Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 3, 2023 12:42:32 GMT 12
PLANE HIT TANK
REPRIMAND FOR PILOT
(0.C.) CITRISTCHURCH, Saturday
The sentence of the general court-martial on Flying-Officer Francis Kenneth Woodward, the pilot of a Royal New Zealand Air Force aeroplane which hit the turret of a tank during manoeuvres near the Waimakariri River on January 5 has now been promulgated. Flying-Officer Woodward was found guilty on two charges, first, an act in flying which was likely to cause bodily injury to persons, and, second, negligently damaging His Majesty's aircraft.
The decision of the court-martial was that Flying-Officer Woodward be severely reprimanded and be put under stoppages of pay until he has made good the sum or £5 in respect of damage caused to the aircraft concerned.
The court-martial was held on February 15, and Flying-Officer Woodward was then charged with (1) An act in flying at West Melton likely to cause bodily injury to persons in that, being captain of an aircraft, he flew it so as to collide with a General Stuart tank, thereby causing danger of bodily injury to his pupil, Leading-Aircraftman Norman Rupert Overend, also to his passengers, Leading-Aircraftman Charles Blackwood Cornish and W.A.1 Annie May Denley; (2) negligently damaging the aircraft to the extent of £22; (3) an act to the prejudice of good order and Air Force discipline, in that he flew the aircraft at a height below 250 feet, contrary to Air Staff training instructions, which directed that instruction in low flying was to take place at a height of 250 feet. Flying-Officer Woodward was found not guilty on the third charge.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 22 MARCH 1943
REPRIMAND FOR PILOT
(0.C.) CITRISTCHURCH, Saturday
The sentence of the general court-martial on Flying-Officer Francis Kenneth Woodward, the pilot of a Royal New Zealand Air Force aeroplane which hit the turret of a tank during manoeuvres near the Waimakariri River on January 5 has now been promulgated. Flying-Officer Woodward was found guilty on two charges, first, an act in flying which was likely to cause bodily injury to persons, and, second, negligently damaging His Majesty's aircraft.
The decision of the court-martial was that Flying-Officer Woodward be severely reprimanded and be put under stoppages of pay until he has made good the sum or £5 in respect of damage caused to the aircraft concerned.
The court-martial was held on February 15, and Flying-Officer Woodward was then charged with (1) An act in flying at West Melton likely to cause bodily injury to persons in that, being captain of an aircraft, he flew it so as to collide with a General Stuart tank, thereby causing danger of bodily injury to his pupil, Leading-Aircraftman Norman Rupert Overend, also to his passengers, Leading-Aircraftman Charles Blackwood Cornish and W.A.1 Annie May Denley; (2) negligently damaging the aircraft to the extent of £22; (3) an act to the prejudice of good order and Air Force discipline, in that he flew the aircraft at a height below 250 feet, contrary to Air Staff training instructions, which directed that instruction in low flying was to take place at a height of 250 feet. Flying-Officer Woodward was found not guilty on the third charge.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 22 MARCH 1943
