NEW ZEALANDERS IN AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS IN AIR

MANY SUCCEEDING IN BRITAIN RETURN OF NEW PLYMOUTH MAN WAS SEVEN MONTHS IN HOSPITAL (By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night. “There are numbers of New Zealand- • ers in the Royal Air Force at present and most of them are doing exceptionally well,” said Mr. G. W. M. Easton, who returned to Auckland by the Marama to-day . . . ' _ Mr. Easton, whose home is in. New Plymouth, obtained a commission in .the Air Force immediately after hi# arrival in England about two years ago, but after 18 months of service had to relinquish his commission as a result of a serious crash while'-he was flying a Bristol fighter at Holton Le Moor, Lincolnshire. He was in hospital for over seven months and has now been invalided out on pension. : Flying-Officer Binlcy, Wellington, was one New Zealander who was making excellent progress in England, Mr. Easton said. Other prominent officers from New Zealand were Flying-Officer A. Mathins, Auckland, ' a former Auckland Rugby representative who was playing good football as well as making a name for himself in the Air Force. PilotOfficer Williams, Wellington, who was in the Air Force Rugby fifteen and who j had beaten Flight-Lieutenant G. RBeamish in the final of the Air Force. heavyweight boxing championship, Pilot-Officer Grant, Auckland, and PilotOfficer Allen, Wanganui. “The prospects for New Zealanders wishing to obtain Air Force commis.sions are not very good at present,” Mr. Easton said. “The Air Ministry has been rushed with applications and there is a long waiting list. The standard • of physical fitness has been raised and it is little use for anyone to go to England on chance as many did a few years ago.” .