N.Z. AIRMAN’S DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 March 1941, Page 6

N.Z. AIRMAN’S DEATH

CRASH NEAR HELENSVILLE

[per press association.]

WELLINGTON, March 28.

An airman pilot under training was killed this morning when an aircraft in which he was flying solo crashed into the ground at Woodhill, five miles south of Helensville. He was Leading Aircraftman Edwin Chayter Moore. His next-of-kin is his mother, Mrs. M. A. Moore, Mount Eden road, Auckland.

Leading Aircraftman Moore was engaged in routine flying training from'* the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Whenuapai when the machine crashed to the ground. He was killed instantly. After crashing the machine caught fire. A column of xhechanised troops was passing at the time, and troops went immediately to the rescue, but they were unable to save the airman. Mr. J. E. Kiddie, who saw the accident from his cowshed, said that the machine appeared to be gliding down gently with the motor turned off, but in his opinion the motor was not brought into commission again in time to clear the ground. There was a south-west breeze blowing at the time and the machine appeared to be caught before striking the ground.

Born at Auckland in 1917, Leading Aircraftman Moore was educated at the Auckland Grammar School, and was well known, as d senior player for the Grafton Rugby Football Club and as a representative rower. A court of inquiry will be held.