Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 1, 2020 10:40:53 GMT 12
An interesting one from the AUCKLAND STAR, 8 MAY 1944
"FLYING TIGERS"
WITH R.A.F. IN INDIA
NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON
(R.N.Z.A.F. Correspondent) NEW DELHI, April 13.
On a windy, sun-drenched plain somewhere in India members of an almost all-New Zealand squadron, serving with the R.A.F., are reminded of their homeland by famous Maori names painted on the hulls of their Hudson bombers. Among the names are Aotearoa, "Land of the Long White Cloud," the Maori name for New Zealand, and Arawa, one of the two storm-tossed canoes which dared the long journey down the Pacific, carrying the first Maoris to the shores of their promised land.
Then there is Hinemoa, famous Maori maiden of mythology. Separated from her lover and imprisoned on an island in the middle of Lake Rotorua, she escaped one wild night and made the long swim to the mainland where, reunited, they lived happily ever after. And perhaps greatest of all is Ngarimu, recalling Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu, whose matchless courage during the great advance; which finally drove the Germans from North Africa won for him the first V.C. ever bestowed on a member of the Maori race—posthumously awarded, alas.
Aucklanders in Squadron
The history of New Zealand is recorded on these score or more of aircraft. The squadron has adopted the Flying Tiger as its symbol, and it is painted on the hull of every ship besides the name. The commanding officer, Wing-Commander L. G. W. Lilly, from Dunedin, and both the flight commanders, Squadron-Leader A. O. Hawkins, Hokianga, and Squadron-Leader E. J. Henry, Dunedin, are New Zealanders.
So are others. They are: Flying-Officer E. J. Morey, Ngahuru, near Putaruru, Pilot-Officer Leo F. McCloy, Ellesmere, Canterbury; Flying-Officer R. Puttick, Alma Road, Epsom, Auckland; Warrant-Officer L. Mexted, Masterton; Flight-Sergeant L. J. Townsend, Henderson, Auckland; Sergeant Hansen, Sutherland Road, Manaia, Taranaki; Pilot-Officer Grainger, Church Street, Onehunga; and Flight-Lieutenant Aldred, Hokianga.
Also on the station, although not attached to the squadron, is Squadron-Leader Lester Wiggins, Sumner, Christchurch, who was in England when war broke out and joined the Air Force there. His wife and little son were evacuated during the blitz to Southern Rhodesia, where they still are.
Only a few of the pilots, including the commanding officer, have been with the squadron since it flew out from England to the help of hard-pressed Singapore. After a few days on the battle-torn island they went to Palembang in Sumatra and operated from there. When the Dutch East Indies fell the squadron moved up to India.
Long-Distance Transport
Here they carried out patrols along India's eastern coastline and for 15 months operated over the Bay of Bengal generally. Now they are an important transport squadron carrying valuable cargo and mail throughout this vast country. The commanding officer produced a map of Europe superimposed on one of India to illustrate the extent of their flights; from their base to Calcutta was equal to the from London to Danzig and a trip to Colombo was equivalent to flying from London to Athens.
This squadron is located at a peacetime station near a large city and so enjoys amenities denied to men in the forward areas.
Games are energetically pursued during the winter months. Football, Soccer, and boxing occupy free time, which is not taken up by literary efforts for "Tiger Rag," the squadron magazine.' Pilot-Officer Grainger, of Onehunga, takes a leading part in these last three activities.
"FLYING TIGERS"
WITH R.A.F. IN INDIA
NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON
(R.N.Z.A.F. Correspondent) NEW DELHI, April 13.
On a windy, sun-drenched plain somewhere in India members of an almost all-New Zealand squadron, serving with the R.A.F., are reminded of their homeland by famous Maori names painted on the hulls of their Hudson bombers. Among the names are Aotearoa, "Land of the Long White Cloud," the Maori name for New Zealand, and Arawa, one of the two storm-tossed canoes which dared the long journey down the Pacific, carrying the first Maoris to the shores of their promised land.
Then there is Hinemoa, famous Maori maiden of mythology. Separated from her lover and imprisoned on an island in the middle of Lake Rotorua, she escaped one wild night and made the long swim to the mainland where, reunited, they lived happily ever after. And perhaps greatest of all is Ngarimu, recalling Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu, whose matchless courage during the great advance; which finally drove the Germans from North Africa won for him the first V.C. ever bestowed on a member of the Maori race—posthumously awarded, alas.
Aucklanders in Squadron
The history of New Zealand is recorded on these score or more of aircraft. The squadron has adopted the Flying Tiger as its symbol, and it is painted on the hull of every ship besides the name. The commanding officer, Wing-Commander L. G. W. Lilly, from Dunedin, and both the flight commanders, Squadron-Leader A. O. Hawkins, Hokianga, and Squadron-Leader E. J. Henry, Dunedin, are New Zealanders.
So are others. They are: Flying-Officer E. J. Morey, Ngahuru, near Putaruru, Pilot-Officer Leo F. McCloy, Ellesmere, Canterbury; Flying-Officer R. Puttick, Alma Road, Epsom, Auckland; Warrant-Officer L. Mexted, Masterton; Flight-Sergeant L. J. Townsend, Henderson, Auckland; Sergeant Hansen, Sutherland Road, Manaia, Taranaki; Pilot-Officer Grainger, Church Street, Onehunga; and Flight-Lieutenant Aldred, Hokianga.
Also on the station, although not attached to the squadron, is Squadron-Leader Lester Wiggins, Sumner, Christchurch, who was in England when war broke out and joined the Air Force there. His wife and little son were evacuated during the blitz to Southern Rhodesia, where they still are.
Only a few of the pilots, including the commanding officer, have been with the squadron since it flew out from England to the help of hard-pressed Singapore. After a few days on the battle-torn island they went to Palembang in Sumatra and operated from there. When the Dutch East Indies fell the squadron moved up to India.
Long-Distance Transport
Here they carried out patrols along India's eastern coastline and for 15 months operated over the Bay of Bengal generally. Now they are an important transport squadron carrying valuable cargo and mail throughout this vast country. The commanding officer produced a map of Europe superimposed on one of India to illustrate the extent of their flights; from their base to Calcutta was equal to the from London to Danzig and a trip to Colombo was equivalent to flying from London to Athens.
This squadron is located at a peacetime station near a large city and so enjoys amenities denied to men in the forward areas.
Games are energetically pursued during the winter months. Football, Soccer, and boxing occupy free time, which is not taken up by literary efforts for "Tiger Rag," the squadron magazine.' Pilot-Officer Grainger, of Onehunga, takes a leading part in these last three activities.