Somebody was asking from another forum about the what happened in Mesopotomia with New Zealand flyers .... can anybody help ?? ...... military aviation in New Zealand extends back to 1912 when two New Zealand Army Staff officers were sent to the UK to learn the science of flying. In 1913 the Imperial Air Fleet Committee in London presented a Bleriot monoplane named "Britannia" to New Zealand as the nucleus of a flying corps. It was flown briefly in New Zealand, and was returned to the United Kingdom (UK) in late 1914. During World War I, two commercial New Zealand flying schools, part funded by the British Government, trained 250 pilots for service with the Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force. In July 1915 the first military trained New Zealand pilot, William Burns was killed on operations in Mesopotamia. During this war, William Rhodes-Moorhouse, an Englishman with New Zealand parents, won the VC for action over France on 26 April 1915.Other New Zealand airmen received a range of decorations for gallantry in the air.
Hi Annie, I know that the origins of the RAAF grew from the 'Mesopotamian Half Flight' which I believe was augmented by New Zealanders. Mesopotamian Half Flight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cheers Owen
Thanks Owen ! Seems like there really wasn't much difference between the Australians and New Zealanders was there ?? ... they were all pretty much integrated !! One of the priests on my Honour Roll was also in Mesopotamia and dealt with a few of the flyers in the hospital there ..... appalling conditions that were impossible - extremes of temperature, arid desert and regular flooding, flies, mosquitoes and other vermin - all led to terrible levels of sickness and death through disease. Under these incredible conditions, units fell short of officers and men, and all too often the reinforcements were half-trained and ill-equipped. Medical arrangements were shocking, with wounded men spending up to two weeks on boats before reaching any kind of hospital. However did they get through it all ?? hwell:
From a WWII point of view, I'm intrigued by the flying in that region as not a lot has been written about it - Christopher Shores has of course covered it. The Half Flight is fascinating. You and your tangents, Annie! :lol:
