British Air Force

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 7

British Air Force

NEWS OF NEW ZEALANDERS

EX-WANGANUI BOYS DO WELL

[Special to “Chronicle.”] AUCKLAND, Doc. 2. “There arc a number of New Zealanders in the Royal Air Force at present, and most of .them are doing exceptionally well,” said Mr G. W. Al. Easton, who returned to Auckland by the Alarama- Mr Easton, whose home is in Taranaki, obtained a commission in the Air Force immediately after his arrival in England about two years' ago, but after 18 months’ service he 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 Bindley, of Wanganui was one Nev Zealander who was making excellent progress iu England. Air Easton said that other prominent officers from New Zealand were FlyingOfficer’ A. Alathias, of Auckland, a a former Auckland Rugby representative, who was playing good football as well as making a name for himself in the Air Force, Pilot-Officer Williams, of Wellington, who was iu the Air Force Rugby fifteen and who had beaten Flight-Lieut. G. R. Beamish iu tho final of tho Air Force heavyweight boxing championship, Pilot-Officei Grant, of Auckland and Pilot-Officei Allen of Wanganui. /The prospects for New Zealanders Wishing to obtain Air Force commissions are not very good at present,’’ Air 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.”