Trying to Find Information

[anthea]

Hi Everyone
I am doing some research for my mother in relation to her father Vernon Duckmanton who was appointed to the territorial Air Force No. 3 Squadron in Christchurch in 1952.
Unfortunately during a training exercise on 27th September 1952, he was killed when his plane (Mustang 4 NZ2424) crashed into Lyttleton
Harbour at 11.50am. My mother was only 7 but remembers that day.
I am looking for any information from anyone who knows anything about this accident, saw the accident or happened to be there when it happened. Or anyone who happens to have known and/or worked with Vernon.
I would love to be able to give my mother any information, no matter how small so thought this was the best place to ask.
I hope someone can help.
Thanks A lot
Anthea
P.S sorry if I have any of the terminology wrong. And also we have got his file from NZDF archives

[angelsonefive]

Hi Anthea,

The report of the RNZAF investigation into the crash will be available from NZ Archives. archway.archives.govt.nz/ItemAdvancedSearch.do

In the meantime you could try this link :

aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=22808

[harri]

Hi Anthea, I was 8 years old playing with friends in the back yard of our parents Buckley’s Rd home Linwood. Hearing the drone we looked up and spotted a formation of Mustangs flying over the Port Hills area heading Southwest. The leading plane dropped down underneath the formation briefly taking up a position at the rear then flew once again beside the formation, we thought the pilot was checking the formation.Having reached the front it then flew upwards in a steep climb reaching a great height then rotated over into a long dive at speed disappearing behind the port hills.Before the plane disappeared a part broke off the fuselage and fluttered down after the plane had disappeared . We believed at the time it was a wing. We ran inside to tell my mother we had seen a plane crash, she did not believe us until it was notified in the CHCH Press. Trust this helps. Graeme

[Dave Homewood]

Gosh, what an awful thing to witness. Thanks for the post Graeme.