AIR FORCE MEN RETURN

Southland Times, Issue 25690, 5 June 1945, Page 4

AIR FORCE MEN RETURN

AIR JOURNEY FROM AUSTRALIA (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) AUCKLAND, June 4. ■ A draft of 103 Royal. New Zealand Air Force personnel being repatriated from the United Kingdom were surprised to find on their arrival in Australia that instead of having to .wait for a month or six weeks for a ship to take them to New Zealand, arrangements had been made to hurry them home by air. Sunderlands of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Flying-Boat Flight and Dakotas of the transport squadrons brought all the men over inside a week. Stating that they were all surprised to find that they would be home sooner than they expected, Squadron Leader R. W. L. Ellingham, of Auckland, who was put in charge of the draft, said the men immediately helped to unload their own luggage from the ship and reduced the quantity carried with them to 1001 b. The ship left Scotland and VE Day was celebrated in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Squadron Leader Ellingham said a signal was received from the Admiralty to “splice the main brace,” and all the personnel received their tots. “Quite a number seemed to get a lot from other sources,” he commented. HOSPITALITY IN AUSTRALIA The returning airmen had a day in Perth, where the Red Cross provided transport to show them around, and at Sydney the New Zealand Services Club and other New Zealand organizations found transport for trips. They were accommodated at a Royal Australian Air Force station near Sydney. All the time small parties were leaving by air for New Zealand, preference being given those who wanted to get home quickly on compassionate grounds. Squadron Leader- Ellingham came in the last party, which arrived in Auckland by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Sunderland at the end of last week. Meals were provided en route, and he described the service as excellent. A barrister and solicitor of Wellington before the war, Squadron Leader Ellingham was studying at Cambridge University, England, when hostilities started. He immediately enlisted with the University Squadron in 1940. He was seriously injured and when he recovered he was employed on staff work. He was armament staff officer with the Allied Expeditionary Air Force at SHAEF, Paris. His service career was recognized by- the award of mention in dispatches.