Operation: Dual Instruction

Date: 11th May 1939 (Thursday)

Unit: No. Flying Training School

Type: Vickers Vilderbeast (1)

Serial: NZ11-

Code: 'B'

Base: RNZAF Wigram, New Zealand (2)

Location: At airfield

Pilot: P/O. William Frederick Dawson RNZAF Age 20. Seriously injured

Pilot: P/O. Reginald James McCrorie RNZAF Age 22. Killed

Fitter: LAC. George Henry West 36137 RNZAF Age 25. Seriously injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

Vickers Vildebeest III NZ110/B6 - took off at 1925 and on approach at 2015 for a third landing, undershot, str two trees 150 yards from the southern boundary of the airfield, then dived into the ground 60 yards further bursting into flames.

The pilot died in the crash, while the instructor succumbed to injuries at 0100 next day. third occupant, an airman taking the flight for air experience, also died of his injuries on the 12th, at 1810. were buried at Christchurch, Wanganui and Bluff, respectively.

Above Group. Pilots course No. 3, Flying Training School, RNZAF Wigram. (courtesy Aviation Museum of New Zealand)
L-R: Rear; Lancelot Henry Higgins NZ1061 (kia 23rd September 1943, age 29) WFWilliam Frederick Dawson (kia 11th May 1939, age 20), LGW Lilly 36175?, JB Murphy ? Ronald William Gair 36171 (kia 15th February 1941, age 22), Stanley Gilbert Quill NZ1059 (died 17th September 1984, age 64)

Front; Henry William Lamond 36174 (died 15th January 2009, age 94) Theodore Jasper Maclean de Lange 70024 (died 04th July 2005, age 91) Flight Lieutenant Cyril Eyton Kay 70004 (Instructor - died 29th April 1993, age 91) , Flight Lieutenant Ronald Joseph Cohen NZ1015 (died 28th June 1995, age 87) (Instructor), David Alexander Rankin 36180 (kia 12th April 1940, age 25) Philip Daniel John Smith NZ40154 ?, William Samuel Rea 36181 (kia 05th December 1941, age 26)
(note; Ronald Joseph Cohen an instructor on this course was the investigation officer of the accident)

New Zealand newspaper covered the incident:

The official account of the accident is that the men were engaged on nightflying training. The Vickers Vildebeest, in which they were flying, hit a tree on the south boundary of the aerodrome, as the aeroplane was coming in to land at approximately 8.15 p.m. The three men were thrown out by the impact, but the aeroplane dived into the ground near them and burst into flames. The aeroplane fell on top of McCrorie, who must have been killed instantly. The ambulance and fire-fighting equipment at Wigram was immediately rushed to the spot. Nothing could be done to save McCrorie, but Dawson and West were taken in the Air Force ambulance to the Christchurch Hospital. (adapted from New Zealand Herald, May 12, 1939)

Above as described: (courtesy Aviation Museum of New Zealand)

L-R: Rear; Vernon Allan Cunningham 36212 (KIA 14 March 1940)), Reginald William Roots 36202 (KIA 04 June 1940_, W Smillie ?, D.L Pritchard ?, David Walter Sealy. Clark 36213 DFC. MiD (died 25 August 2013, age 97 in Hamilton, NZ/36207(died 03 October 2006, age 89), Gilbert Meston Allcock 36215, AK Round, HL Oakley, William Alan Foster 36210 ((KIA 08 June 1941), James Chilton Francis Hayter NZ/36207 (died 03 October 2006, age 89 j, Reginald James McCrorie. (KFA 11 May 1939, age 22)

Front; Robert Millar Stewart 1257 (died 07 January 1994, age 74) Victor Breton de La Perrelle 36211 (died 11June 1983. age 64), Albert Edgar Wickham 36200 (KIA 23 May 1940), William Ian Anstey NZ/2317 (died 03 May 2004, age 85) , James Edward Hull 36206 (KIA 19 September 1939, age 24)l, T Thomas Francis Gill 36208 (died 01 March 1982, age 65)l, Frederick William Hall-Jones NZ/NZ2515 (KIA 08 June 1941, age 21), William Green Thomson Brooks, William Peryman 36205 (died 24 May 2000, age 80), Frank Joseph Gavin

Wigram Air Accident. Inquest Held On Victims

Formal verdicts were returned by the Coroner, Mr E. C. Levvey, after hearing evidence on the aeroplane crash at Sockburn on May 11, which resulted in the deaths of three members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. An official inquiry has been held, and only three witnesses, two doctors and an Air Force officer, were heard yesterday. The deaths were due, in the opinion of the doctor, to burns associated with other injuries. In each case the cause of death was given in terms of the medical evidence, the injuries being found to have been suffered when a Vildebeest aircraft, in which the men were flying, struck a tree in the vicinity of the aerodrome, crashed to the ground, and burst into flames. The men were Pilot Officer Reginald James McCrorie, Pilot Officer William Frederick Dawson, and Leading Aircraftsman George Henry West.

