AWAITING ORDERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25084, 23 December 1944, Page 8

AWAITING ORDERS

SUNDERLAND FLIGHT POSSIBLE FUTURE DUTIES A duty programme for the four Sim. derlands sent from England to the Royal New Zealand Air Force earlier this month has not yet been prepared but the duty crew now in charge of the flight has held itself and its aircraft in readiness. The majority of the crews went on leave immediately on arrival at Auckland, and the "main activity in the last few days has been the training of second pilots, men who are already experienced Catalina pilots They will join the Sunderland flight. Apart from the training and "check (lights, undertaken once a week, the duty crew under Flight-Lieutenant T E. Neave has been occupied with main' tenance and the routine inspections, Duty Crew Kept Busy Two ot the Sunderlands are on tin slip at Hohsonville, and the others have to bo given the usual daily inspection covering engines, airframe and instruments. as well as the longer overhauls The crew has a full duty roster, and they will not bo relieved until the -e----maindcr of the flight return from | eav(J about the middle of January, Although there is nothing' definite planned, it is likely that the Sunderland flight will be used in much the same way as the. present transport squadron of the Royal New Zealand Ah Force operating from Whenuapai with land planes. The fact that the Sunderlands have a great range, very largely interchangeable with load, makes them a most useful type for Pacific operations. Particularly among the smkller islands where airfield facilities are limited, they should have a wide field of service. Tt is also probable that thev will be used to relieve the congestion on the Tnsman flying-boats to Australia where official passages are concerned. Aircraft's Characteristics j Although similar' in appearance t' | the Tasina 11 Empire boats Aou-arua ami j Awarua, the tour .Sunderlands arc » ! bigger aircraft, with a greater 'bad i capacity. The chief likeness of- the twj types is in the tall (in and rudder and the wing. The Sunderlands, however, have a longer step, a longer nose forward of the cabin, and a better aerofoil section on the top of the fuselage which gives improved flying performance.. Big. ger Bristol engines also give a higher speed, the average on the flight from England being 170 miles an hour. The aircraft in Auckland are a reconversion from the military version of the Short flying-boat, itself a development of the C class boat. The former gun-turret position in the tail has been faired over, and the mid-upper gun turret on the fuselage completely removed. The turret site 111 the lone nose is now replaced with a fairing that slides back to allow access to the how for mooring. BACK FROM WAR SICK AND WOUNDED AUCKLAND PROVINCE LIST The following is a list of sick, wounded and other personnel from the Auckland Province who have recently returned to New Zealand from the Middle East. The address given is of the next-of-kin:— Major K. L. Brown, D.5.0., M.C. (Auckland), Major G. H. Hawkesby (Auckland), Captain A. R. Cramond (Auckland), Temp.Captain R. M. Page, M.C. (Auckland), Second-Lieutenant S. B. Onyon (Auckland), Assistant-Matron K. G. Hall (Helensvilie), Charge-Sister I. C. Healey (Maungaiuroto), Charge-Sister G N. Kingsford (Otabnbn), Charge-Hifcte.' M. E.-Taste (Auckland), StiffXurse M. J McKenzie (Te Kuiti). Pte. G. L. Campbell (Hikurangi), Pte. A. Allen (Auckland), Pte. N. H. Allen (Manngaturoto), Temp.-Slaff-Sgt. J. H. Andrew (Auckland). Pte. E. O. Bali (Bukatere), I'fcr. J. E Barker (Auckland), Pte. J. E.-Bonntr (Auckland). Dvr. W. A. Brown (Te Aroha), Sgmn. G. H. Cates (Auckland), Gnr. W. A. Cboat (Hamilton), Pte. E. C. Clarke (Papakura), Spr. C H. Collins (Auckland), Pte. C. D. Conlon (Portland), W.O.H. W. Dat'if! (Hotorua), Pte. W E. Dnnstan (Arapuni). Pte. M. M. Frost (Hamilton), Sgt. C. R. Goodhew (Dargavitle), Spr. L. B. Harrison (Auckland), Pte A Heka (Te KaeoJ. Gnr. J. Hoffman (KotOrua), Pte. P. Hoffman (Puru), Pte. L. Holemby (Kaitaia), L.-Cpl R. F Hollows (Whangarei), Spr. L. L. Hood (Bombay), Temp.-Sgt. D James (Auckland), Pte. L. E. Jillings (Auckland), Cpl. W. A. Lyons (Auckland). Spr. T, H. MrComb (Rotorua). Pte. R. W. Martin (Auckland). L.-Cpl. P. E. Moncur (Rotorua). Temp.-Sgt. W. T. G. Moore (Tauranga). Dvr. N. B Murphy (Auckland). Pte. W. R. Murray (Auckland). . .. . f . Sgt. J. W. Parker (Auckland), Pte. L. J. Read (Auckland). Pte. C. M. Rendel (Te Puke). Cpl I- A. St, George (Auckland), Pte. H. D. Sanderson (Mats), Pte. R. MStones (Buckland's Beach), Temp.L.-Cpl. 0 \V. V Ushaw (Waiheke Island), Pte. T. 5 Walsh (Auckland), Pte. G. A. WrieV (Auckland), Dvr. R. Woodside (Auckland' AUCKLAND AIRMEN ARRIVAL FROM MIDDLE EAST (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday The following Auckland personnel of the Royal New Zealand Air Force hare arrived in the Dominion from the Middle East and India—Warrant-Offi-cer H 0. Smith, Flying-Officer J. ml-. liams, Corporal G. Blarney, FlightLieutenant C. S. Mathers, Flying-Om cer G. I. Baines. Flying-Officer T. " Morgan (Whakatane). OBITUARY MR ANGUS CALDER fhe death occurred yesterday of Ml 1 Angus Calder, aged 63. of Point Cnevaj Her. Mr Calder, who was born m Auckland and educated at the Ponsonov School, was the fourth 'son of Mr Mrs H. Calder and grandson of early pioneering settlers. For 40 years he wa> an officer of the Auckland Transport Board. His wife died three weeks agoHe is survived by two sons and one daughter. POSTMASTER'S SERVICES (0.C.) ROTORUA, Friday A social gathering representative oi the residents of Rotorua was held in St. Luke's Church hall in honour of " r E. H. Tyler,' postmaster at Rotorua, who has been appointed accountant at the Chief Pos* Office, Aucklana. The Mayor, Mr P. A. Kusabs, presided and made a presentation to the guests of tne evening on behalf of organisations TO which they had been connected in tn town. Other speakers were Mr «• j Ford, chairman of the Rotorua Coun Council, and Archdeacon R- Hodgson. PERSONAL ITEMS The Hon. T. G. do L. D'Alton, HifiJ Commissioner for Australia, left Wellington last night. Mr F. \V. Brabant. Auckland branch manager of the Westport Coar Ltd.. is retiring at the end of tmmonth after 4o years' service with company Mr J T. Butler, inspecting officer 0 the Bank of Australasia, has been appointed manager of the HafflU branch of the bank. He will coffline his new duties next month. Mr H. C. Jameson and Mr D. • Sheath, of the Auckland Junior CJi*» her of Commerce, have been appomu respectively chairman of the sen committee and the finance anl P. lieitv committee of the Auck And polit'an Youth Service Executive <