BIG AIRCRAFT CARRIER

Southland Times, Issue 25835, 21 November 1945, Page 5

BIG AIRCRAFT CARRIER

INDEFATIGIBLE TO VISIT N.Z. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 20. One of the biggest aircraft carriers in the Royal Navy, H.M.S. Indefatigable, will arrive on November 27 at 11.40 aun. An air squadron will fly off the ship between 8.50 ajn, and 9.10 *a.m. and will fly over and salute the city. The Indefatigable will stay in Wellington until December 4, when she will leave for Queen Charlotte Sound, where she will stay till December 10. During that time the Fleet Air Arm squadron aboard will go on a goodwill tour of all New Zealand air stations. The ship will leave Queen Charlotte Sound on December 10 for Auckland, and the aircraft will fly back to the ship during the voyage to Auckland, where the Indefatigable will arrive on December 12. Before arriving in Auckland the ship’s aircraft will fly off and salute the city. She will leave on December 18 on the return voyage to Sydney. The Indefatigable will be accompanied, by the destroyers Urchin and Wizard. The Indefatigable will be commanded by Captain I. A. P. Mclntyre, and she will wear the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Philip Vian, Second in Command of the British Pacific Fleet. H.M.S. Wizard will be commanded by Lieutenant-Commander R. H. Hodgkinson and H.M.S. Urchin by Lieuten-ant-Commander D. R. N. Murdoch.

The Indefatigable carries 179 officers and 1714 men. The Wizard and Urchin between them carry 22 officers and 420 men.

While at Wellington and Auckland the ships will be open to the public for fixed periods, and it is expected that the ships’ companies will march through the streets.