NEW AIR PILOTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 9 July 1941, Page 6

NEW AIR PILOTS

FIRST GRADUATES WINGS PRESENTED CEREMONY IN CANADA Somewhere in Canada. June 9. The first class of New Zealand pilots lo get their wings under the Commonwealth air training scheme received them on Sunday afternoon at an impressive ceremony at a Royal Canadian Air Force flying school. Group Captain L. M. Isitt, liaison officer in Canada for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, presented the wings before the largest crowd to attend a parade at the school to date. Sustained applause greeted the New Zealanders as they stepped forward to get their reward for months of hard work. The parade was more significant than any before because it marked the completion of the first step in the Empire scheme to build in Canada a force of lighting and bombing pilots to stop the Germans in the air. All New Zealanders who graduated previously at any school in Canada were observers or gunners. These latest were fighter pilots. NEW ZEALANDERS LEAD In the whole class there were only five Canadians and only two from Ontario. Group-Captain A. H. Hull, commanding officer of the school, said the New Zealanders had set a high standard, “possibly higher than that of any previous class.” The class was led by New Zealanders. The two top men. J. J. Palmer in first place and C. W. Wright in second place, both came from New Plymouth. All of the five men who % got special distinction passes were from New Zealand, and another five obtained distinction passes. Special distinction means that the candidate obtained anywhere between 80 and 100 marks. Distinction is awarded for 75 to 80 marks. Every one of the New Zealanders got better than 60. RESIDENTS’ TRIBUTE The crowd packed both ends of the drill hall. Not even when dozens of the graduates have been from Ontario has the crowd been so large. “This.” said Group-Captain Hull, "is evidence of the high regard Canada and Canadians have for these young men from New Zealand. These are not relatives, but persons into whose homes these young men have been welcomed. It is a fine tribute to the splendid character of the class. “The New Zealanders have made friends here,” he added. “They have worked well. When these boys go overseas I am certain they will uphold the fin: record established by New Zealand fliers in the last war.” Group-Captain Isitt thanked Canada for the kindness shown to the New Zealand airmen. “It is well to know they are well received.” he said. “It is a privilege to award these first wings to men from New Zealand. It is a big day for New Zealand. SUSTAINED EFFORT "I have read their reports,” he added. “On many of them I found these words: ‘Very satisfactory. Sustained effort throughout.’ What better motto than that for these young men to adopt as they go into service? ‘Sustained effort throughout.’ It means much. If you make your best effort and sustain it throughout your service you will be a credit to yourselves and your country.” Included among the New Zealanders. in addition to the top men Palmer and Wright, were the following:—E. F. Chandler. V. K. Jacobs, D. T. Clouston, G. W. Smith, C. R. Kidd, S. J Medill, A G. St. John. J. H. Hamlin, J. H. Smith. A. C. Kelly, A. R. Taylor, R. Grey, R. H. Jenkins, J. Barton, A. R. Ronson, C. W. Latimer, J. S. Wilson, W Fleming (Nelson), J. D. Gibbon, and H. B. Mutton.