CASUALTIES IN THE AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23263, 25 February 1941, Page 10

CASUALTIES IN THE AIR FORCE

* FLYING OFFICER J. N. COLLINS KILLED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. February 24. The following casualties in the Royal New Zealand Air Force is officially announced: — Flying Officer John Noel Collins, Royal New Zealand Air Force; previously reported missing in air operations, now presumed killed. The next-of-kin is Mr B. R. Collins, Remuera, Auckland. Pilot Officer Collins lived for some time in Christchurch. Sergeant John Archibald, McQuarrie MacMillan, reported missing on air operations. His father is Mr J. MacMillan. Wanganui. Sergeant MacMillan was born in Scotland and educated at Wanganui. Before his enlistment he was employed by the Railway Department at Hunterville.

ASHBURTON PILOT’S DEATH

Advice that his son. Sergeant-Gunner Noel E. Thomson, was killed at the end of last year in a crash during air operations over the sea, near Scotland, was received yesterday by Mr Arthur Thomson, of Ashburton. Sergeant-Gunner Thomson, who was reported missing early last month, left New Zealand with the Royal New Zealand Air Force last April. He was on the patrol which sighted the survivors of the City of Benares. He was aged 24 years and was educated at the Ashburton East and Christchurch West High Schools. He was a member of the Ashburton East Amateur Swimming Club and Ashburton Old Boys Rugby Football Club. He was also a member of the Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts.