NEW AIR CHIEF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19792, 21 November 1938, Page 2

NEW AIR CHIEF

- DOMINION FORCE GREAT WAR RECORD EXPLOITS IN THE FIELD FLYING. ACHIEVEMENTS ;Wlng.-Commander Hugh W. L. Saunders, wiho will succeed GroupCaptain the Hon. R. A. Cochrane as Chief of. the Air Staff of New Zealand next February, is a South African with a brilliant record. In addition to the 1914-15 Star and the British Victory War Medals, his decorations include the Military Medal, the Military Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, and the General' Service Medal with the Iraq Clasp. The Military Medal was won for bravery In the field before he joined the Royal Air Force. The Military Cross was "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty." He destroyed five enemy machines, and shot down four out of control. Despatches said: 'He showed great courage and skill in engaging enemy craft, and did splendid service."

Air Formations Scattered When he was awarded the D.F.C., despatches said of him: An officer-of exceptional courage, who, since he was awarded the M.C., has destroyed live enemy aircraft and shot down two balloons in flames. While on patrol he observed a formation of seven hostile scouts below him. Diving to attack he engaged the leader, and, firing short bursts at close range, shot him down nose foremost; the remainder of the formation scattered in all directions." The Bar to the D.F.C. was awarded "for gallantry and unflinching example on all occasions, especially during the operations around Samawah, where he descended to very low altitudes to drop food and supplies on the garrison at Samawah and ithe gunboat Greenfly. This officer's machine has been put out* of action by hostile Are on several occasions." Enlisted as a Private Born in Johannesburg 44 years ago, he was educated at the Marist Brothers' College, and in the four years before the war he studied goldmining. Three weeks after the outbreak of hostilities, he joined up as a private in the 10th Witwatersrand Rifles, later becoming a Sapper in the South African Engineering Corps. In 1910 he was transferred to the South African Horse, and from December, 1917, until the end of the war he served with the R.F.C. and the R.A.F, j In France. He received a permanent commission to the Royal Air Force as a flying officer in August, 1919. Service in Middle East The following year Wing-Com-mander Saunders spent in Egypt, and in 1920 was sent to Iraq for three years. During that period, in 1921, he was promoted to flight-lieutenant. Work at headquarters and at the Air Ministry followed, and. in 1929, he became squadron-leader, after taking a stafl course at the R.A.F. Staff College. In 1932 he was appointed to the command of No. 45 (B) Squadron of the Middle East in Egypt. On re-' turning to England after three years lie was .promoted to wing-commander. Former Rugby Player Wing-Commander Saunders began a course at the Imperial Defence College in January of this year. It is expected that he will arrive in New Zealand toward the end of February, accompanied by his wife and two sons. The new Chief of Staff is looking forward with pleasure to his stay of two years in the Dominion. Apart from the interest of his work, he is keen as a former Rugby player to see New Zealand teams on the field. Tennis, golf, and squash racquets are his other sporting interests.