TARANAKI PILOT KILLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 189, 12 August 1938, Page 7

TARANAKI PILOT KILLED

ROYAL AIR FORCE DISASTER PLANE CRASHES DURING BOMBING PRACTICE. LONDON, Aug. 10. Acting-Pilot Officer R. A. Robertson, a son of Mrs. A. G. Robertson, of Okaiawa, New Zealand, was killed when an Air Force machine in which he was participating in torpedo dropping exercises crashed into the Solent. Pilot Officer Robertson was flying in formation with two other machines from the Royal Air Force station at Gosport. The three dived in formation and two pulled out, but Robertson’s machine crashed after the release of a torpedo. The body was recovered. Acting-Pilot Officer R. A. Robertson, whose death in a Royal Air Force plane was cabled from London today, is the son of Mrs. A. G. Robertson, of Okaiawa. Mrs. Robertson is at present living in New Plymouth with a daughter. Early this year. Mrs. Robertson suffered a severe shock through the death of her husband, formerly a garage proprietor and contractor at Okaiawa. Pilot-Officer Robertson was about 25 years of age. I-Ie received his early training in flying in New Plymouth, and went to England two years ago to join the Royal Air Force. He was educated at Okaiawa Primary School and Hawera Technics! High School. He took a keen interest in sport and was a member of the Te Ngutu Golf Club and the Okaiawa Tennis Club. ’