OHAKEA PERSONNEL TO FLY MOSQUITOES TO NEW ZEALAND

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 October 1946, Page 4

OHAKEA PERSONNEL TO FLY MOSQUITOES TO NEW ZEALAND

A detachment of Royal New Zealand Air Force pilots, navigators and technical personnel, most of them from Ohakea, commanded by SquadronLeader R, M. McKay, the well-known pilot of the Meteor jet-propelled aircraft, will leave Whenuapai to-day fof Australia to bring back to New Zealand four Mark 111. dual control de Havilland Mosquito aircraft ordered for the R.N.Z.A.F. The members of the detachment include Squadron-Leader J. D, Robbins, D.F.C.; Flight-Lieutenants A. George, D.F.C., D.F.M., I. O. Breckon, D.F.C, and bar, pilots; Flight-Lieutenants W, S. Martin, M. Kidson, D.F.C., A.F.M., and J. M. Stevenson, navigators; Flight-Lieut. A. Chandler, 8.E.M., engineer officer; Flight-Sergeants E. H. Stevenson and V. H. Baird, fitters; Corporal C. M. Jennings, instrument repairer; Leading-Aircraftman C. R. Wilkins, electrician, The detachment left Ohakea lor Whenuapai yesterday morning. It la expected that a Dakota engaged on a routine flight, to Japan will take them to Norfolk Island to-day. Tomorrow, the peersonnel will continue their journey to Australia. The four Mosquito aircraft are serviceable and awaiting the arrival of the New Zealand crews to fly them across the Tasman. The trip will be in two hops, from Brisbane to Norfolk Island and thence to Ohakea. where they are expected to arrive on October 23 or 24. It is antjcipa.ed t.iat tne flight of four Mosquitoes will oe led by a Lincoln of the Royal Australian Air Force,, in which New Zealand technical personnel will return. The detachment will spend about two weeks in Australia, during which period the pilots and navigators will undertake conversion flights and the teciinical personnel will undergo n short course on the maintenance and handling of the Mosquito.