‘TINY TAKES A BOW’

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19890, 18 March 1939, Page 4

‘TINY TAKES A BOW’

FAREWELL TO AVIATION PIONEER PILOT RETIRES SQUADRON-LEADER WHITE PUBLIC TRIBUTE PAID The completion of Squadron-Leader T. W. White’s flying career of 23 years was made the occasion of a striking tribute to the pioneer airman yesterday, when a gathering of between 200 and 300 Gisborne people greeted him at Darton Field aerodrome as he brought the Dragon plane down after his final flight from Napier to Gisborne. Three planes of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club provided an escort for Squadron-Leader White’s machine on the _ journey from Napier, and his colleagues among the Union Airways pilots chaired him from the plane to a platform arranged in the lee of the new hangar, where presentations and complimentary speeches were tendered to Squadron-Leader White. The Mayor and representatives of several district organisations were present, and took part in the tribute to the retiring aviator, while many telegrams were received, conveying good wishes to Squadron-Leader White, and compliments upon his long and valuable services to aviation. Minister’s Congratulations Among these messages was the following from the Minister in charge •of Civil Aviation, the Hon. F. Jones: “I understand that you are relinquishing your position with Union Airways, and that to-day you are making your last flight in commercial aviation. In extending to you my best wishes for your future prosperity, I wish also to convey to you my high appreciation Of the splendid service you have rendered to aviation in this Dominion, as one of the able pioneers of this most modern and rapid means of transport. It must be some consolation to you to know that wonderful progress has been made, in respect of which your able help and assistance has been an important factor. lam hope ful that your experience and knowledge will not be entirely lost to aviation. Kindest regards.” Others whb sent their greetings by telegram included iMr, F. M. Sherwood, private secretary to the Minister, Colonel N. S. Falla, chairman of directors of Union Airways, Limited, Group-Captain Wilkes, Comptroller of Civil Aviation, Wing-Com-mander Olsen, officer commanding at HobsOnville aerodrome, Auckland, and Middle District aero clubs. Promotion Of Airmindedness On the platform were the Mayor and representatives of aviation interests and the Returned Soldiers’ Association, who offered their congratulations to Squadron-Leader White on his fine work for the development of flying, particularly on the East Coast. The Mayor remarked that friends of Squadron-Leader White’s had felt that the occasion could not be allow- 1 ed to pass without recognition, in a small way, as he had done more for flying in this district than anyone, and perhaps as much for flying in the Dominion as any other one man. He bad instructed the earliest club pupils here, and had promoted airmindedness among the general public by his ability to instil confidence in the safety of aviation. His genial manner, and his judgment in knowing the right moment to offer a few words of encouragement to nervous passengers on their first flight, had been great assets to commercial aviation. His qualifications as a pilot had .been recognised in 1937 by the award of the Efficiency Medal, this being the first time this award had been made in New Zealand. In his new career, he would have the best wishes of all Gisborne people for his success, prosperity and happiness. War Comrades’ Message Colonel R. F. Gambrill offered the congratulations of Squadron-Leader White’s comrade veterans on the com. pletion of a career which had established his name among the pioneers of aviation in New Zealand, Returned men felt that their organisation enjoyed a reflected glory from “Tiny” White’s excellence as a pilot, and there could be no doubt that his efficiency and personality had done much to make Gisborne people airminded. He offered Squadron-Leader White a “Digger’s farewell” so far as his flying career was concerned, but assured him that the ex-servicemen of the district would continue to take a keen interest in his prosperity. The personal efforts of SquadronLeader White for the establishment of flying in the district were also referred to by Mr. J. G. Nolan, who stated that but for Squadron-Leader White’s work there might not now be an aerodrome at Gisborne. The personal qualities which had been so valued by the public in connection with commercial aviation, had been valued even more highly by those who had been his pupils in the earlier days of flying. Substantial Presentations On behalf of the Gisborne Aero Club and friends of Squadron-Leader and Mrs. White, Mr. Nolan presented the retiring pilot with a well-filled wallet, suitably inscribed to mark the occasion. Squadron-Leader A. G. Gerrand expressed the regret felt by all Union Airways’ pilot? regarding the severance of his professional connection with flying and added that they would still cultivate the personal connection which they all valued highly. They offered congratulations to him and Mrs. White on the commencement of a new phase of his career, and wished him to accept as a memento of tinoccasion a cocktail set, as the gift of the Union Airways' pilots. Mr. Pat Barker, president of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club, on behalf of his club’s membership, expressed regret thai bad not thought of ore-mi' : v' tion of the kind for “Tiny” White. They felt a peculiar interest in the retiring flier, for they had, in I°' dug him out of another post and «!t----ablished him as instructor to Hawke’s Bay club, conferring upon him duties which included the raising of finance among other things. The club had three planes in commission, and all three had flown from Napier to do honour to their old associate.

Mr. Barker added that he and his fellow-members regarded SquadronLeader White as a splendid personal friend, and wished him every success for the future. “Grown Old In Profession”

Cheers and musical honours were

accorded to Squadron-Leader and Mrs. White, and in his reply the guest of honour acknowledged with deep appreciation the compliments paid to him. He mentioned that on his final trip he had had as a Mr. Bob Porter, one of his first pupils, and that he valued keenly the personal messages he had received from old friends.

“I feel that 1 have grown old in the profession, and that it is time for me to leave it to the younger fellows, who will carry it on as well as I have, if not better,” added SquadronLeader White, who said that he had kept the first docket issued by the Hawke’s Bay Aero Club in 1928, and proposed to hand this to the president of the club, for whom it might have some historical value.

Since joining East Coast Airways. Limited, he continued, he had made 2073 trips between Gisborne and Napier, and carried about 8000 passengers. The service had begun without many of the aids to navigation and convenience now established; thanks to the East Coast Airways’ directors, to whom the district owed a great deal. He personally wished to thank the ground staff at Darton Field, and especially Mr, Jack Pellow, with whom, in 10 years’ association, he had worked in complete harmony. That harmony had helped to make the record of flights of the company as near 100 per cent of regularity as was possible.

Early Associations Recalled

Squadron-Leader White algo referred to the early assistance given by Mr. R. C. Fisken, who had made available a paddock from which the initial flying instruction had been carried on here; Mr. George Nfcholls, a staunch supporter of civil aviation; Messrs. Burt and Bray, who had done much to attract pilots to Gisborne; and others who had helped to establish aviation in the district. He acknowledged, too, the unfailing interest and devotion of Mrs. White, who he felt would be very happy to know that his flying career was closing.

“I leave it to the younger pilots to carry on the work 1 haw a do. I know that they will do it well, for they would not be flying if they were not good chaps,” he said in conclusion. “The airways want none but the best. I have loved aviation, and I am leaving it with many personal regrets."