AIR SERVICES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17061, 20 September 1929, Page 2

AIR SERVICES

NEW DIRECTOR ARRIVES A DISTINGUISHED OFFICER A British flying-officer with a record for distinguished service, Wing-Com-mander Stuart Crant-Dalton, D.S.Q., A.F.C., of the Royal Air Force, arrived at Wellington from England by the Tamaroa on Wednesday to take up the appointment of Director of Air Services during the absence of Major T. M. Wilkes. Forty-three years of age —he was born on April 5, 1886—Wing-Comman-der Grant-Dalton was educated at Uppingham and Sandhurst, and at the age of 20 was gazetted to the Yorkshire Regiment (the Green Howards), with which lie served in Cyprus and Egypt, at Khartum and in India. lie was adjutant of the sth .Battalion of the jFprkshire Regiment (Territorials) from September, 1913, till lie was wounded at Ypres. For his services in France and Flanders he was mentioned in dispatches. In January, 1916, he obtained his pilot’s certificate with the Royal Flying Corps, and proceeded to Egypt. He saw much flying service in the Near East, gained the D. 5.0., and later a bar to that order, the Air Force Cross, and the Egyptian Order of the Nile, besides being mentioned several times in dispatches. In August, 1916, he was severely wounded, and had the misfortune to lose a leg. ,

After .the war lie commanded the 64th naval wing of the R.A.F.. in .the Middle East in 1919, and in the following year was promoted to the command of Headquarters of the Palestine Group. Returning Inter to England he hold several important appointments in the Royal Air Force there, and recently relinquished command of the Armament and Gunnery School at Eastchurch, Kent.

In announcing the appointment of Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton to the position lie is now to take up, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. T, M. Wilford, said: “New Zealand .is fortunate, indeed, in obtaining the services of suqli a man on the administrative side. In: addition to being a, distinguished airman, ’he is’an aide administrator of nv|ation affairs, and is well qualified to stake charge of all matters affecting civil aviation.” The Minister added thftt Sir John Salmond and Sir Hugh Trenchard, late head of the Royal Air Force, had most, strongly recommended Wjng-Comniarider Grant-Dalton for flic important position in the Dominion. Wing - dommandei- Grant - Dalton, whose appointment is for two years, is accompanied by his wife and two daughters.