WAR BIRD IN MANY LANDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 663, 15 May 1929, Page 1

WAR BIRD IN MANY LANDS

Fighting Airman Visits N.Z. GALLIPOLI TO AFGHANISTAN Flying? “Oh, yes. All over the place. England, Russia, the Indian North-west frontier, Australia—lots of places. Many little wars of our own. Had the time of our lives.

CPEAKIXG with the clipped, incisive manner of the typical British military officer, Captain A. \V. Saunders, Army flyer, adventurer, and soldier, faced interviewers on the Ulimaroa this morning. New Zealand flying men will welcome the appearance of Captain Saunders, one of the most widelyexperienced of British airmen, for he intends to spend two years in Auckland. Though he has temporarily ahandoned professional flying in favour of a position with Super-Construc-tion Company (Australia), Ltd., contractors for the new Civic Theatre, he hopes to he able to take the air for pleasure during his stay. “Newspaper men? Hate the sight of ’em,” said the captain. But a broad grin conveyed his willingness to supply a little informatidb. When the

Questions came he answered with the staccato rapidity of one of his own machine-guns, the while fingering a long scar from cheek to jawbone—memeuto of his only war-time crash. GALLIPOLI—IRELAND Before he joined the Royal Flj'ing Corps, Captain Saunders went through the Gallipoli landing unscathed. Then as an artilleryman he was transferred to Ireland, where the rebellion had broken out. “Horrible business,” he jerked out. “Fighting one’s own countrymen. We hated it, but we had to go through with it.” Next he was moved to the Somme Front, where his career as an airman began. Captain Saunders bagged 10 Bosche planes—officially. The number he brought down was 18. but unless an enemy machine had been established definitely as being out of action and done for it was not counted by the British Command. For this work he earned his captaincy and the Distinguished Flying It was in France that the first crash came his way. Diving from an immense height to engage an enemy airplane, his machine was wrecked and he received severe cuts on the face and an injured jhw. “But it was great sport. Had the time of our lives.” As a King’s Courier Captain Saun-

ders was the eighth man In Berlin before the ratification of the Peaca Treaty. “The city was in a terrible plight. The people were starving, and had very little of anything. No soap; paper towels. In a devil of a mess. “But Germany is a great country. A beautiful country. Berlin is the cleanest city in the world, and the Ger. mans are the cleanest people in the world. Baths in every room; wonderful sanitary systems. Ail that sort of thing.” While in France Captain Saunder 3 had been reported dead three times, and had met with more than the average share of adventures, but the close of the Great War found him thirsting for further trouble. FIGHTING IN RUSSIA So, with half a dozen others, he was transferred to Russia, where he entered the Lithuanian Army as a flying officer, under General Crozier. "Had the time of our lives,” he repeated, with growing enthusiasm. “Fought against the Bolsheviks, organised the show to which we were sent, had fights nearly every day. Started little wars on our own. Time of our lives.” Russia having provided all possible excitement. Captain Saunders and his co-adventur.ers turned their faces to the East and journeyed to India. “Great place, India. Learned bits of the language quite soon. Met an Indian on the Ulimaroa during this trip and addressed him in a tongue h« knew. His eyes nearly popped out of his head.” Eventually the flyers found themselves on the North-west Frontier, where they were stationed during a troublous period. “Had wonderful experiences. Flew high up the side of a huge mountain range of 25.000 feet, but were unabia to cross it. Strange sensation that. Rising as high as an airplane could climb, yet seeing peaks towering above you. “Had some groat experiences, though. Flew long distances and bombed Kabul evpry day. Time of our lives. Spent 12 months in (ha North-west.” AUSTRALIAN WORK Captain Saunders’s next move was to Australia, where he joined West Australian Airways, Ltd. “The finest organisation of its kmd in the world. Another pilot and I started the Adelaide-Sydney service o£ 800 miles. Kingsford Smith, Keith Anderson and I left that service at the same time. I had been flying for 12 years, and now I am having a spell. Of the recent happenings in Australia—the lost Southern Cross and the death of his friend, Keith Anderson. Captain Saunders preferred to sav little. “Keith was a dandy pilot and a bonser chap. Kingsford Smith has that homing pigeon instinct that is so invaluable.” “Yes, I am out of the game, profes« sionally, for at least a time, but I hop« to do some flying in New Zealand, There are occasions when it tells on a man’s nerves. But —well. it’s a great game.” . Captain Saunders is a brother of "Paddy” Saunders, a well-known theatrical cartoonist, who has toured New Zealand and is at present in New York.