Dr. Robinson E. Hall said that he examined McCrorie, who had a compound fracture of both bones of the lower left leg and severe burns over the whole of the body. In his opinion death was due to shock following an extensive fracture of the lower left leg and severe and extensive burns over the whole of the body. Death was almost instantaneous.

Dr. Lindsay MacDougall, a house surgeon at the Christchurch Public Hospital, said that he examined West at 8.25 p.m. on May 11. West was suffering from severe shock and extensive second degree burns. They involved both arms and the whole of the face and neck. His condition improved and he was treated for burns, but after rallying somewhat, he relapsed and died at 5.10 p.m. on May 15 [sic; it was May 12]. In witness's opinion death was due to shock resulting from burns. His injuries were consistent with an aeroplane crash.

Dawson died at 1 a.m. on May 12, said Dr. MacDougall. He had extensive burns to both legs, his back, and both arms and face. His upper lip had been cut and his upper teeth dislodged. Death was due to shock resulting from severe burns, and his injuries were consistent with an aeroplane crash.

Flight Lieutenant Ronald Joseph Cohen (shown left) said that about 7.30 p.m. on May 11 he was on duty at Wigram when a flight was made by McCrorie, Dawson, and West. Dawson was in charge of the machine as instructor, and was giving dual instruction to McCrorie, and West was gaining air experience. The machine, a Vickers Vildebeest, was examined by the ground staff before the flight and was found serviceable. The men made several landings, and were in the act of returning to the ground at about 8.15 p.m. when the machine struck a tree just outside the south-west side of the aerodrome, crashed, and burst into flames about 90 yards from the edge of the aerodrome. An ambulance and other assistance was rushed to the spot at once, and arrived within a minute. An official inquiry was held at Wigram on May 15. (The Press, May 27, 1939)

Burial details:

P/O. William Frederick Dawson. Hastings Cemetery and Crematorium. B265. Born in 1918. t. Son of Albert Dawson (died 1951, age 65) and Ellen Christina Dawson (died 1966, age 76) of Camberley, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Epitaph: 'Resting where no shadows fall In perfect peace he awaits us'. A total of 215 flying hours logged.

P/O. Reginald James McCrori McCrori. Aramoho Cemetery. Blk D row 2 plot 86. Buried 15/5/193. Born in 1918. Educated at the Wanganui Collegiate School. He had been at Wigram more than six months. His father, Lieutenant Colonel W.S. McCrorie, was formerly commanding officer of the Wellington (West Coast) Regiment, Son of William Stivens McCrorie (died 1949, age 70) and Ada Sarah McCrorie (née Firkin - died 1976, age 85) of Whanganui, New Zealand. A total of 104 flying hours logged.

LAC. George Henry West. Bluff Cemetery. General - 6 / 197. Born on the 17th March 1914 in Wakapatum Southland, New Zealand. Educated Southland Technical College in Invercargill, he then worked as a civil engineering apprentice with William Cable and Co in Wellington. Selected for a Southland Aero Club schoolboy flying scholarship in November 1933, gained 'A' licence March 1934. Joined RNZAF at Trentham as a Fitter (Aero Engine), at Wigram 1937, Hobsonville 1938, Wigram 1938. Reported to be the first Maori to be accepted into the RNZAF. Son of George and Louisa West (nee Coupar died 1932, age 50) of Bluff, Southland, New Zealand. Brother of Lt. Paki Coupar West (killed 1942, age 25) Epitaph: 'For the empires cause'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to National Archives Kew, New Zealand Cenotaph, Air Force Aviation Museum of New Zealand, the incredible research by Earl Martyn and his 3 volumes 'For Your Tomorow'. , Papas Past New Zealandd

(1) Origins and Design; The Vickers Vildebeest is a single-engined British biplane designed and built by Vickers, used as a light bomber, torpedo bomber, and in army cooperation roles. It was designed against Air Ministry Specification 24/25 for the RAF as a land-based torpedo bomber to replace the Hawker Horsley.

The name is pronounced with a 'W' - apparently the 'V' was a spelling error. It's an Afrikaans word, suggested by Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld, Vickers' South African consultant.
The prototype (N230), designated the Type 132 and powered by a 460 hp Bristol Jupiter VIII engine, flew for the first time at Brooklands in April 1928. It was a large single-bay biplane with unstaggered wings of rectangular planform.
Engine Troubles; Development was plagued by powerplant problems. The original specification had been written around the Bristol Orion, a supercharged engine that never materialized, and the Jupiter engines used in early prototypes constantly overheated. The problem was finally solved in January 1931 when the first Vildebeest was equipped with a 600 hp Jupiter XFBM engine using mineral-based lubricant — the XFBM was soon renamed the Pegasus IM3.

