LAST VISIT OF LORD GALWAY

Southland Times, Issue 24273, 2 November 1940, Page 6

LAST VISIT OF LORD GALWAY

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY BY AIR FORCE (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, November 1. A short but impressive ceremony was staged at the Air Force station at Wigram today on the occasion of the last official visit of the Governor-General (Lord Galway) and Lady Galway to the station. The ceremony took the form of a march past by 1000 airmen of the station, followed by a fly-past of aircraft and a demonstration of the phases of training that are carried out at the flying training schools beyond the elementary stages. Air firing training, which is naturally a very important consideration in the training of operational pilots was demonstrated by aircraft attacking the aerodrome. Dive-bombing, as practised by pilots who will join operational squadrons, provided an effective display, low-level attacks being made by Oxford aircraft. As all pilots must be trained to have a full knowledge of their aircraft and their behaviour in the air, there is no better method of ensuring this than by teaching the pupil aerobatics. In today’s display, aerobatics were limited but they were greatly appreciated by the visitors. Instrument flying by two aircraft also provided an interesting demonstration. The final event of the display was an exhibition of synchronized aerobatics which required considerable judgment and anticipation by the pilots of the two aircraft carrying put the manoeuvres, as well as a high degree of skill in the forming of the actual evolutions themselves. While the main items of the display were in progress, formations of Oxfords and Fairey Gordon aircraft flew overhead and displayed most effectively the pitch of training to which pilots can be brought in the comparatively short space of time which is available for their training.