AIRMAN KILLED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1939, Page 4

AIRMAN KILLED

FLYING-OFFiCER BRYAN GRAHAM. EX-WAIRARAPA HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Advice has been received that Pilot Officer Bryan Graham, son of Mr and Mrs D. J. Graham. Papakura, was killed at a result of a flying accident in England. Mr Graham, a former postmaster at Papakura, and present chairman of the Papakura Borough Council works committee, on Monday received a letter from his son, stating that he was piloting Spitfire fighters and had just received word of his promotion to flying officer. His appointment, however, had not yet been gazetted. Pilot Officer Graham was 26 years of age and was educated at Ohaupo and Hunterville, later matriculating at the Wairarapa High School, Masterton, where he was a prominent school athlete. In 1931 he joined the National Bank staff at Waiuku and later was transferred to Christchurch. He left the bank for England on August 16, 1937, on a short service commission in the Royal Air Force, received his first training at the Desford Flying Training School. He was later trained as a fighter pilot, and was transferred to No.. 6 Armament Training Camp. At the outbreak of the war, Pilot Officer Graham, was transferred to a squadron equipped with Spitfire fighters. Early in October he was attached to another fighter squadron. The late Pilot Officer Graham was a pupil at the Wairarapa High School from 1927 till 1930. SCHOOL TRIBUTE. ONE WHO WILL BE REMEMBERED The Principal of Wairarapa College, Mr G. G. Hancox, made reference to the death of Pilot-Officer Graham at morning assembly today. Mr G. W. Morice said Pilot-Officer Graham was formerly one of his pupils. Bryan Graham, he declared, would be remembered for his fine personal qualities and as a sportsman and a gentleman. The school stood in silence as a mark of respect.