EXCHANGE OF OFFICERS

Southland Times, Issue 23254, 17 July 1937, Page 8

EXCHANGE OF OFFICERS

ARRANGEMENTS IN AIR FORCE

ARRIVAL OF FIRST TWO FROM ENGLAND

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 16.

The first officers to come to New Zealand under the arrangements made by the Government for the exchange of Royal New Zealand Air -Force officers with Royal Air Force officers arrived from England by the Arawa They are Flight Lieutenant W. M. Grundy, who is a specialist signals officer, and Flight Lieutenant L. Crocker a specialist engineer. Both will be attached to the Royal New Zealand Air Force for a term of two years. The New Zealand officers sent to England under the agreement between the two Governments were Squadron Leader Buckley, Officer Commanding. Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Hobsonville and Flying Officer Duffey, who was stationed at Wigram aerodrome. In order to overcome the difficulty of providing the necessary specialist officers the Royal Air Force agreed to send in exchange a specialist engineer and a specialist signals officer.

Flight Lieutenant Grundy, who joined the Royal Air Force in 1926. has served with fighter squadrons since then and was attached to the fleet air arm for three years. Recently he has been serving with one of the squadrons concerned with the defence of London.

Flight Lieutenant Crocker, who has been in the Royal Air Force since 1927 has served in flying-boat squadrons and was once stationed at Singapore. He was one of the crew of the supermarine Southampton flying-boat that made a flight from Singapore to Sydney some time ago. The two officers were met on arrival by Squadron Leader Nevill, air staff and intelligence officer at the air headquarters, Wellington, and Flight Lieutenant Lester, officer commanding the Hobsonville air base They wilspend a few days at Hobsonville and will then proceed to Wellington, where they will probably be attached to the air headquarters staff.