Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 18, 2024 16:40:19 GMT 12
From The Press, 4th of December 1958:
N.Z. Transport Squadron On Mission In Nepal
(New Zealand Press Association)
WELLINGTON, December 3.
Thirteen New Zealand airmen last week made history at the foot of Mount Everest, according to a signal received at R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters Wellington. However, even with their aircraft they did not reach the heights attained by Sir Edmund Hillary. They never got beyond 10,000 ft.
The airmen — all members of the R.N.Z.A.F.’s No. 41 (Transport) Squadron based on Singapore — went to Nepal on India’s northeastern frontier to do what to them is a routine job. For nearly a week they flew around Nepal delivering radio equipment and men in out of the way places to assist in the organisation of the first Nepalese election.
It was the first time an R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft had operated in Nepal, and it was the first time New Zealand aircraft have landed at Biratnagar, the closest airfield to 29,002 ft Mount Everest. The aircraft were refuelled from drums at Simra, which is virtually a cleared paddock on the southern foothills of the Himalayas.
The two crews which took part in the mission all saw the last ridge of Mount Everest that Sir Edmund Hillary climbed. They all agreed that flying at 10,000 ft with a mountain towering a further 19,000 ft above was awe-inspiring.
Flight-Lieutenant Brian Grigg, of Christchurch, one of the two Bristol Freighter captains engaged on the mission, said everyone they met in Nepal asked about Sir Edmund Hillary, and were certainly very pro-New Zealand.
R.N.Z.A.F. men taking part were: Squadron Leader G.H.S. Tosland, of Hawera (officer commanding No. 41 Squadron); his navigator, Flying-Officer J. Hall (Otago): Flying-Officer M. Clothier (Lower Hutt, second pilot); Sergeant-Signaller A. Willis (Tauranga).
Flight-Lieutenant Grigg’s crew was Flying-Officer N. Barr (Auckland, navigator) and Sergeant-Signaller E. Gamble (Wanganui).
The ground staff who went were Sergeant A. Nottman Christchurch) and Leading-Aircraftsmen J. Little (Wellington), K. Yeo (Auckland), J. Joyce (Lower Hutt), J. Lovell (Christchurch) and M. Dilger (Auckland).
N.Z. Transport Squadron On Mission In Nepal
(New Zealand Press Association)
WELLINGTON, December 3.
Thirteen New Zealand airmen last week made history at the foot of Mount Everest, according to a signal received at R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters Wellington. However, even with their aircraft they did not reach the heights attained by Sir Edmund Hillary. They never got beyond 10,000 ft.
The airmen — all members of the R.N.Z.A.F.’s No. 41 (Transport) Squadron based on Singapore — went to Nepal on India’s northeastern frontier to do what to them is a routine job. For nearly a week they flew around Nepal delivering radio equipment and men in out of the way places to assist in the organisation of the first Nepalese election.
It was the first time an R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft had operated in Nepal, and it was the first time New Zealand aircraft have landed at Biratnagar, the closest airfield to 29,002 ft Mount Everest. The aircraft were refuelled from drums at Simra, which is virtually a cleared paddock on the southern foothills of the Himalayas.
The two crews which took part in the mission all saw the last ridge of Mount Everest that Sir Edmund Hillary climbed. They all agreed that flying at 10,000 ft with a mountain towering a further 19,000 ft above was awe-inspiring.
Flight-Lieutenant Brian Grigg, of Christchurch, one of the two Bristol Freighter captains engaged on the mission, said everyone they met in Nepal asked about Sir Edmund Hillary, and were certainly very pro-New Zealand.
R.N.Z.A.F. men taking part were: Squadron Leader G.H.S. Tosland, of Hawera (officer commanding No. 41 Squadron); his navigator, Flying-Officer J. Hall (Otago): Flying-Officer M. Clothier (Lower Hutt, second pilot); Sergeant-Signaller A. Willis (Tauranga).
Flight-Lieutenant Grigg’s crew was Flying-Officer N. Barr (Auckland, navigator) and Sergeant-Signaller E. Gamble (Wanganui).
The ground staff who went were Sergeant A. Nottman Christchurch) and Leading-Aircraftsmen J. Little (Wellington), K. Yeo (Auckland), J. Joyce (Lower Hutt), J. Lovell (Christchurch) and M. Dilger (Auckland).
