Operation: Training

Date: 03rd October 1944 (Tuesday) (1)

Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit (NZ)

Type: Ventura PV-I

Serial: NZ4544

MSN: 5744

Base: RNZAF (Ohakea), New Zealand

Location: Mt. Egmont, Taranaki region (2)

Pilot: F/O Jack Martin NZ/421743 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

Nav: Sgt. Harold Edwin Day NZ/4312217 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Arnold Thomas Hill NZ/4212841 Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Walter Douglas McKay NZ/4313186 Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frank William Skottowe Webb NZ/439817 Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Ventura NZ4544 took off at 08:30 hrs. and during a wind change drifted north of track on the outbound.

On the homeward leg flew into cloud-covered Mt Egmont some 11 miles from Ōpunake, and caught fire forest reserve, at 1100. A searching Anson located the crash site late in the afternoon, the bodies being rec by a ground party the following

According to the investigations, the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident, most probably due to a navigation error caused by an insufficient visibility.

Evidence was given by Flight Lieut. Edgar Thomas Kippenberger (3) and Constable R. D. Hardie before the coroner, Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M., in New Plymouth this morning. Flight Lieut. Kippenberger said that Flying Officer Martin, another pilot, and himself took off from Ohakea on a training flight at 8.30 on Tuesday morning. Flying Officer Martin and his entire crew did not return.

(1) The first Me 262 jet fighter unit became operational in Germany. Also on this day; The American submarine USS Seawolf went missing, probably sunk in the Molucca Sea by the US. destroyer escort Richard M. Rowell in a friendly fire accident! with the loss of 83 offices and 17 army passengers.

(2) Mount Egmont is the former name of Mount Taranaki, a dormant stratovolcano on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It was renamed by Captain James Cook in 1770 aft9er the Earl of Egmont. However, as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement with local Māori tribes (Ngā Iwi o Taranaki), the mountain's official name became Taranaki Maunga on the 01st April 2025. Some geologists and others may still refer to it as Egmont Volcano. Last Eruption: Around 1755. Height: 2,518 meters (8,261 ft)

(3) Edgar Thomas Kippenberger died 19th November 2011, age 76.

Auckland Star 05th October 1944;

Overdue on a training flight from Ohakea yesterday, a Ventura bomber aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was later discovered to have crashed near Opunake. All five members of the crew lost their lives. They were Flying-Officer Jack Martin, whose wife is Mrs. G. M. Martin, Wellington. Sergeant Harold Edwin Day, whose wife is Mrs. B. A. Day, Tauranga. Sergeant James Walter McKay, son of Mrs. W. McKay, Makarewa, Southland. Sergeant Frank William Skottowe Webb, son of Mrs. R. S. Webb, Dunedin. Sergeant Arnold Thomas Hill, son of Mr. F. J. Hill, Wairoa. •

The Ventura was on a three-hour training flight and was due back at Ohakea at noon. When it failed to return inquiries were immediately instituted and all reports checked. One report stated that an aircraft had been heard in the Opunake district. Search parties were promptly organised in Opunake and sent into the district where the crash was reported. When the weather improved an Anson aircraft was dispatched from New Plymouth and late in the afternoon it found the crashed bomber about 11 miles from Opunake toward Mount Egmont. Night fell before the ground parties could reach the aircraft and they were forced to give up until morning. At the first light this morning the search was resumed and aircraft directed a ground party to the scene of the Qrash. The bodies of the members of the crew were recovered from the wreckage and taken to New Plymouth.

Burial and other details:

F/O. Jack Martin, Wellington (Karori) Cemetery. Grave 31. J/3. (S). Son of Laurence Martin, and of Martha Martin (née Pascoe); husband of Gwendoline May Martin, of Karori, Wellington City, New Zealand.

Sgt. Harold Edwin Day. Papakura Public Cemetery Grave 2. U. Son of Thomas (died 09th August 1953, age 80) and Caroline Rose (nee Beasley - died 10th September 1944, age 69) Day, of Ponsonby, Auckland City; husband of Beryl Day andd father of Colleen and Maureen of Onehunga, Auckland

Fl/Sgt. Arnold Thomas Hill. Wairoa Cemetery. Grave K. 17. Son of Fred Hill age 81) and of Elsie Hill (née Ingram), of Wairoa. Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Sgt. James Walter Douglas McKay. Wallacetown Cemetery. Grave 6. 34. Son of Victor Walter Mannering McKay (died 10th March 1979, age 81), and of Eva May McKay (née Brown) - died 30th July 1985, age 81) of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand

Sgt. Frank William Skottowe Webb. Dunedin (Anderson's Bay) Cemetey. Grave 6. 4. Son of Reginald Suddard Skottowe Webb (died 28th September 1977, age 80 and Ngaire Elizabeth Janet Webb (née Veal - died 16th September 1988, age 88), of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

Above: F/O. Jack Martin, Sgt. Harold Day, Sgt. Frank Webb and Fl/Sgt. Arnold Hill (missing Sgt. James McKay))

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, Other pages that may interest you:

Other sources as quoted below:

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