AIRCRAFT COLLIDE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21362, 5 March 1941, Page 7

AIRCRAFT COLLIDE

DEATH OF PILOT MACHINES FROM OHAKEA TE KUITI TRAINEE’S FATE (By Telegrapn.— cpeclai to Times) PALMERSTON N., Wednesday When two Hawker Hind aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Ohakea were engaged in formation flying between Shannon and Levin yesterday they collided a*nd made forced landings, one airman pilot under training being killed. The victim was:— Leading - Aircraftsman Evan Roy Archer, son of Mr E. Archer, Bank of New Zealand, Te Kuiti. He was the sole occupant of the machine. The pilot of the other machine was Leading-Aircraftsman Gordon Griffiths Thomas, son of Mrs M. E. Thomas, Golf Road. Epsom. He was the sole occupant of his machine and was not injured. According to a cyclist who was proceeding along the main highway from Shannon to Levin, three aeroplanes were flying in formation in a southerly direction. Two were in front and one a little in the rear. This last machine appeared suddenly to turn upward and to crash into the Hawker on its right, the propeller and portion of the body of the latter machine being tom off. l)iv« Into Swamp After continuing in a more or less inverted position, the aeroplane that had been struck nose dived into a swampy gully on the property of Mr Easton, about 300 yards from the main road. After much difficulty had been experienced in raising the machine, it was found that LeadingAircraftsman Archer had been killed instantly. The other machine involved finished up across a fence on the other side of the road. It was intact except for the undercarriage, one wing and the propeller. A court of inquiry will be held. Leading - Aircraftsman Archer was bom in Wellington and educated at the Te Kuiti District High School. CRASH AT MURIWAI (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Wednesday Concussion, facial abrasions and a fractured nose were received by Leading-Aircraftsman W. A. Clouston, aged 20, when the D.H. 82 Tiger Moth he was flying crashed on Muriwai Beach yesterday afternoon. Leading - Aircraftsman Clouston, who is an airman pilot undergoing training at Whenuapai is a son of Mrs K. A. Clouston, of Milford. He was brought to the Auckland Hospital last night. The aircraft was only 50ft. up when it dived to the beach.