FLOWN FROM SYDNEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26176, 12 June 1946, Page 8

FLOWN FROM SYDNEY

STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS MEMBERS OF 2nd N.Z.E.F. (PA) AUCKLAND, June 11. Thirteen of the 27 members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. who have been stranded in Sydney for several weeks were flown home to-day by a Catalina flying boat of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, piloted by Flight Lieutenant S. R. Carleton. The Catalina landed at Mechanics’ Bay shortly after 4 p.m after a particularly rapid crossing ot the Tasman in ideal flying weather. The soldiers made the second fastest Sydney-to-Auckland Catalina flight, the time of seven hours being only 15 minutes over the record. The servicemen were among the last New Zealanders to withdraw from Italy, being engaged on guard duties until March of this year. They spent some leave in Britain and travelled to Sydney on the aircraft carrier Indefatigable. Those whose homes were in the city were dispersed soon after their arrival. The others were accommodated at the Orakei army transit camp, and will leave by air and train in the morning for their home towns. Six members of the draft are South Islanders. A second Catalina will fly to Sydney this week to bring home the 14 servicemen who still remain there.