SERVICE IN PACIFIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24826, 24 February 1944, Page 4

SERVICE IN PACIFIC

OUTSTANDING OFFICERS ORDER OF BRITISH EMPIRE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Awards of the Order of the British Empire to three officers of the Royal New ZeaaLnd Air Force have been announced by the Governor-Gen-eral, Sir Cyril Newall. The awards are: Commander of the Order of the British Empire—Air Commodore Sidney Wallingford.

of the Order of the British Empire—Wing-Commander Eric Maple Lewis. Member of the Order of the British Empire Flight-Lieutenant Ronald Lindsay Mpynoll. The citations state:—

Air Commodore Wallingford served with the British Expeditionary Force and Royal Air Force in the last war, and joined the New Zealand Air Force in 1929. He played a prominent part in the expansion of the New Zealand Air Force, showing ability, resource and initiative. He was Air Force member for personnel during the difficult period following the entry of Japan into the war, and was appointed senior R.N.Z.A.F. officer to co-operate with the American forces in the Pacific iti October. 1912. Ho has been awarded the United States Legion of Merit (officers' degree). Flight-Lieutenant Meynell showed great initiative and ability in carrying out his work in the Pacific, where his squadron took over the installation and supervision of the engineering section at Plaines des Galaca, New Caledonia. The work was handicapped by lack of equipment, but all difficulties were overcome by ingenuity and improvisation, and the standard of maintenance of aircraft was kept up because of Flight-Lieutenant Meynell's capacity. The proportion of serviceable aircraft was always remarkably high. He was Inter appointed station engineer at Espiritu Santo, Now Hebrides, where he gave outstanding service in the coordination and maintenance of aircraft between that station and Guadalcanal Wiing-Commandcr Lewis has given most meritorious service. His wide experience has been utilised in the conducting of general reconnaissance courses for reserve officers, thereby laving the foundation of the later outstandingly successful operations of R.N.Z.A.F. general reconnaissance squadrons. He went to Singapore in 1911 to tnfco over a flight of flyingboats. Later he was appointed officer commanding the flying-boat squadron at Suva, where he became senior stafF officer.

All three officers have their homes in Wellington.

BABY MURDER CHARGE WOMAN BEFORE COURT Arrested in Auckland the previous day, a woman described as an addingmachine operator. Grace Rosaline Robertson, aged 26, was brought before Mr. J. 11. Luxford, S.M., yesterday morning and charged with the murder of her 11-day-old son at Mangaweka on or about December 19 last year She was not represented by counsel. Detective-Sergeant Tret hewev said the case would probably he heard at Wanganui, and he asked for a remand for eight days. Asked bv the magistrate if she had any objection to a remand as requested, accused shook her head, and a remand until March 2 was granted.