Operation: Training

Date: 14 August 1944 (Monday)

Unit: No. 1 Service Flying Training School RNZAF

Type: Oxford I

Serial: NZ286

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Wigram, New Zealand

Location: Sabys Road, near Wigram

Pilot: Sgt. Robert Stuart Pettitt NZ/439407 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 16:10 hrs. on a steep turn and single engine practice.

26 year old LAC. Keith Edwin Hodge NZ/431233 RNZAF flying Oxford II NZ1284 who had taken off at 15:55 hrs. was taking part in the same exercise.

LAC. Hodge executed a steep starboard turn whilst at 2000 ft and lost height whilst doing so. Turning in the same direction 100 ft below was Sgt. Pettitt. During the turn they both collided.

NZ286 lost its tail and spun down at a steep angle. NZ1284 lost a portion of its starboard wingtip, went into a dive and partially recovered at about 50 ft before dropping a wing, turning over and crashed a mile south of NZ 286. Both pilots lost their lives.

Burial details:

Sgt. Robert Stuart Pettitt. Dunedin Cemetery (Anderson's Bay). Grave 24.3. Born on the 13th September 1916 at Dunedin. Enlisted in the RNZAF on the 01st August 1943 from the army. A self employed carpenter prior to service. Son of Robert Leslie and Winifred Mary Pettitt (née Stuart) and husband of Winifred June Pettitt (née Harvey), of Winton, Southland, New Zealand. 108 flying hours logged with 15 solo on the Oxford. His brother F/O. Ivan Alfred Pettitt NZ/415780 RNZAF also lost his life on the 14th May in the same year.

LAC. Keith Edwin Hodge. Oamaru Cemetery. Grave 99.71B. Born on the 07th May 198 at Oamaru. Worked as a draper for Hodges Ltd, his fathers business prior to enlisting on the 08th September 1943 from the army. Son of Arthur Edwin and Mabel Hodge (née Dewhirst) Husband of Jean Marie Hodge, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 107 flying hours logged with 17 solo on the Oxford.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of these pilots with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

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