FLOWN ATLANTIC BEFORE

Southland Times, Issue 25538, 5 December 1944, Page 4

FLOWN ATLANTIC BEFORE

Southlanders Among Sunderland’s Crew TRAINING IN CANADA Flying the Atlantic Ocean on the first stages of their journey to New Zealand with four Sunderland flying boats was no novelty for the three Southland officers in No. 4 Boat which arrived at Auckland at the weekend— Flight-Lieutenant R. E. Stevenson, Flying Officer A. G. Sutherland and Flight Sergeant D. A. Anderson. All received their training in Canada and upon completion they were posted to England. After service with the Coastal Command they were attached to a New Zealand squadron which was given special duty service in British West Africa. That duty consisted mainly of convoy work and anti-submarine patrols, not so arduous, perhaps, as the exciting periods of English coastal patrol, but none the less important. Flight Lieutenant Stevenson’s first crossing of the Atlantic was taken more than two years ago, when he and other members of the R.N.Z.A.F. were posted to pick up aircraft and' ferry them to England. They undertook the crossing at night, consequently navigation was done with the aid of the stars. Ice was a hazard—most trying for the young airman flying at 20,000 ft, but before they realized it the 2200 miles of the crossing had been covered. They landed in Scotland in time for breakfast. Flight Lieutenant Stevenson has been on active service for almost four years. In Canada he gained the highest marks in his class and was presented with a navigator’s watch by the president of an airport company. He is the navigational officer of his crew in the Sunderland. Before going overseas he was associated with his father, Mr J. K. Stevenson, of Herbert street, in the engineering trade. He is an old boy of the Southland Boys’ High School, and he was a member of the Invercargill Cricket Club. MARRIED ENGLISH GIRL Flying Officer A. G. Sutherland is better known as the mercurial Rugby three-quarter who played a big part in the success of the Southland Rugby team in 1939 and gained the reputation of No. 1 three-quarter for New Zealand in that season. He was married at Hounslow, England, less than three months ago to Miss Jean Long, daughter of Mr and Mrs Long, of Hounslow. Flying Officer Sutherland has played Rugby in several countries abroad. In 1941, when training in Canada, he created a big impression among American football coaches who watched his play in an exhibition game of New Zealand Rugby at Winnipeg. He was described as the “sparkplug” of the team and was likened to some of America’s outstanding “gridiron” players for his dash and tackling. He also played in Scotland and England and just before he left as a member of a Sunderland crew, he was a member of the South Island team in the Services’ Rugby game at Richmond Park (London). Before that he played for the R.N.Z.A.F. team and also for New Zealand Services.

In Africa, Flying Officer Sutherland was forced to take up soccer and boxing for recreation. The grounds were too hard for Rugby football; moreover, there was no Rugby-minded opposition among the natives. In one of the games in England he had the misfortune to break an arm and he was confined to hospital for several weeks. Apparently the break mended well, as he showed all his best form in recent games. Flying Officer Sutherland is a baker by trade. He was employed by A. C. Millars before going overseas. Flight Sergeant Anderson was a motor mechanic employed by The Southland Times before the war. He also was trained in Canada; he was attached to the Coastal Command in Home operations and he was in service in West Africa. He is a son of Mrs J. Anderson, of Tay street.