DEATH OF AIRMAN

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 118, 12 February 1941, Page 8

DEATH OF AIRMAN

Jury’s Rider To Verdict At Inquest FITNESS OF PILOTS More Rigid Examination Urged Dominion Special Service. FOXTON. February 11. “Alter hearing Leading Aircraftman Holiness evidence we, the jury, are of the opinion that more rigid examination ol a pilot’s physical fitness should be made prior to taking a machine into the air.” This rider was added to the verdict by the jury at the inquest into the death of Leading Aircraftman Kennard Haase, Nelson, who met his death when a Vincent oiplane from Woodbourne aerodrome crashed into the Manawatu River at Whirokino on January 9. 'Hie pilot of the machine was Leading Aircraftman C. AV. Holmes. The jurv, which comprised Messrs. F. Woods,‘.J.P., R. O. Hornblow, G. it. Smith, J. F. Grant and D. D. MeKuizie, returned a verdict, that Haase met his death by drowning. Power Lines Struck. Walter Albert Neville, tractor-driver employed by the Public Morks Department, Foxton, said that on the diite in question he was driving hi.s tractor close to the Manawatu River on the south side of the Whirokino Bridge and some distance to the west when be noticed an aeroplane Hying low over the river at. 2.30 p.m. Lht plane came from a northerly directum and was following the course of the river up stream. All at once saw parts fly off the plane, which then crashed into the river AVitnecs realized that the plane had struck the power lines which span the river in that locality. , „ Cecil William Holmes, ot V oodbourm. Air Force Station, said in evidence that he was IS years of age. He yvas an aircraftman under training ns au airman pilot, and prior to January 9 was stationed at Blenheim. On the mornin- of January 9 he left Woodbourne aerodrome in a Vincent N. 326 biplane, accompanied by Leading Aircraftman Haase, on a navigational flight. It would be somewhere between 8 and 10 a.m. when they left, and Haase was piloting the machine, and witness doing the navigating. They reached Ohakea aerodrome about midday, and there they had lunch and took off again for Blenheim about 2 p.m., when witness piloted the machine, and Haase took over the navigation. The day was fine, and flying conditions perfect. On the way over from Blenheim, however, witness had felt air sick, and on the return trip was not feeling too well, lie felt exhausted, In that his body was not reacting to the demands of the mind. Witness said that lie had experienced a similar feeling periodically in cross-country Hying for about a fortnight prior to the accident. About 10 days before the accident witness had reported to the medical officer at Woodbourne, and he had advised some treatment, ami witness had carried on witli his training. M itness said that at the lime he was eating very little and getting very little sleep, with the result that he was getting run down. Loss of Consciousness.

After leaving Ohttkea, said witness, be felt, the feeling he had previously experienced coming on again, but he thought that he would carry on with tlie flight, as he had done previously. “Wc were flying at 2000 feet,” said witness, “and Haase ail'd I were conversing through the communication tube. Haase said that lie was getting some bearings and was going to get a 'fix’—that means locating our position. That was the last thing 1 remember Haase saying, and I must have lost consciousness while he was talking, for the next thing I remember was coming to. My head had fallen forward and I had no recollection as to where I was or at what height 1 was flying, because I had not fully recovered m.v faculties. “I cannot say how long I had been in this condition, but tlie first recollection 1 have was when I noticed tlie river bank coming toward me. I turned to climb to tlie left in au effort to avoid tlie bank. I do not know what happened after that, until I was sitting on tlie side of Hie river and was under the impression that there were people about me. I have no recollection of tlie plane striking tlie water. In my opinion tlie cause of tlie accident was due to m.v losing consciousness in tlie air. Neither Haase nor I had any lii|uor that 'day.” At tlie conclusion of tlie inquest a service inquiry was held in eamertt.