BRILLIANT STRATEGIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26693, 12 February 1948, Page 7

BRILLIANT STRATEGIST

SIR ARTHUR CONINGHAM’S DEATH CLOSE LINK WITH DOMINION Rec. 10 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 11. Sir Arthur Coningham, who was lost on January 30 in a Tudor IV aircraft on a flight from Bermuda was, with Lord Tedder, one of the main architects of the air side of the plan to integrate the three services, says The Times in an obituary. The tribute adds that Sir Arthur was more than an efficient aii commander, he was a brilliant strategist. The distinguished service career of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham commenced in 1914 when, at the age of 19 years, he enlisted for service with the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was born in Brisbane, but preferred to be known as a New Zealander as he was educated in Wellington and served with the New Zealand Forces. On his enlistment in 1914 he served with the detachment which was sent to occupy Samoa and in 1915 sailed for Egypt. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and served with distinction in France, being awarded the M.C., the D,5.0., and the D.F.C., and several mentions in despatches. He served in Kurdistan in 1923, and this service was recognised by a further mention in despatches. In 1925 he flew from Cairo to Kano, and for this feat and for his service to the Royal Air Force he was awarded the Air Force Cross. He was Air Officer Commanding tne Western Desert in 1941-1943, and his tactical methods were recognised as breaking the Luftwaffe at El Alamein. He commanded the Allied air forces in Tunis in 1943, and was Air Officer Commanding the North West African Tactical Air Force in 1943-1944. His appointment as commander of the Second Tactical Air Force in Britain in 1944 was made in time for the D-Day landings in Normandy, and throughout this crucial period, Sir Arthur displayed exceptional tacticalskill which contributed largely to the decimation of the Luftwaffe and the ultimate collapse of enemy opposition in this theatre.