. Donaghy’s admissions. Evidence about forcing of the cabinet was unsatisfactory. He would abandon the charge. However, Donaghy had no right to investigate papers found m an officer’s quarters. The charge was dismissed. Opening evidence on the other two charges, Flyjng Officer E. R. L. Bennett said he had taken a summary of evidence from Sergt. Donaghy, in which Donaghy admitted making an unauthorised FLIGHT OVER MOUNT COOK. on January 27, and he also admitted that he initialled a form indicating that the prescribed flight had been carried out. Called again, Flying Officer Arkle'y reported a' similar admission by accused at the passing-out dance. During subsequent argument, Flight Lieutenant R. S. C. Carr, for Sergt. Donaghy, asked if it would be proper for him to indicate that there was some looseness in the supervision of the records. Wing Commander S. L. Gilkison (the President): “It would not be a defence, . but it might> be a mitigation.” Fjlight Lieutenant Ag'ar cross-ex-amined witness about the practice on the station where the offence was alleged to' have occurred. Sergt Donaghy’s navigator, Sergt. E. R. Hope, said that the records of flights were often not checked. He knew of instances where certain assigned exercises had not been carried out, and the pilots had been instructed to enter them as having been completed. Flying Officer D. A. Young, who had ordered Sergt. Donaghy to make a. cross-country flight, gave evidence of operations on his station. The accused had admitted making a flight over Mount Cook; said the ■defending officer, but he denied that any offence had been committed. The personnel on the station concerned had found that little interest was taken in their flights as they became advanced pupils, and it appeared to them that the sole object was to build up flying time. The accused, had covered the course that he was instructed, to cover many times, and when he had encountered bad weather along the coast, he made a diversionary flight to Mount Cook. In a statement along these lines Sergt Donaghy added that once, on a fenkf flight between air stations, he had done 10 minutes instrument flying, he had been directed to enter the time a's 30 minutes.