AIRMAN’S DEATH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 February 1943, Page 2

AIRMAN’S DEATH

FLIGHT-LIEUT. V. ENGSTROM. FORMER MASTERTON RESIDENT. The many friends in the Wairarapa and elsewhere of Flight-Lieutenant Vaughan Engstrom, R.A.F., will learn with great regret of his death, which occurred recently in an aircraft accident in England. For the past twelve months Flight-Lieut. Engstrom had been engaged as a flying instructor. Flight-Lieut. Engstrom, who was an ex-pupil of Wairarapa College, left New Zealand in November, 1938, on a short service commission, undergoing his full training in England, In June, 1940, he was reported missing as a result of air operations. It transpired that his plane had been shot down in flames after a dogfight in which his crew brought down two certain and one probable German planes. After a most adventurous five days in France at the time of her capitulation he arrived back at the Air Ministry in a state of collapse and was immediately sent to hospital, where he remained for five months. On his discharge he was posted to the Air Ministry as navigation examiner on the Central Examination Board of the R.A.F., which position he relinquished about nine months later at his own request to become a navigation instructor and later flying instructor. Throughout his Air Force career he was a most keen and conscientious officer. Both in New Zealand and in England Flight-Lieut. Engstrom held the respect and admiration of all who knew him, old and young, his many good qualities and ready wit endearing him to all. He is survived by a widow and twin daughters, aged one month, of Huntbridge, The Green, Matlock, Derbyshire, by his mother, Mrs E. M. Engstrom, Colombo Road, Masterton, and by three sisters, to whom will be [extended the sympathy of 3 wide 'circle of friends,