N.Z.A.F. PLANES COLLIDE

Grey River Argus, 8 February 1941, Page 6

N.Z.A.F. PLANES COLLIDE

AT OTAGO DROME Pilot Killed and Two Men Injured [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, February 7. An airman pilot, under training, was killed, and two others were injured, when two trainer aircraft collided in the landing approach at. the RN.Z.A.F. station, Taieri, at 730 a.m., to-day. They were:— Leading Aircraftman Desmond Thomas Francis Hanrahan—Killed Nex* oT" kin, mother Mrs H. Hanrahan, 128 East Street, Ashburton. Flying Officer Leonard Frederick p oo r e —Broken left arm, bruises, and shock, admitted to Dunedin Hospital Next of kin, wife, Mrs E. M Poore, Green Street, Mosgiel. Leading Aircraftman Philip Wa--ter Darcy Stewart —Slightly injured, bruises and shock, admitted to the station hospital. Next of kin, father. W. T. Stewart, Moana Fiats, Victoria Avenue, Wanganui. The aircraft, of which Hanrahan was the sole occupant, had been engaged in Hying exercises, and was comiim in to land when it collided at approximately 100 feet with another aircraft piloted by Poore. Tne latter had been giving flying instruction to Stewart. A Court of Enquiry is being sei up. THE TARANAKI FATALITY. INQUEST VERDICT. NEW PLYMOUTH, February 7. At the inquest, before the Coroner, Mr W. H. Woodward, into the d eal T of Leading Aircraftman Maurice s ; Best, at the Flying School Be 11 Block, on December 6, when struck by a landing plane, the verdict was that he died as the result of being struck while walking along th e perimeter of the aerodrome by some part of an aeroplane, in the act of landing, death resulting from severe Haemorrhage. Robert S. Bruce, trainee, who. was walking from the rifle range with Best, said that both were watching the plane, which seemed coming m normally, then went into a side-slip, and seemed coming straight at themHe yelled to his companion, and dropped to the ground. When he sat up, he saw the plane go on and then stop. He looked towards his companion, who was lying stilfly on the ground, bleeding profusely from the mouth. He signalled th e amoulance E. H. Beable said that he was m the plane with Flying Officer Parker as instructor. He was too hig’a and Parker took control, and said he would side-slip to take off some of the height. He saw two men walking along the edge of the aerodrome. Parker said he thought ti hit one. He saw men waving anti when they landed Parker went back. Parker, in evidence, described the flight and landing, and said his first intimation that the men were on the Held was when he saw them, after coming out of the side-slip.