AIRMAN'S RETURN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24536, 19 March 1943, Page 2

AIRMAN'S RETURN

DUTY IN DOMINION LONG SERVICE OVERSEAS One of the original members of No. 75 (New Zealand) Bomber Squadron, Squadron-Leader John Adams, D.F.C., A.F.C., R.A.F., has returned to New Zealand for duty after seven years' service with the Royal Air Force. He was born and educated in Christchurch, and was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in 1936. Squadron-Leader Adams was one of the 12 pilots chosen to fly six Wellington bombers to New Zealand a few months before the outbreak of war, and when hostilities led, the New Zealand Government to offer the machines to the British Government for active service in Europe, he went, with the 11 other pilots, into the flight which in time grew into the famous 75 Squadron.

After 3G raids with No. 75 Squadronleader Adams was appointed to the command of a blind approach training school. For a year instruction was given without missing a day, with seven aircraft and four instructors, and without an accident. Squadron-Leader Adams was then appointed a group training inspector until he was sent to America to test American aircraft. Later he formed a unit in the United States to fly 12 Marauder bombers to Egypt. After his arrival in the Middle East he was with the squadron as an instructor until he was sent to Canada as an instructor for Atlantic ferry pilots. Later he' flew a Flying Fortress from Canada to Britain.