INQUESTS ON LOST FLIERS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 310, 25 September 1943, Page 3

INQUESTS ON LOST FLIERS

Inquests were held in cs ' terday on a numlher of R.N.ZA.I. per. sonnel who lost their lives on operations in or off New Zealand. The coroner, Mr. W. G. Mellish, said the whole evidence had - been submitted to the Attornev-General, Mr. TI. 11. Cornish, K.C., who had authorized the holding ot the inquests. In each case the. verdict was one of death through the loss ot aircraft in. which the men concerned were members of the crew. Sergeant A. D. Buchanan represented the police and Pilot Officer J. P. Mc-Veagh gave evidence in each case. A summary of each case follows: Donald Hugh McKenzie and Jack Irevor Villers, took off from Woodibourne at < a.m. on January 31, oh a Hight to Lake Grassmere; Miss Rutland, Caipe Campbell, heard a loud engine roar followed (by an explosion in the direction of the sea about S a.m. _ . . Flying Officer Harry Kinder, Flying Officer Charles Neville Turnbull and Sergeant Nopia Stewart; plane took off at 2.22 p.m. on December S, 19-12, to search for an unidentified merchant ship reported off the east coast, and was expected back at 5.30 p.m.; last signal from plane at 4.44 p.m. Sel-wyn Allen Sinclair, took oft from Woodbourne on Muy 21), 1941, lor Otaki, and was never heard of again. Leading Aircraftman John Ronald Orbell, failed to return from a flight •from Woodbourne aerodrome on August IS, 1942.