LOSS OF FOUR LIVES

Southland Times, Issue 24632, 2 January 1942, Page 6

LOSS OF FOUR LIVES

Planes Collide Near Woodbourne (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 31. Four members of the Air Force were killed at 10.15 this morning when two planes collided one mile north of Woodbourne. Those killed were:— Sergeant Matthew William Coxon; wife, Mrs M. Coxon, Blenheim. Leading Aircraftman J. D. Hewett; wife, Mrs Joan Hewett, Wellington. Leading Aircraftman Charles William Hildreth; wife, Mrs Audrey Hildreth, Wellington. Leading Aircraftman Gordon Keitn Clarris; wife, Mrs Zona Clarris, Wellington. Leading Aircraftman Hewett was a son of Squadron Leader J. D. Hewett, R.N.Z.A.F. It is announced that one aircraft, occupied by Leading Aircraftman Hildreth and Leading Aircraftman Clarris, had been engaged in camera gun practice and was returning to the aerodrome when it became involved in a collision with, a second aircraft in which Sergeant Coxon and Leading Aircraftman Hewett were practising instrument take-offs. Both machines crashed near Renwicktown and were completely wrecked. The occupants were killed instantly. CONDITION OF INJURED MEN (P.A.) AUCKLAND, January 1. The condition tonight of the four men injured in the accident on a naval vessel is: Cassey, minor injuries, condition slightly improved; Sherwood, critically injured, condition still serious; Bassett, seriously injured, condition still serious; Elliot, minor injuries, condition slightly improved.