AIRMAN PILOT KILLED

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1941, Page 4

AIRMAN PILOT KILLED

JUMP BY PARACHUTE.'

WELLINGTON, July 29. An airman pilot under training was killed instantly near Blenheim this afternoon, when he attempted to leave the trainer aircraft of which he was the sole occupant by parachute. Ale was Leading Aircraftman Morris Desmond Jurgens. His father is n Mr. H. W. P. Jurgens, 46 Crofton Road, Marton. . , , . Leading Aircraftman Jurgens took off on a flight from the Royal _New Zealand Air Force station at Woodbourne to carry out'training exercises. During the flight he apparently attempted to leave the aircraft by parachute. The evidence indicates that the parachute fouled the aircraft, as his body was found with the parachute badly torn. The accident occurred near the Omaka river, where the body was recovered in the river-bed, approximately one mile south-west of Goultar’s hill, and six miles west of Woodbourne. The aircraft was completely wrecked, but did not catch fire. The cause of the airman’s leaving the aircraft is not known. A Court of Inquiry will be held. TWO MORE KILLED.

' WELLINGTON, July 30. I Two members of the Royal New " Zealand Air Force at Whenuapai were killed instantly, near Riverhead, this ; morning, when the aircraft of which ■ they were the occupants, crashed. ; They were Pilot Officer Athol 1 Foster; mother, Mrs. H. P. R. Foster, > 5 Westbourne Road, Remuera, Aucki land, and Leading Aircraftman Keith ■ Millen McCulloch; mother, Mrs. D. E. ; McCulloch, Mount Wellington Highway, Otahuhu, Auckland. The aircraft, which was of the trainer type, was engaged in instructional flight. The occupants were wearing parachutes, but did not use them. The aircraft was completely wrecked, but did not catch on fire. A court of inquiry will be held.—P.A. OVERSEAS CASUALTIES. WELLINGTON, 29. The following Air Force casualties were announced to-day: — Sergeant Gordon David Osborne, R.N.Z.A.F., missing on air operation. Mrs. D. D. Osborne, Edinburgh (w.) Sergeant Alan William Porteous Bird, R.N.Z.A.F., missing on operations. Mrs. W. Bird, Timaru (m.). Sergeant David Cameron Stewart, R.N.Z.A.F., slightly injured on air operations. Mr. D.'W. Stewart, Dunedin (f). Sergeant Charles William Andrews, R.N.Z.A.F., missing on a training flight. Mr. C. A. Andrews, Remuera (f.) Sergeant David Campbell Joyce, R.N.Z.A.F., killed in action. Mrs F. E. Soward, Upper Hutt (m.). Pilot Officer Mervyn Sydney Lund, missing on air operations. Mr. G. Lund, Auckland, (f.). WELLINGTON, July 30. The following Air Force casualties are officially announced: Sergeant Ivan Norton Robinson, R.N.Z.A.F., killed in a flying accident. Mother, Mrs. J. W. Robinson, Auckland. Sergeant Ronald Leslie Brewer, R.N.Z.A.F., missing on operations. Mother, Mrs. G. Hodgkins, Portsmouth. Leading Aircraftman Jack Norman Campbell, admitted to hospital with acute appendicitis. Operation successful, and condition of patient good. "Father, Mr. N. W. Campbell, Auckland.