Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 18, 2018 16:39:00 GMT 12
Does anyone here know details of the forced landing of an aircraft onto Major David Dillon's farm in Cambridge before WWII? The pilot was Jack Coath. I cannot find anything from the actual incident, but it is mentioned in this article when Coath lost his life in the RNZAF.
WAIKATO INDEPENDENT, 15 OCTOBER 1941
PLANE ACCIDENT
AIR OFFICER KILLED
CAMBRIDGE MISHAP RECALLED
The announcement was made from Wellington on Sunday that Flying Officer Jack Rua Coath was killed and a pupil injured when a training plane crashed near Stratford. It will be recalled that Flying from Wellington one Sunday that Officer Coath, who before the war was a member of the Hamilton Aero Club, made a forced landing in the neighbourhood of Cambridge some years ago, on Captain D. Dillon's property at Roto-o-rangi.
The cause of the accident has not been determined, and a court of inquiry will be held.
Well-known in Auckland, where he served in different branches of the Bank of New Zealand, Flying Officer Coath w#s a son of Mr Walter Coath, of 35 Epsom Avenue. About 33 years of age, he was born in the South Island and was educated at various schools, the last being King's College.
Flying Officer Coath was a keen airman before the war and was a member of the Hamilton Aero Club. He was also keenly interested in sport, including motor-racing, yachting golf aind cricket. He kept wickets for the King's Old Boys' eleven some years ago.
For some time he was on the staff of the Bank of New Zealand in Fiji. He was married in July.
WAIKATO INDEPENDENT, 15 OCTOBER 1941
PLANE ACCIDENT
AIR OFFICER KILLED
CAMBRIDGE MISHAP RECALLED
The announcement was made from Wellington on Sunday that Flying Officer Jack Rua Coath was killed and a pupil injured when a training plane crashed near Stratford. It will be recalled that Flying from Wellington one Sunday that Officer Coath, who before the war was a member of the Hamilton Aero Club, made a forced landing in the neighbourhood of Cambridge some years ago, on Captain D. Dillon's property at Roto-o-rangi.
The cause of the accident has not been determined, and a court of inquiry will be held.
Well-known in Auckland, where he served in different branches of the Bank of New Zealand, Flying Officer Coath w#s a son of Mr Walter Coath, of 35 Epsom Avenue. About 33 years of age, he was born in the South Island and was educated at various schools, the last being King's College.
Flying Officer Coath was a keen airman before the war and was a member of the Hamilton Aero Club. He was also keenly interested in sport, including motor-racing, yachting golf aind cricket. He kept wickets for the King's Old Boys' eleven some years ago.
For some time he was on the staff of the Bank of New Zealand in Fiji. He was married in July.
