MISSING R.A.F. PILOT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 11 September 1939, Page 10

MISSING R.A.F. PILOT

EX-TARANAKI FLYER PROMINENT RUGBY PLAYER FEW MONTHS IN ENGLAND (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Pilot-Officer Cedric Nicholas Whittington, Royal Air Force, the younger son of a well-known Taranaki farmer has been reported missing and is believed to be dead, according to cabled advice received in New Zealand. No further details were conained in the cablegram.

Pilot-Officer Whittington, who is a ■on of Mr. C. C. Whittington, of Ebule Netta, Nigeria, British West Africa, and formerly of Hawera, left New Zealand early this year to join he Royal Air Force in England. He was educated at New Plymouth Boys’ High School, and was a member of the school Rugby first XV, and also gained life-saving and debating cups. He competed in the Taranaki junior' tennis competitions.

On leaving school he joined the staff of an accountancy firm in New Plymouth. and played Rugby for the Old Boys Club senior XV there. Later lie joined the civil reserve of pilots, and then the Royal New Zealand Air Force, training at Wigram aerodrome Christchurch. While in Christchurch, he was a member of the Air Force senior Rugby team. He was a very promising footballer, and was considered to be a likely Canterbury representative.

Pilot-Officer Whittington, who had his 21st birthday last month, is survived bv his father, a brother, Mr. H. J. Whittington, Wellington, and an aunt, Miss A. M. Whittington, Hawera.