YOUNG AIRMAN’S FATE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 267, 6 August 1932, Page 12

YOUNG AIRMAN’S FATE

Pilot-Officer Peter Pharazyn BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS The many friends In the Dominion of the young New Zealand airman, Pilot-Officer Peter Walter Johnston Pharazyn, were deeply shocked at the news of his death which came to hand from England earlier in the week. Pilot Officer Pharazyn was the victim of an accident while flying, apparently due to a sudden down-draught of air causing his machine to crash into a tree. Later information indicates

that high tribute was paid to the skill and judgment of the young New Zealander and to his personal qualities. The funeral was fully ceremonial and was largely attended. After Mass at the aerodrome, a ceremonial burial service was attended by a full squadron of the Royal Air Force and many of his brother officers. The, burial took place at Manston Pfirk. v The late Pilot-Officer Pharazyn was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey Pharazyn, of Waewaepa, Dannevirke. He was educated at Eton and had just finished reading for his degree in agricultural science at St. John’s College, Cambridge. His brilliant air achievements, which had been remarked upon by Air Commodore Foster, had been accomplished during his vacations from Cambridge when he joined the special reserve of the Bristol Bombing Squadron R.A.F. Air Commodore Foster, in a letter to Mr. Pharazyn, sent., said he had never had a more promising or keener young officer and that he had specially selected him to sit' for his flight-lieutenant examination. This was to have taken place almost immediately. The late Pilot-Officer Pharazyn was to have returned to New Zealand at the end of the year and taken up sheep farming. A tragic coincidence was that his death occurred on the day of his sister’s, Miss Ruth Pharazyn’s, wedding to Lieutenant John Westmacott, R.N., London.