ROYAL AIR FORCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 14

ROYAL AIR FORCE

SUPERIOR NEW BOMBER NEW ZEALANDER'S LETTER [BT TKIiEGRAPn —OWN* CORRESPONDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, • Friday The advent of a new heavy bomber to the Royal Air Force is mentioned by a New Zealander serving in England in a letter to his parents, Mrs. and Mr. C. S. Keedwell, of Levin. It is stated that this machine will be superior to anything that is at present in service anywhere abroad. Filling the post of operations officer at the Royal Air Force station at ]3ichester and also engagod in antisubmarine patrols on the west coast of England, Pilot-Officer 0. H. Keedwell has had some interesting experiences. "One of our machines on patrol over the Irish Sea in the morning had sighted a submarine," ho fctates in a letter written on September 29, "and I was given instructions to keep a careful watch for it. However, I did not see it, worse luck, as it is the ambition of all of us to bag a submarine. So far I have not seon a TT-boat, and the Navy seems to have them well under dontrol. "Wo are likely to have a, new heavy bomber in service shortly," he continues. "I have seen this aeroplane, which is nearly ready for its trials, and, believe me. it is terrific. It easily outclasses anything in service anywhere in the world. I would like to tell you more about this aeroplane, but it is still very much on the secret list.

"Already our aircraft are proving superior to anything they have come up against and our pilots seem better trained. In our house there are three New Zealanders and one Englishman, so we have named the place New Zealand House, under which we have added the words, 'haerc mai.' Our name-plate has caused quite a lot of comment," the writer concludes.