anthea
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
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Post by anthea on Jul 27, 2018 22:36:16 GMT 12
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  |
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Post by angelsonefive on Jul 28, 2018 8:09:49 GMT 12
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harri
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
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Post by harri on Feb 20, 2021 10:07:06 GMT 12
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
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 20, 2021 11:48:45 GMT 12
Gosh, what an awful thing to witness. Thanks for the post Graeme.
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lesduck
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
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Post by lesduck on Jun 18, 2024 14:07:41 GMT 12
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 |
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lesduck
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
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Post by lesduck on Jun 18, 2024 14:35:28 GMT 12
Hi Anthea
Your Mum must be Janice, I am her cousin and yes I remember her Dad Vern well as a favorite uncle, unfortunately myself and my Dad (Verns brother Arthur)
both witnessed the accident as we lived in Redclifs and saw the aircraft dive behind the hills my farther commented that he would be in Wellington by the time
the aircraft pulled out of the dive, We did not realize that he had crashed and was not until late afternoon that we received the sad news
Sorry late reply only just come across this sight while tracing Verns brother Cavill whom was also killed in an aircraft crash during WW11
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