HERO OF FLYING FEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 227, 26 September 1941, Page 4

HERO OF FLYING FEAT

FORMER MARTON RESIDENT FLIGHT-LIEUTENANT WHEELER COLLEGIATE OLD BOY Flight-Lieutenant A. L. Wheeler, who piloted the Blenheim bomber which hit the sea twice during an attack on a balloon-protected convoy off the Hook of Holland, as was mentioned in this week’s cables, is a former Marton man. He was born in Mai Lon in 1916, and was educated at Marton High School and Wanganui Collegiate School. After leaving the college he learnt, sheep-farming under his father, Mt. Arthur Wheeler, of the weli-known Romney sheep stud farm, 'Leedstown.” Marton, and at other big sheep stations in New Zealand. He left the Dominion in May, 1939, for the Argentine in charge of a flock ot stud Romneys exported to that country, and on arrival oecame manager of the Romney breeding farm of Maurice Guerrero, one of the Argentine's biggest sheep-farmers. In October last year, Flight-Lieu-tenant Wheeler went to Canada, where he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. In April this year he completed his training and gained his wings, his promotion to flight-lieuten-ant being gazetted on September 10.