Operation: Training

Date: 19th January 1942 (Monday)

Unit: No. 12 Service Flying Training School (RCAF)

Type: Crane I

Serial: 7747 / 7757

Code: -

Base: RCAF Brandon, Manitoba

Location: See details

Pilot: LAC. Ross Francis Kitto NZ/412238 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

Pilot: LAC. Geoffrey Herbert Weston Hamilton NZ/413063 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Weather described as fair and Mild. Weather for past week has been perfect for flying.

Crane I 7747 returned in formation with other solo pilots on the exercise at 15:00 hrs but on breaking away with Crane 7756. Both crashed about 3½ miles north east of Knox Station, about 5 miles north east of Forrest.

The young New Zealand pilots who were both killed had received their wings just three days previously/

Burial and other details:

LAC. Ross Francis Kitto. Brandon Cemetery, Manitoba. Lot 106. Block A. Sec. 27. Born on the 10th April 1918 in Martinborough, Wellington. Educated at the Friends School, Wanganui. Employed on his father's farm at Wanganui. Enlisted on the April 12th 1941 in the Initial Training Wing, Levin. In July he was posted to No.2 Elementary FlyingTraining School, New Plymouth. He embarked for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme on the 22nd September 1941. Trained at 12 Service Flying Training School in Brandon, Manitoba on the 11th October 1941. Wings awarded on the on the 16th January 1942. A total of 146 hours flown with 76 solo, 54 on the Crane.

Son of Archibald Dixon Kitto (died 29th September 1970, age 79) and of Hazel Annie Kitto (nee Ross - died 12th May 1971, age 73), of Brunswick Road, Brunswick, Wellington, New Zealand. Epitaph: 'He Shall Not Grow Old. At The Sunset And In The Morning We Shall Remember Him'.

LAC. Geoffrey Herbert Weston Hamilton. Brandon Cemetery, Manitoba. Lot 105. Block A. Sec. 27. Born on the 29th September 1919 in Hastings, Hawkes Bay. Educated at Pahiatua District High School. Employed as a clerk by the Post and Telegraph Department at Rangiwahia. Enlisted on the 25th May 1941, in the Initial Training Wing, Levin, In July he was posted to No.2 Elementary FlyingTraining School, New Plymouth. He embarked for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme on the 22nd September 1941. Trained at 12 Service Flying Training School in Brandon, Manitoba on the 11th October 1941. Wings awarded on the on the 16th January 1942. A total of 127 hours flown with 72 solo, with 48 on the Crane.

Son of Alfred William Hamilton (died 16 Mar 1958, age 69) and of Maud Beatrice Hamilton (nee Waters - died 1933, age 48), they were married in 1911 and following the death of his first wife married Adeline Muriel Bush in 1935, of P.O. Box 13,, Pahiatua Wellington, New Zealand. Epitaph: 'At Rest He Did His Duty'.

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, also thanks to Nathan Kachur with his valued input see RCAF Info .

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding losses due to accidents

Pages detailing RNZAF losses

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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