WELLINGTON BOMBERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 20

WELLINGTON BOMBERS

OFFICERS FOR FIRST FLIGHT TWELVE NEW ZEALANDERS TRAINING STARTED AT MARHAM (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, July 6. Officers and airmen to form the personnel for the flight of the first formation of six Wellington bombers from England to New Zealand have begun their training at Marham, Norfolk. The officers were posted this week after their names had been approved by the New Zealand Government. Two officers and three men will be allotted to each bomber. Squadron-leader W. M. Buckley, 0.8. E., will command the first flight; Flight-lieutenant C. E. Kay, 0.8. E., will be second in command and navigating officer. The other New Zealand officers will be Flight-lieutenant C. C. Hunter, Flying-officer A. P. Grecnaway, Flying-officer A. A. N. Brecken, Fly-ing-officer J. N. Collins, Pilot-officer J. Adams. Pilot-officer W. H. Coleman, Pilot-officer W. McWilliams, and Pilot-officer T. O. Freeman. The names of Pilot-officer Lucas and Pilot-officer N. Williams have yet to be approved. No indication has been given as to the date upon which this first flight expects to take off for New Zealand, but it is thought that it will be before October 1. * The plans for these Wellingtons have been changed from time to time, so that each announcement can be regarded as only tentative. Whereas it v/as stated a few weeks ago that five flights would be made between August and April, 1940, the latest news is that the last flight will not be formed until October, 1940. The personnel for the second flight is to be assembled on October 1. As already announced in New Zealand, this will be commanded by Flightlieutenant R. Cohen.

Squadron-leader S. Wallingford will command the third, which is to be formed for training on December 1, and Wing-commander J. L. Findlay the fourth, which is not to be selected until July 1, 1940, according to present plans. The commanding officer for the fifth and last flight has not yet been announced. Formation of personnel will not begin until October 1, 1940.