NIGHT FLYING ACCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23515, 1 June 1938, Page 10

NIGHT FLYING ACCIDENT

ANOTHER NEW ZEALANDER KILLED (From Our own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, May 11. A Sealand pilot’s crash at 11.30 p.m. on May 6, which was followed by the machine bursting into flames, was described to the Flintshire coroner (Mr F. Llewellyn Jones) at the inquest at the Sealand Aerodrome this week on Acting Pilot Officer Errol Desmond Gimson, aged 21, of Christchurch.. Flight-lieutenant Stevens said Gimson was a pupil, and had had a fair amount of experience. He (witness* tested the plane, and found it to be. in good condition. Gimson had received instruction in night flying, and had made satisfactory landings. On Friday he was ordered to carry out two night landings. He madd the first one perfectly, but on the second occasion the machine bounced slightly, rose again, and went out of sight. Soon afterwards there’ was an explosion and a sheet of flame in the south-west corner of the aerodrome. Flying-officer Richard Lloyd Hammill said he took the aeroplane on a solo flight before Gimson went up. and found it in perfect order. He watched Gimson. and told the coroner; “I saw the machine spin around and strike the ground. There was an explosion, and it burst into flames. The coroner said the Royal Air Force had already held an inquiry into the technical side of the matter. He considered it was Quite clear that Gimson had had sufficient experience to justify his being sent out on a solo fli He t- returned a verdict of “Accidental death.” , _ , . The funeral took place at Sealand on May 10. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, who is at Geneva, was represented by Mr E. A. Broadbridge. This is recorded to be the fortieth fatal Royal Air Force accident this yeai;. Yesterday eight flying deaths were recorded.