RECOGNITION FUND

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1935, Page 17 (Supplement)

RECOGNITION FUND

APPEAL FOR WELL KNOWN PILOT. SUPPORT AT NEW PLYMOUTH. A committee of representatives of patriotic and sporting bodies has been formed at Auckland for the purpose of raising sufficient money to purchase Squadron-Leader J. Hewett an aeroplane with which to establish himself in commercial aviation. The New Plymouth branch of the N.ZR.S.A. has. decided to communicate with the New Plymouth Aero Club and co-operate with any effort it might make. *' A circular distributed by the secretary of the organising committee states: “It is not generally known what a sacrifice Squadron-Leader Hewett made in \ order to represent his country in the Melbourne centenary air race. To participate he found it necessary to dispose of his Moth aeroplane, which was his sole means of livelihood. His reward is that he is now without aeroplane, position or money.

“It is desired to make some tangible recognition of the gallant effort of Squadron-Leader Hewett. Not only does his creditable performance deserve honour of'his countrymen but the fact that he and his crew faithfully carried out what they said' they would do, in being the first to pilot an aeroplane from England to New Zealand, is alone worthy of practical recognition. “Squadron-Leader Hewett has a fine war record in the flying corps, in the Great War and on the north-west frontier of India. His flying enterprise is second to none and is at present, definitely lost to aviation.”