AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

rnzaf
2 EFTS Tiger Moth II NZ666 P/O. Brian Charles Levet

Operation: Training

Date: 28th October 1943 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School

Type: Tiger Moth II

Serial: NZ666

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Ashburton

Location: Racecourse Hill

Pilot (Inst): P/O. Brian Charles Levet NZ/425265 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

Pilot (U/T): LAC. Graham Alexander Gunn NZ/433751 RNZAF Age 20. Seriously injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

Aircraft history: Tiger Moth NZ666 (c/no. 83470): Previously RAF Tiger Moth T5761. Built at Cowley, UK and shipped to New Zealand on the 05th July 1940 on the SS Rangitikei and on charge by the RNZAF at Unit 18 Rongotai 08th October 1940. With No. 4 EFTS, Whenuapai 1941. With No. 2 EFTS Ashburton from August 1943.

Whilst on a duel cross country exercise NZ666 spun off a steep low altitude over the pilot's home and crashed at Racecourse Hill between Darfield and Waddington at 11:00 hrs. The instructor was killed in the crash and the seriously injured pupil pilot died of his injuries three days layer at Christchurch Public Hospital

Burial details:

P/O. Brian Charles Levet. Auckland Cemetery (Waikumete). Prot. Soldiers Area D, Row 2A, Grave 29. Born on the 31st Match 1920 in Auckland. Educated at the Gladstone Road and Mount Albert Grammar Schools. Furniture salesman for Smith and Brown Limited of Auckland. Served 3 months in territorial army before enlisting at Waipapakauri as aircraft hand on the 30th May 1942. Re-mustered as a pilot under training on 26th November 1942. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School 06th February 1943. No. 2 Service Flying Training School on the 03rd April 1943. Pilot badge awarded on the 07th June 1943 and commissioned on the 31st July 1943. With No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School as flying instructor on the 18th October 1943. A total of 235 flying hours logged with 149 on the Tiger Moth.

The son of Harold Reginald (died 26th January 1973, age 81) and Irene Gladys Levet (née Potter - died 11th February 1969, age 77), of 3, Seaview Terrace, Mount Albert, Auckland City, New Zealand. Husband of Olive Forgie Levet (née Ludgate - died 1982, age 64) of 14, Ngake Street, Orakei, New Zealand.

LAC. Graham Alexander Gunn. Kimberley Cemetery, Selwyn District. Grave 138.S.B. Born on the 15th July 1923 in Christchurch. Educated at St. Andrews College in Christchurch. A farm hand on his fathers farm at Darfield. A member of Darfield Gliding Club. Served 14 months in territorial army prior to enlisting at Aashburton as aircraft hand on the 01st April 1943. Re-mustered as a pilot under training on the 16th September 1943. With No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School 18th September 1943

Son of Robert Sutherland Gunn (died 13th March 1974, age 88), and of Myra Cecilia Gunn (née Jarman - died 01st February 1984, age 87), of Darfield, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew, thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 16-09-2022

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to buy research books from Amazon •Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 16 September 2022, 15:57

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor