R.A.F. PILOT’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 195, 14 May 1940, Page 8

R.A.F. PILOT’S DEATH

Former Head Boy Of Nelson College

TWO OTHERS MISSING (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSON, May 13. Advice lias been received by Mrs. A. Gilbert, .Stoke, Nelson, that her only son, Pilot Officer Grenville .lames McFarland, of the R.A.F., is reported to have lost his life in air operations on May 10. Pilot Officer McFarland was an old boy of Nelson College, and was head prefect and head of the school in 103 S. He passed the engineering preliminary examination in 1938. • He was a member of the school first eleven in 1936-3 S, and was vice-captain in 11)38. lie was also a member of the first fifteen, and was contingent ser-geant-major in, tlie College Cadet Corps. He was also a member of the Nelson representative cricket team. He wont to England to join the R.A.F. on May G, 1939.

AUCKLAND MEN MISSING

Outstanding Athlete (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 13. Pilot Officer lan La wry Gray, R.A.F., son of Mr. John Gray, Devonport, is reported missing as the result of air operations yesterday. His parents received official advice this morning. Well known in Auckland by reason of his sporting activities, Pilot Officer Gray was educated at Takapuua Grammar School and joined the staff of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. He took up Hying before the war and was trained by the late Squadron Leader Allan at Mangore and went to Wigram with a short.service commission in the Royal New Zefllanrt Air Force. lie left the employ of the dairy company on June 11, 1938, and took up his studies for the Air Force. On March 12 last he celebrated his twenty-first birthday. About the time he took up Hying the air force had accepted a number of outstanding young athletes in New Zealand, and Pilot Officer Gray was no exception. Ho was a good footballer, cricketer, boxer and lawn tennis player, and had also made a name for himself in swimming and golf. As a result of air operations on May 11 Pilot Officer Henry Maeale Murray, aged 19, a New Zealander serving with the Royal Air Force, has been posted as missing. Advice to this effect was received from the Air Ministry by Mr. F. M. Murray, Auckland, brother of the missing airman. Pilot Officer Murray was born in Dunedin and was educated at 'Wellington College, the Otago Boys’ High School and the Wairarapa High School. Later he.resided for 18 months in Auckland before leaving for London, where he arrived in June, 1938. He joined the Royal Air Force and gained flying experience at various training bases in Britain and France before the outbreak of the war.