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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 18, 2021 21:12:57 GMT 12
Does anyone have any information about the accident of Tiger Moth ZK-AIM at Swannanoa on the 3rd of March 1951, in which pilot Michael Phillips was killed?
Was it a mid-air collision that caused the crash?
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 18, 2021 21:55:53 GMT 12
From my 'Toll of the Air' (a work in progress)
SATURDAY 3 MARCH 1951
Canterbury Aero Club de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth ZK-AIM
Whilst engaged on a navigation exercise in connection with the Bledisloe Cup competition at the Royal New Zealand Aero Club’s annual air pageant, at Harewood, at 2.15 pm the biplane was seen by Raymund D. Catherwood flying low at about 80-100 feet when it suddenly dived into a grass paddock on his farm at Swannanoa, 22 miles from Christchurch. The solo pilot was seriously injured on being thrown about 40 feet clear upon impact and died the following day. Catherwood later stated that he thought the Tiger Moth’s engine had cut out as it went into the dive.
† Michael Vincent PHILLIPS, aged 19
(Karori Cemetery, Wellington)
Phillips had begun flying with the Wellington Aero Club as an ATC cadet in January 1950 and later joined the club as a flying member. He obtained his Pilot’s ‘A’ Licence (3952) in August. An obituary note by the club remarked that as a very keen pilot he combined a natural flying ability with an earnest desire to learn the intricacies of airmanship with the result that he was chosen as our Bledisloe Cup representative.
Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 18, 2021 22:06:49 GMT 12
Thanks very much Errol. I am curious about it because John Hansen recalls that when he was a kid his uncle was talking about a crash on his farm at Swannanoa. His uncle was the chap that had three Avro Ansons in his paddock and John says that they reckoned a lot of pilots flew low over the Ansons on cross country nav exercises.
John thought it was Harvards and that they'd collided and one had crashed. But he was going from long memory of a conversation. I could not find any Harvards that crashed there, but did come across this Tiger Moth and wondered if it was the accident. But no mention there of a mid-air collision.
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Post by shorty on Feb 19, 2021 0:09:14 GMT 12
His uncle would have been Charlie Dodge who had the two Ansons in Tram Road
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 19, 2021 7:56:59 GMT 12
ZK-AIM at Rongotai June 1947 ![]()  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 19, 2021 8:35:15 GMT 12
His uncle would have been Charlie Dodge who had the two Ansons in Tram Road Yes. And from what John says he originally had three, or perhaps two and a half. Of course one is now in the Air Force Museum of New Zealand and another is being restored by Don Subritzky right now. |
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Post by shorty on Feb 19, 2021 12:29:52 GMT 12
The one the Air Force Museum restored (NZ 415) came from Charlies brother Walter whose farm was on the other side of the road. He also had NZ 422. Charlie had NZ 412 and one other (NZ 416?). Photos were posted in my "Stash" thread
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Post by dustyredgodfrey on Feb 23, 2021 7:06:40 GMT 12
There must have been 2 separate moth accidents around swannanoa as I recall a photo of two burnt moths tangled together.Harris field was also nearby so I assume a training accident?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2021 14:08:50 GMT 12
Oh right. Yes of course, Harris Field is close, and I think Clover Patch that No. 3 EFTS used was also not far away.
So maybe there was indeed a collision in the air as John recalled. Does anyone know the serials of the two Tigers?
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Post by planewriting on Feb 23, 2021 14:25:56 GMT 12
Oh right. Yes of course, Harris Field is close, and I think Clover Patch that No. 3 EFTS used was also not far away. So maybe there was indeed a collision in the air as John recalled. Does anyone know the serials of the two Tigers? It would appear that the two Tiger Moths involved were: NZ762 143.95.41.247/wikibase/65569 and NZ1438 143.95.41.247/wikibase/164378on 1 November 1943 |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2021 14:27:09 GMT 12
Thanks Peter.
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Post by madmax on Feb 23, 2021 16:34:00 GMT 12
My records, which may not be complete, show three additional mid-air collisions as well as the one mentioned above, between No3 EFTS DH82's during WW2.
20/2/1941 NZ886 collided with NZ883 near the corners of Burnside and Wooldridge Roads Harewood. Pilot of NZ886 killed while NZ883 crashed into a nearby paddock, pilot seriously injured
25/7/1942 NZ778 collided with NZ1411 both pilots killed
27/7/1942 NZ839 collided with NZ1427 pilot of NZ883 seriously injured, instructor and pupil in NZ1427 both killed
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Post by shorty on Feb 23, 2021 19:17:38 GMT 12
Couldn't have been the Dodge Brother's Ansons as they weren't sold off until February 1952
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2021 19:42:09 GMT 12
The Ansons were not connected to the collision. I spoke with John today and he said his uncle Wilber Dodge reckoned the Harvards used to regularly make mock bombing runs on the Ansons. And he heard his uncle speaking with his brother about the collision, and assuming he was still talking about the Harvards, but he admits now it has to have been the Tiger Moth collision much earlier that was being discussed.
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