N.Z. AIRMEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23323, 5 October 1945, Page 4

N.Z. AIRMEN

Draft From The Tropics (N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND. Oct. 4. Almost 600 officers and other ranks of the Royal New Zealand Air Force arrived at Auckland to-day in the Union Company’s inter-island steamer Wahine. They have been on service in the Solomons', New Britain and the Admiralties, and are being sent on leave as a preliminary to demobilisation. Although the majority of the men came from other parts of the North Island, those from Auckland found a large and eager crowd of relatives waiting) for them at the wharf. The Papakura camp band played lively airs as the ship berthed and the airmen and their relatives raised a happy tumult of greetings. An official party boarded the ship at the wharf and welcomed the men back to New Zealand. It was led by the Minister of Defence (the Hori. F. Jones). After the official welcome, which was broadcast by the ship’s loudspeaking system, the airmen began to disembark. As many as possible were sent to their homes and the others were accommodated overnight at the Remuera depot. It is expected that every member of the draft will have reached his home in the next few days.