AIR FORCE PUPIL’S DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 8

AIR FORCE PUPIL’S DEATH

| COURT MARTIAL STARTS INQUIRY (United Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 5. A court martial sat at the Royal New Zealand Air Force elementary flying training school at Bell Block today to I inquire into the circumstances of the ■ accident on December 6, 1940, in which ■ Leading Aircraftman M. S. Best was | struck and killed instantly by a plane | in which were Flying Officer C. Parker and a pupil. The court will resume its sitting tomorrow morning. The court is constituted as follows: President Group Captain G. S. Hodson, A.F.C.; members, Squadron Leaders B. S. Nichol!, R. A. Kirkup and R. C. Ayling and Flight-Lieutenant R. J. Makgill; prosecutor, Flying Officer Jackson; defending officer, FlightLieutenant A. G. Hill. The circumstances of the accident were that, accompanied by another airman, a pilot undergoing training, was returning from the rifle range at the extreme northern corner of the landing ground. To reach the school buildings they skirted the aerodrome, walking near the boundary, and were about a quarter of the way round when a landing plane, containing a pupil with his pilot instructor, struck and killed Best. The impact was not seen by the dead man’s companion because he threw himself to the ground as the plane approached. It was assumed, from a subsequent inspection of the plane, that one of the wheels struck Best.