PILOT KILLED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 136, 5 March 1941, Page 10

PILOT KILLED

Aircraft Collide In The Air

FORMATION FLYING

Accident Between Shannon And Levin

An airman pilot under training was killed yesterday morning when two aircraft from the R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Ohakea, engaged in formation flying half-way between Shannon and Levin, collided in the air and made forced landings. The casualty was:

Leading Aircraftman Evan Roy Archer; next-of-kin (father), Mr. R. Archer, Bank of New Zealand, Te Kuiti.

He was the sole occupant of the machine.

The pilot of the other machine was Leading Aircraftman Gordon Griffiths Thomas; next-of-kin (mother), Mrs. M. E. Thomas, 10 Golf Road, Epsom. He was not injured. He was the sole occupant of the aircraft. A Court of Inquiry will be held. Leading Aircraftman E. R. Archer was born in Wellington and educated at Te Kuiti District High School.

COLLISION SEEN FROM ROAD '

Crash Into Swampy Ground

Dominion Special Service.

PALMERSTON NORTH, March 4. Three aeroplanes were flying in formation from Ohakea southward parallel to the main highway, halfway between Shannon and Levin. A cyclist on the road, Mr. J. W. Bibby, noticed the centre plane rise and collide with the machine on the right, then continue on upside down. It 'flew toward the Shannon hills, two pieces being noticed to fall off on the way. About 300 yards from the main highway, near a clump of trees, it crashed into swampy ground. The body of the pilot was recovered from underneath the wreckage. The other plane finally nose-dived to the ground, smashing its propeller, damaging the fuselage and finally coming to rest on a wire fence. A breakdown gang and ambulance were soon on the scene. i

PLANE FALLS 50 FEET

Crash On To Muriwai Beach

Leading Aircraftman Warwick Ashling Clouston, an airman pilot under training at the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Whenuapai, the sole occupant of a Tiger Moth aircraft, crashed from 50 feet on. to Muriwai Beach this afternoon.

He received moderately serious injuries, including concussion, facial abrasions and a fractured nose. The injured man is a son of Mrs. K. A. Clouston, 10 Ocean View Road, Milford, Auckland.