PLYING KNIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25083, 22 December 1944, Page 7

PLYING KNIGHTS

CATALINA SQUADRON POPULAR R.N.Z.A.F. UNIT (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) SOLOMONS, Dec. J 4 One of the most hard-worked and probably the most popular of R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons operating in the Solomons area is the C'atalina Flyingboat Squadron, engaged on patrols of -hipping lanes. "Dumbo" (air sea rescue) work, joint sea-air operations against enemy submarines and surface vessels, and the supplying of isolated Air I'orce units. Their score ot "Dumbo" rescues now stands at 79. The squadron has its base at a halfmoon bay, "somewhere in the Solomons," where there are a sheltered anchorage and good natural facilities for hauling-out. It- is surrounded by deu-e jungle, and all supplies have to be brought in by water, providing a big job for the übiquitous, ever-toiling marine section. Although they have been notching up "Dumbo" rescues steadily during the last few weeks, the main complaint of squadron members is that nothing ever happens. Admittedly the long sea patrols undertaken by the Catalinas—a patrol of 12 hours is by no means unusual —are mentally and phvsically tiring. Their work would certainly be described by the average onlooker as difficult rather than boring. On the long patrols, small things take on a new significance when they help to break the monotony of staring into the everlasting haze which nearly always hides the horizon. During a flight today, for instance, nearly the whole crew in turn visited the' tiny electric stove amidships nearing lunch time to ensure that the second engineer was doing justice to the luxury of fre i <h

ecgs, and consternation was widespread it was announced that the second egg to be broken into the pan was not as fresh as it might have been, ine small matter of dropping three Isew Zealand newspapers —the latest _ only three days old —to an isolated mission station also engaged the attention or the whole crew. , But although air crews have a tough job—and often a dangerous job when open-sea landings are called for in effecting rescues—they are quick to point out that most credit must eo to the ground staffs, who work through tlie heat of the day, with none of the excitement of operational flying to compensate for the monotony. The only section that has a chance to cool off is the beaching crew, members of which swim out to the aire nut when it is coming ashore to affix lines and landing iiear before towing the fly-ing-boat tail first up over the firm, white sand on to the hard. Equipment for most aircraft repairs is held on the station; but for major repairs and periodical complete overhauls aircraft are sent back to a rear ba.se. New Zealand and Allied air crew and sailors have a warm spot in their hearts for the R.X.Z.A.F. Catalina Squadron. They have good reason. Not for nothing have the men of the squadron been called ''The Flying Knights of the Pacific." DETENTION FOR THEFT Five charges of theft, involving goods to the value of £8 10s 6d, were adj milted by Harpur >iajumaru Paki. ! labourer, aged 20. before Mr J- Morling S.M., yesterday. Detective-Sergeant Trethewey said that accused had admitted taking the goods from parked cars. He was at present on licence from Borstal, and had a number of previous convictions. Although he had a substantial interest in a Maori estate, he confessed that he was unable to refrain from stealing. The magistrate sentenced accused to one year's reformative detention.