COMMISSIONS WON

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24424, 6 November 1942, Page 4

COMMISSIONS WON

AIRMEN IN CANADA NEW AIR CREW CATEGORIES (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Thursday The iirst New Zealand airmen to be commissioned in Canada in the new air-crew category of air-bomber are Sergeants c;ly 11 Fisher, formerly of Wellington. S'dwyn James Climb, Gisboine, and Andrew Albert Haydon, Gisborne, states official advice received by Air Headquarters, Wellington, from the New Zealand Air Mission, Ottawa. The airmen, who commenced Canadian training early this year, will be among the first New Zealanders to wear the winged "B" badge, which is indicative of their work as air-bombers. The new category is derived from the recent diversification of the torrner "trades" of air-observer and air-gunner into 11 new categories. This grouping, which results from a decision at a recent conference in Ottawa of Empire air training scheme officials, will apply in the case of air-crew personnel from all the Dominions contributing to the training scheme. Until a short time ago, the training categories available under the scheme to New Zealand airmen, or, in fact, all airmen trained under the scheme, were airman-pilot, air-observer and air-gun-ner. The "trade" of pilot has not altered under the new arrangements, and pilots will continue to be trained in the same way and will continue to wear the familiar double wings. Eleven Classes

The new categories will be as follows: —Observer, who navigates and bombs, and whose services are required in light, bombers and some reconnaissance types; observer (W.l.)j who navigates, bombs and operates wireless equipment in Mosquito bombers; navigator, who navigates only in medium and heavy bombers; navigator (W.T.), who navigates and operates wireless in long-range fighters; navigator (radio), who navigates and operates special equipment in night fighters; airbomber, who bombs only in medium and heavy bombers; wireless-operator-air-gunner, who operates guns and wireless in various types; wireless-operator-air-gunner, who operates guns and wireless and special equipment in certain types; air-gunner, who operates only guns in certain aircraft; flight-engineer and sundry other Air Force tradesmen, such as flight-mechanic and wireless-opera-tor-mechanic, who may be members ot the air-crew in a large aircraft, such as a flying-boat. All airmen engaged in the new categories will wear a winged badge appropriate to their duties. Winged Badges Navigators will wear a winged "N." air-bombers a winged "15," flight-engineers a winged "E," and airgunners will continue to wear the winged "A-G" badge above the left tunic pocket. and the wirelessoperator's badge on the arm. Those who are still classed as observers will continue to wear the winged .Men whose aircraft trades necessitate their serving in large aircraft as members of the air-crew will wear no badge unless they have also qualified in. air gunnery. It is intended that all trained airmen at present wearing the winger! "0" or "A-G" badges will, if necessary, be placed in categories according to the new schedule and issued with the appropriate badges.

SOLDIERS' OFFENCES COMMENT BY JUDGE (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday "Undisciplined louts are of no more use in the Army than in civil life," said Mr. Justice Johnston this morning, when sentencing three young soldiers on a series of charges of breaking, entering and theft, and attempted breaking and entering, to which they had pleaded guilty in the Police Court last. week. Tlie men were James Ernest Ward. Owen Mervin Howse and Stanley Thomas Port. The accused were admitted to probation for 12 months, conditional on their paying £lO each toward the cost of the prosecution and making restitution of the stolen or damaged goods. They are to be returned to the army detention camp from which they escaped. CONVERSION OF OAR INCIDENT AT PAPAKURA "Had you not been in uniform 1 would have sent you to gaol for two months," said Mr. F. 11. Levien, S.M.. at Papakura yesterday in admitting Frederick Woulfe Flanagan, a soldier, to two years' probation for unlawful conversion of a motor-car at Papakura on September 16. Sergeant Dyer said the owner of the car was attending the pictures and when ho came out of the theatre he saw accused and two soldiers pushing his car, which had been parked outside the theatre, along the Great South Road. These soldiers had previously been spoken to by the police, who saw them trying to start the car. Accused stated then that a friend of his owned the car. Accused, who pleaded guilty, took full responsibility for the action of the other two soldiers. An application by accused for the suppression of his name on account of his wife's health was refused. VERDICT OF SUICIDE (O.O.) WHANGAREI, Thursday A verdict of death from a gunshot wound, self-inflicted, was the finding of the coroner, Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe, J.P., at the adjourned inquest into the death of Ronald Anthony Mulcock, aged 21, of Hamilton, a. member of the Aerodrome Defence Unit, at an aerodrome on September 2. Tho guards on duty with Mulcock said that, as far as they knew, he was not depressed, and he had been eligible for transfer. The medical evidence showed that it was possible, but highly improbable, that death was accidental.