Operation: Duel Instruction

Date: 05 November 1943

Unit: No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School

Type: Tiger Mot DH82Ah II

Serial: NZ878

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Ashburton, New Zealand

Location: Near Dromore

Pilot: P/O. Hugh Eagleson NZ/422377 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Pilot U/T: LAC. Neil Baillie Grant RNZAF No further details

REASON FOR LOSS:

During duel instruction training with LAC. Neil Grant observed turning and descending in an inverted attitude from 2,500 feet, regain normal position but crashed into the ground at an angle of about 30° near Dromore at 14:00 hrs.

The pupil LAC. Neil Grant survived but on release fell out of the inverted wreckage and broke his neck. He subsequently recovered and was awarded his wings in March 1945.

Burial and further details:

P/O. Hugh Eagleson. Hamilton East Public Cemetery. Public Area F2, Row F, Grave 6. Born at Kilwinning, Scotland, on the 4th September 1919, and came to New Zealand with his parents at an early age. Educated at Hamilton High School, afterwards attended Auckland Training College. Enlisted at Rongotai on the 27th March 1942, and employed there and at Masterton on ground duties, until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, on the 3rd September. Posted to New Plymouth on the 13th October for his elementary flying training, moving with the Unit to Ashburton. later in the same month and then on the 28th December to No.1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram. Awarded his wings on the 15th March 1943 and promoted to Pilot Officer on the 6th May, being awarded a distinguished pass. Later in May he commenced a flying instructors' course at Tauranga, qualifying there before posting on the 28th July to No.2 Elementary Flying Training School, Ashburton, for instructor duties. A total of 404 flying hours logged with 330 on the Tiger Moth.

Son of Thomas (died 01st February 1967) and Margaret Eagleson (née Gibson - died 09th December 1969), of Taupiri, Auckland. Husband of Norma Mary Eagleson (married 1943, née Turnbull, later in 1946 Wilson - died 04th December 1993, age 73) of Te Rapa, Whitiora, Hamilton.

Neil Baillie Grant was from Great South Road, Taupiri, the Waikato District of New Zealand. He was unfortunately killed in a motor accident on his way home from the Auckland Glider Club on the 31st July 1964.

Shown left.

Above: Auckland Gliding Club first 'silver 'C's circa 1956 - L-R; Monte Green, Neil Grant, Len Perry, Merry North and Rom Meadows. Courtesy Auckland Glider Club - via Wings over New Zealand)

L-R: Rear; KJ Ashcroft, PG Ashmore, RS Bastion, RS Botherway, SL Brace, JP Brien, GD Campbell.
Centre; HR Cattell, DJ Cotton, VA Davey, JB Muir, L Dickenson, DW Davidson, SF
Front; AI Gillies, NB Grant, CR Gray, RT Gudgeon, EA Hagen, FMH Henderso (Air Museum of New Zealand)

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, Wings Over New Zealand..

Other sources as quoted below:

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