BOMB PRACTICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 15

BOMB PRACTICE

TERRITORIAL PILOTS FIRST TIME IN AUCKLAND COURSE COMMENCES TO-DAY UPPER HARBOUR AREA CHOSEN Pilots of the Auckland territorial squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, will undertake bombing practice for the first time to-day. The practices, which will be carried out with 81b. smoke-bombs on an area set apart on the upper harbour, will continue at intervals for a fortnight, the most intensive period being on Saturday and Sunday. The area to bo used for the bombing will extend across the entrance of the Henderson Creek and between the old Hobsonville and Te Atatu wharves. A red flag will bo flown on the area known as "aerodrome point" while the practices are in progress.

Notice of the reserving of the area for bombing practice has ah'eady been given to mariners by tho Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at Auckland, Captain H. T. W. Wilcox. In reaching a decision to use the area chosen, it was considered suitable for the purpose as it consisted of mud and sandflats, there being little or no navigation in the creek.

The bombing practice will form part of the training of the pilots of the squadron, which is commanded by Squadron-Leader D. M. Allan. Using the Blackburn Baffin machines with which tho squadron is equipped, the pilots will fly over the bombing range, dropping tho small practice-bombs on fixed ground targets.

The adjutant of the squadron, FlyingOfficer L. A. Robertson, will superintend the bombing practice, in which eight or nine pilots will take part during tho course. The majority will do their bombing at the week-end. Other ranks of tho squadron will commence their annual training at the air force base at Hobsonville to-mor-row. About 80 men will be in camp until February 28, and they will be inspected on February 23 by the Chief of Air Staff, Group-Captain the Hon. R. A. Cochrane.