FALL TO DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 157, 4 July 1940, Page 12

FALL TO DEATH.

FATE OF OBSERVER.

FATALITY AT OHAKEA.

MACHINE LANDED SAFELY.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday

The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, announced with regret that as

the result of a fall from a Vincent aircraft a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was killed at Ohakea at 10 a.m. to-day. The victim was: Leading-Aircraftsman David Hanforth Hawkes, aged 24, formerly of Whangarei. The aircraft was engaged in bombing practice at a height of 3000 ft. There is no information a* yet as to the cause or circumstances of the accident, ■but an official committee of inquiry is to investigate. Aircraftsman Hawkes was undergoing training as an observer. There were two other occupants of the aeroplane, who landed the machine safely. The deceased was the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Hawkes, of Onerahi, North Auckland. Before his entry into the Koyai Air Force he was on the staff of the Whangarei Harbour Board. Educated at the WJiangarei High School, he was well known in cricket and football circles.