Northland Pilot In N.Z. Squadron Wounded

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1941, Page 3

Northland Pilot In N.Z. Squadron Wounded

TSpecial to ‘‘Northern Advocate”) AUCKLAND, This Day.

Cabled advice has been received that Pilot-Officer William Arthur Middleton, aged 22, a pilot of the New Zealand fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force, has been injured in night operations and admitted to the York Military Hospital in England.

Pilot-Officer Middleton was one of the 20 pilots recently announced as having been chosen to fly the Spitfire planes purchased with funds subscribed in New Zealand. Claim to Northland Plane. The “Advocate,” referring to this in an editorial, pointed out that PilotOfficer Middleton had strong claim to pilot the Northland Spitfire, his grandfather and father having been born at Kawakawa. His mother’s people arrived in the North in 1837, and her grandfather was one of the early settlers at Kawakawa. PilotOfficer Middleton received his early education at Waipu, where his father was postmaster for ten years.

When he came to Auckland he attended the Auckland Grammar School. He was prominent in sport, playing full-back for the first fifteen and also distinguishing himself as a boxer of more than usual merit. In 1935, on leaving school, he joined the firm of W. D. and H. O. Wills, Ltd., and played football for the College Rifles Club. Pilot-Officer Middleton was trained in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and went to England in June of last year. His success in the sport of boxing continued after he had joined the Air Force, and he won a number of contests. Letters have revealed that he has taken part in raids over Germany and other parts of Europe, and has acted as a member of the aerial bodyguard of the King when His Majesty has been travelling in England. It was announced in the “Advocate” on Wednesday that the New Zealand Squadron had begun operations against the enemy.