AVIATION PIONEERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20080, 18 October 1928, Page 10

AVIATION PIONEERS.

WORK DURING THE WAR.

training for service.

KOHIMARAMA FLYING SCHOOL.

activities after hostilities.

No. in. The first flight of Mr. Vivian Walsh with a pupil for training for tho Royal Flying Corps was made on October 2, 1915, and the first solo flight of a pupil on November 28. less than two months later. The school, which received important financial support from Mr. E. A. Dexter, had undertaken to the Imperial Government that it would train and despatch suitable candidates for tho Royal Flying Corps possessed of the certificates issued by the Royal Aero Club. As might bo expected the first in New Zealand to qualify for one of these was Mr. Vivian Walsh, whose certificate is dated July 13, 1916. Incidentally, Mr. Walsh is one of the few pilots in the world to-day who gained his mastery of tho art unaided by any teacher. From the moment the flying school was established applicants of a fine type camo forward in large numbers. At no time during the long progress of the war were tho Walshes able to cope with tho number of applicants corning forward; and they were much hampered by lack of equipment, or, in other words, of adequate finance. A few private individuals stood by the enterprise most generously, but' from its commencement the school was entirely self-supporting and receive! do subsidies of any sort.. Proininaiit among the enthusiastic supporters of the school was Mr. Fred Earl, K.C., through whose active efforts it came about that the school was formed into a company and finance provided for its expanding work. Another generous friend to whom the school owed much was Mr. A. B. Williams, of Hawke's Bay. Without Government Assistance.

It was dependent upon pupils' fees and upon the aid of supporters who realised the usefulness of the work being done. Whatever tho reason may have been it appears that New Zealand was tho only part of the Empire in which there was a civil organisation training aviators for war purposes without Government assistance. The usual Imperial grant of £75 toward the expense ot qualifying was made available to accepted candidates, and all expenses of transport to England and subsequent charges were borne by tho British Government. Their own design Wftloh flying-boat, equipped with a 70 h p. Anzani motor, was used in tho early training operations. Subsequently, a Caudron biplane, fitted with a 60 h.p. Le Rhone motor, was purchased. Floats were built at the school, and the machine converted to a hydro-aeroplane. Good progress was made with these two machines, but the difficulty of obtaining spares for the motors frequently hampered operations. A Curtiss 90 h.p. flying-boat was later added to the equipment, and three of the pupils trained by Mr. V. C. Walsh, Messrs. M. Matthews, P. R. Going, and G. Bolt, joined tho staff to assist in tho training work. Mr. 11. J. Johnson gave invaluable service as foreman mechanic.

Difficulties and Delays. The difficulties and delays experienced in obtaining suitable materials and engine spares interfered seriously with the school work from timo to time. Mgny spares and replacements had to be ma<ie in the school workshops. Notwithstand ing these somewhat frequent delays and interruptions, a steady supply of certifi cated men was sent forward to England, and the demand for tuition constantly increased. With a view to obtaining fur ther capital a limited liability company was formed at the latter end of 1917, and in a short time the capital was fully subscribed by well-wishers of the school throughout the Dominion. This enabled further machines to be constructed and the whole plant and equipment to be extended. At tho ' time of the Armistice the equipment included two twin-flaat hydro-aeroplanes, a Curtiss flying-boat, three Walsh flying-boats, including the original one, and a fourth Walsh "flyineboat nearing completion. Some of these were always greatly in evidence at tho return of any troopship to Auckland, when they would fly out to greet it. circle round and drop on the decks roessages and packages of sweets and cigar ottes provided by the Patriotic Association.

Post-War Activities. During its period of "activity the Kohimarama Flying School trained 110 men. many of whom afterwards won distinction for themselves and their country by the services they rendered in the Imperial Air Forces. A list of the war honours conferred on pupils of the school includes the following notable names: — Major K. L. Caldwell, M.C., D.F.C.: Captain G. C. Callender, Order of the Crown of Italy: Captain W. W. Cook, M.C.; Captain H. W. Collier, M.C.; Captain R. 13. Bannermnn, D.F.C. and bar; Captain M. C. McGregor, M.C.; Captain R. Russell. D.F.C.; Captain, H. I'. Drewitt, M.C.; Captain F. S. Gordon, D.F.C. .... .. The progress of civil aviation here fttter the war was marked by many striking and spectacular developments. For a time the company initiated a regular mail service between here and W hatifiarei. So speedy were the machines ihal at election time in 1922 one of them was able to deliver a load of Heralds containing all the news of the polls at Whangarei, return and pick up another loau for Thames, deliver it and get back to Auckland again all before most people had had their breakfast. Bishop Cleary was the first bishop in Australia or Now Zealand to make tro of an aeroplane in visiting his diocese, and he did so with great economy of time for a considerable period. Mercury Bay, Kawhia and Raglan wore among the places to which lie was conveyed by the pilots of the Kohimarama School. Useful In Emergencies.

A persistent policy was followed by tlio school of making their machines kno%vj practicallv all over the North Island, anil during 1920 and 1921 there were very few ports or inland centres that did not have at least ono visit from 0:10 of them. There was always ono in readiness at Kohimarann. and often it was called upon in suddm emergency. An American scientist on his way back to an important convention found that he had just missed the Vancouver boat. After communicating with the flying school 110 sped out to Kohimarama by motor-car, and in a coin,Earativelv few minutes he was safely rought by flying-boat up alongside the big steamer and taken aboard. .Sometimes doctors were '.akep out by seaplane to far-distant patients on the coast, and occasionally an Auckland specialist would be rushed away by aeroplane io perform a delicate operation at some inland centre. In 1923 the Government took over the Canterbury Aviation Company's equipment- at Sockliurn, and toward the cud of 1924 tho Kohimarama School completed similar arrangements with the Government Tho amount of revenue coming in was totally inadequate to maintain the establishment, and this led to its being handed over. The equipment at that time- included four flying-boats, three seaplanes and five land planes. Some of the land planes had been presented to the New Zealand Government by the Imperial authorities and loaned by it to the flying school,