OFFICERS STRUCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22941, 20 January 1938, Page 11

OFFICERS STRUCK

AIR FORCE PILOT COURT-MARTIAL EVIDENCE LONDON. Jan. 18 Pilot-Officer Frederick Eobert McQuire, aged 23, of the 114 th bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force, who stated that he, with a friend, flew from Australia to join up, pleaded not guilty at a court-martial at Wyton aerodrome, to charges of striking his superior officers. The prosecution alleged that, at an inter-squadron guest night on December 9,' the customary mess games included cock-fighting, in which officers lay on the floor and attempted to overturn each other with their legs. While it was being played, squadron feoling developed and McQuire twice struck Flight-Lieutenant Ash, who asked him to play fair. He also twice struck Squadron - Leader Frcebody, commanding the 114 th squadron, who told McQuire to go to his room, and then placed him under arrest. Freebod.y, in giving evidence, said that cock-fighting was* a common custom in the three Services. He ordered two of his biggest officers to guard McQuire's room when the others wanted to beat him.

McQuire, in giving evidence, said he had been a boxer. He had apologised for striking the officers. He remembered little regarding the events as his head had got "wuzzy" at dinner time.

The defence urged that a man of such character should not be lost to the Air Force. The sentence will be promulgated.