Production Variants; The first production batch of nine Vildebeest Mk I aircraft was ordered in 1931, with the first production aircraft flying on 5 September 1932. Thirty Vildebeest Mk IIs followed, fitted with the 635 hp Pegasus IIM3 engine.
The most common version was the three-man Mk III. Experience with the earlier marks had shown that a third crewman was needed for the precise navigation required of land-based torpedo bombers. A total of 162 Vildebeest Mk IIIs were ordered.
The Mark IV introduced the much more powerful 825 hp Bristol Perseus sleeve-valve radial engine in a NACA cowling, increasing maximum speed to 156 mph, but it suffered cooling problems in tropical service and production was limited to 18 aircraft.

Armament remained the same throughout the aircraft's lifespan: a single fixed .303 Vickers machine gun forward-firing, and a .303 Lewis gun on a flexible mounting at the rear, plus the ability to carry bombs or an 18-inch torpedo.
Export and Foreign Service; In 1932 the Vildebeest won its only non-Empire export when Spain bought a licence to build 25, fitted with a Hispano water-cooled inline engine. These were assigned to the 1a Escuadrilla de Torpederos and employed primarily for coastal reconnaissance and attempted torpedo attacks against Nationalist shipping during the early phases of the Spanish Civil War.

The first 12 brand-new Vildebeests arrived in New Zealand in 1935, supplemented by a further 27 ex-RAF aircraft in 1940–41, serving in coastal defence, general reconnaissance, aircrew training, and target drogue towing.
WWII Combat - Singapore and Malaya; This is where the Vildebeest's story turns tragic and heroic. Two RAF squadrons based in Singapore and Malaya - Nos. 36 and 100 - were equipped with Vildebeests in December 1941 when the Japanese attacked. There was also a small detachment of three Vildebeests at Hong Kong, representing the primary offensive aerial weapon for the colony. These were destroyed in bombing attacks on the first day.
The attacks made by these obsolete biplanes against the Japanese Imperial fleet must rank as some of the most desperate and brave aerial actions of the entire war. Crews flew slow, fabric-covered biplanes against modern Japanese fighters and naval gunfire with predictably devastating results.

The last Vildebeests in RAF service, operated by 273 Squadron at Ceylon, were retired in March 1942.
Legacy; The remains of Vildebeest NZ102 held by the Air Force Museum of New Zealand represent the only significant remains of any Vickers Vildebeest to be found anywhere in the world, making it one of the most important military aircraft in any New Zealand museum collection. The museum is actively working to restore it.
The Vildebeest stands as a symbol of interwar British aviation - a capable design for its time that was simply overtaken by a decade of rapid technological progress, yet pressed into front-line service long past its prime.

(2) On 14 June 1923 the New Zealand Permanent Air Force (NZPAF) was gazetted, initially staffed by just four officers and two other ranks. Sockburn was taken over by the Crown and later renamed RNZAF Station Wigram. Sir Henry Wigram continued to support the base, gifting a further 81 acres of land in 1932.

Growth and Notable Events
Charles Kingsford Smith made the first trans-Tasman flight from Sydney to Wigram on 10 September 1928. The base grew into a major training hub — home to the Central Flying School, Pilot Training Squadron, Navigation Training, and recruit training. It was also used to train photographers, aviation technicians, cooks, librarians, and administrators.

Tragedy (1953); The worst RNZAF crash in New Zealand history occurred at Wigram on 15 October 1953, killing seven men, when two Royal New Zealand Air Force De Havilland Devons collided over the aerodrome during a flypast.

right: Sir Henry Francis Wigram

Closure (1995); In the 1990s, the government decided to reduce military spending and chose between closing Wigram or RNZAF Base Woodbourne near Blenheim. Even though Wigram had just been updated, it was chosen to close. Aircraft and squadrons moved to RNZAF Base Ohakea, and recruit training moved to Woodbourne. The official closing parade was held on 14 September 1995. Kiddle

Legacy; The Air Force Museum of New Zealand, located at Wigram, opened on 1 April 1987 as part of the RNZAF's 50th anniversary celebrations. It is the only museum of the RNZAF in New Zealand. The majority of the former airfield was purchased by Ngāi Tahu in 1997 as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, and has since been redeveloped into a residential suburb called Wigram Skies, with street names reflecting the area's aviation heritage.

Other sources as quoted below:

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