AIR DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 15

AIR DEFENCE

BAFFIN AEKOPLANES SECOND-HAND MACHINES USED "TO LIMITED EXTENT" [by telegraph—press association] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday Although the 12 Blackburn Baffin aeroplanes ordered by the Government for the New Zealand Territorial Air Force are not new, but second-hand machines, they have not had much use in the Royal Air Force in England. This was made clear by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, when inquiries were made to-day. It was submitted to the Mi luster that his statement of Thursday did . not indicate definitely whether the Baffin aeroplanes were new or second-hand, and Mr. Jones replied as follows: —"The Baffin aircraft for the Territorial Air Force have been used only to a limited extent by the Royal Air Force."

OFFICER'S RETIREMENT WING-COMMANDER CALDWELL [by telegraph—press association] WELLINGTON. Friday The pending retirement of WingCommandor K. L. Caldwell, of the NewZealand Air Force, was announced today by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F.* Jones. He will be succeeded by Squadron-Leader E. A. Gibson. The Minister paid tribute to WingCommander Caldwell's war record. He was retiring at his own request, and would shortly be posted to the retired list. Wing-Commaiuler Caldwell served with great distinction with the Royal Air Force in France during the war, and for some time commanded the famous No. 74 'Squadron, in which Major "Mick" Mannock, V.0., D.5.0., one of the greatest British fighting pilots, who brought down about 80 German machines, served until not long before his death. Squadron-Leader Gibson, formerly assistant Public Works engineer at Christchurch, was appointed in 1934 to supervise the development of aerodromes in the Dominion, having specialised in the study of airports. He was later given a commission as flightlieutenant, and more recently promoted to squadron-leader.