TERRITORIAL AIR SQUADRON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 13 December 1938, Page 8

TERRITORIAL AIR SQUADRON

EXERCISES WITH 11.M.5. EEANDER I United Press Association] AUCKLAND, 12th December. A highly-suceessful exercise was carried out by members of the Auckland Territorial Air Squadron as H.M.S. Leander approached Auckland after her Island cruise. One of the new Airspeed Oxfords left Hobsonville air base at 11.30 a.m. and intercepted the Leanler about 80 miles from port. Flying at a height of 10,000 feet, the machine observed the course and speed of the cruiser and flew back to Hobsonville. From the information given the members of the squadron worked out the appro limate position of the warship at 3 p.m. Three Blackburn Baffins took off ' from Hobsonville at 2.55 p.m. on a di-H vergent search for the Leander, which }; was located near Tiritiri. The vessel' j was shadowed till 4 p.m., when a dive bombing attack was carried out off ) Rangitoto beacon. Squadron Leader Allan was in command and was the formation leader. Flying Orticver Fisher and Pilot Officer j Robinson flew the other two machines. t The observers in all three machines were pilots of the Auckland Territor- i ial Air Squadron. The exercise was £ directed by Pilot Officer Robertson ad-! t jutant of the squadron. j c