AIR CASUALTIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 22, 27 February 1942, Page 5

AIR CASUALTIES

TWO LOCAL PILOTS KILLED IN ACCIDENTS Two local pilots have lost their lives recently, the news of the death in an air accident at 'Wellington of Sergeant Alfred William Todman, of Taneatua, being received, yesterday. The other was Pilot Officer John Reenberg, who on Saturday, was reported as killed in an air accident in England. Sergeant Todman was instructing a pupil, Aircraftsman Edward Jas. Mannell when the crash occurred. Sergeant Todman Prior to his entering the Royal "New Zealand Air Force twelve months ago Sergeant Todman was a member of the staff of the New Zealand Railways and was stationed at Taneatua where he had been for about two years. He was aged twenty-two years and rapidly became an efficient pilot—in fact so efficient that he was retained in New Zealand to act as instructor. He was a popular member of the Taneatua community being a prominent cricketer and member of the tennis club. His birth place was Aromoho, Wanga'nui, where he commenced his civilian career in the Railway Workshops. It was from that centre that he came to Taneatua. The late Sergeant Tollman's parents recently came to live at Whakatane and are resident in Domain Road and his widow Mrs H. M. M. Todman resides at Taneatua.Pilot Officer Reenberg Pilot Officer John Reenberg was a well known and popular resident of Whakatane before he left for England. While in this town he was employed by the Herd Council and had spent about two years with the local branch of the organisation before undergoing his training at Whcnuapai and Hobsonvillc. He was English by birth and received his education at Taunton College, Somerset. His mother is resident in England. The late Pilot was a well travelled man having visited many countries, and while in the Bay he made many friends being a keen golfer and follower of other sports. His brother is with the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East and was wounded iff the Libyan campaign.