Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 2, 2020 23:06:45 GMT 12
I thought there was a thread on this story already but I cannot find it. This article comes from the Evening Post dated the 22nd of March 1945:
THREE KILLED
PLANE COLLISIONS
TWO YESTERDAY
Two collisions between service aircraft occurred in New Zealand yesterday, resulting in three deaths. Those killed were:— Flight Lieutenant William J. Farnsworth. Mrs. M. Farnsworth, Darfield, North Canterbury (w.).
Pilot Officer Neville B. Quigley. Mrs. C. C. Quigley, 4 McDonald Street, Napier (m.).
Sergeant Frank E. Rout. Mr. E. Rout, Slacks Road, Awapuni (f.).
Flight Lieutenant Farnsworth was the pilot of a Ventura which, when flying at, 2500 ft, was involved in a collision with a Douglas Dakota near Whenuapai. The Dakota had 14 feet broken off one wing, but its pilot, Flight Lieutenant D. L. Bade, made a brilliant recovery by safely landing it at Whenuapai.
Flight Lieutenant Farnsworth was killed instantly when the Ventura crashed, but four other members of the crew baled out and escaped unhurt. They were: Sergeant R. N. Smith, navigator (Dunedin), Sergeant C. Wellington, wireless operator-air gunner (Whangarei), Sergeant R. M. Hall, air gunner (Oamaru), and Sergeant I. E. King, air gunner (Temuka).
As well as the first pilot, Flight Lieutenant Bade, who was formerly well known in Wellington athletic circles, and the second pilot, Flying Officer James Logan Ross, the Dakota carried two radio experts belonging to the United States Army Air Corps.
The Ventura was undertaking range familiarisation practice, and the Dakota was undergoing an official radio range test. The cause of the accident is not known, and inquiries are proceeding.
THE OTHER MISHAP.
Pilot Officer Quigley and Sergeant Rout were killed near Ohakea, when the Warhawks they were flying in a formation collided when coming in to land.
Before enlisting in the R N.Z A.F. in 1938, Flight Lieutenant Farnsworth was employed by Mr. V. LeCren in the Fairlie district, South Canterbury. His father resides in England, where Flight Lieutenant Farnsworth was educated at Malvern College. He represented his school in the first cricket eleven, and in New Zealand he played football for the Fairlie Club. His age was 28. He was on the permanent staff of the R N Z A F and was kept in New Zealand as an instructor.
Pilot Officer Quigley enlisted in the R.N.Z.A.F. in May, 1943. He was educated at the Napier Boys' High School, and before his enlistment was employed by the New Zealand Insurance Company at Napier. He was 21 years old. :
Sergeant Rout joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in March, 1942, and before his enlistment was doing farm work with his father. He was educated at the Palmerston North Boys' High School and was 20 years of age.
THREE KILLED
PLANE COLLISIONS
TWO YESTERDAY
Two collisions between service aircraft occurred in New Zealand yesterday, resulting in three deaths. Those killed were:— Flight Lieutenant William J. Farnsworth. Mrs. M. Farnsworth, Darfield, North Canterbury (w.).
Pilot Officer Neville B. Quigley. Mrs. C. C. Quigley, 4 McDonald Street, Napier (m.).
Sergeant Frank E. Rout. Mr. E. Rout, Slacks Road, Awapuni (f.).
Flight Lieutenant Farnsworth was the pilot of a Ventura which, when flying at, 2500 ft, was involved in a collision with a Douglas Dakota near Whenuapai. The Dakota had 14 feet broken off one wing, but its pilot, Flight Lieutenant D. L. Bade, made a brilliant recovery by safely landing it at Whenuapai.
Flight Lieutenant Farnsworth was killed instantly when the Ventura crashed, but four other members of the crew baled out and escaped unhurt. They were: Sergeant R. N. Smith, navigator (Dunedin), Sergeant C. Wellington, wireless operator-air gunner (Whangarei), Sergeant R. M. Hall, air gunner (Oamaru), and Sergeant I. E. King, air gunner (Temuka).
As well as the first pilot, Flight Lieutenant Bade, who was formerly well known in Wellington athletic circles, and the second pilot, Flying Officer James Logan Ross, the Dakota carried two radio experts belonging to the United States Army Air Corps.
The Ventura was undertaking range familiarisation practice, and the Dakota was undergoing an official radio range test. The cause of the accident is not known, and inquiries are proceeding.
THE OTHER MISHAP.
Pilot Officer Quigley and Sergeant Rout were killed near Ohakea, when the Warhawks they were flying in a formation collided when coming in to land.
Before enlisting in the R N.Z A.F. in 1938, Flight Lieutenant Farnsworth was employed by Mr. V. LeCren in the Fairlie district, South Canterbury. His father resides in England, where Flight Lieutenant Farnsworth was educated at Malvern College. He represented his school in the first cricket eleven, and in New Zealand he played football for the Fairlie Club. His age was 28. He was on the permanent staff of the R N Z A F and was kept in New Zealand as an instructor.
Pilot Officer Quigley enlisted in the R.N.Z.A.F. in May, 1943. He was educated at the Napier Boys' High School, and before his enlistment was employed by the New Zealand Insurance Company at Napier. He was 21 years old. :
Sergeant Rout joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in March, 1942, and before his enlistment was doing farm work with his father. He was educated at the Palmerston North Boys' High School and was 20 years of age.