New Zealander flying RAF Vickers Virginia Bombers

[Dave Homewood]

NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN AND HIS CREW.— Flying Officer Ian McNicol, of Wellington, with a Vickers-Virginia bomber and crew. The airman, having completed nearly five years’ service with the Royal Air Force, is now in the service of Imperial Airways, and is engaged in flying one of the big machines on England-Continental routes.
Northern Advocate, 1 October 1934



It's interesting to see a Kiwi flying one of these between-the-wars heavy bombers. I wonder what he was flying with the airline, HP.42?

[errolmartyn]

This was Ian Ludwig Steel McNICOL born (Wellington?) 30 Jun 07.
5 years RAF - 1500 hours
4 years Imperial Airways- - 5000 hours
2 years instructing with Air Service Training - 1500 hours
1940 - 1945 test with flying Vickers Armstrongs - (1400 hours up to c. mid-1943)

In mid-1943 may have been looking to move back to New Zealand, but nothing apparently came of this.

Errol