THE AVRO'S PILOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1920, Page 5

THE AVRO'S PILOT.

CAPTAIN R. RUSSELL, D.F.C., C. de G. The pilot of the Avro machine. Captain Russell, .was one of the New Zealand trained airmen who had seen service in Europe, and he was the holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Croix de (iuerre. He did a considerable amount of night flying at the front, and for some time was flight leader of his squadron in France. Captain Russell, who was about 20 years of age, was the son of Mr. and .Mrs. A. Russell, of Invercargill, and joined the New Zealand Flying School at Jvohimarama at the beginning of IHI7. Later, proceeding to England with a commission as second-lieutenant, he joined the R.F.C., and underwent aix weeks' training in theory of flight, navigation, and photography at Reading (Berkshire). From here Captain Russell joined the Andorer aerodrome in Hampshire, and gained experience in living the service type of machine, and afterwards went to a fighting school at Turriburv (Scotland). Here three weeks were spent under Major MeCudden, the' well-known fighter, who lias the record of bringing down over 100 enemy machines. Captain Russell proceeded to France with the 108 th bombing squadron. The squadron's work was the bombing of Zeebrugge, Ostend, and Bruges docks, and all the ammunition dumps and enemy aerodromes back as far as the Dutch frontier and south to the line from Lille to Antwerp. They were stationed at Dunkirk (France) for a considerable time, and then moved to Courtrai (Belgium).

In addition to Captain Russell there was only one other Now Zealander in the squadron, Lieut. Sloss, who was trained at Rocklmrn, and who was killed on November 9, 1918, in the last raid before the armistice.

After the armistice Captain Russell returned to Andover and took up the latest course in aerial navigation—dead reckoning and the most modern type of wireless navigation. Returning to New Zealand in August, 1019, Captain Russell Inter took up comnuerUial flying with Walsh Bros., with whom he has been ever since, and he has made many fine flights in different parts of New Zealand. Captain Russell, was engaged to an Invereargill lady, and intended to be married soon.

I A fine record of flights in the North Taland had been achieved by Captain Russell. The machine was shipped to CJisborne and from there flew to Hastings, and thence to Wellington. Numerous other trips included the following: Wellington to Wanganui, Wanganui to Hasting?, Hastings to Masterton, Masterton to Palmerston North. and Palmerston North to New Plymouth. SHOT DOWN AT THE FRONT. SHELTERED BY .BELGIAN PEASANTS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargil!, Last Night. Captain Russell, one of the victims of the New Plymouth disaster, was very well known in Southland. He was born at Winton and educated at lnvercargill. Before the war he acquired local note as a skilled mechanic and motorist. He went to France in July. 1918, and from that time Captain Russe'li was in the thick of the fighting until the armistice. He was shot down two or three times while over the German lines, and in October, 1(118, he was posted as missing. During the German retreat he was, however, sheltered by Belgian peasants until he could return to