Operation: Training

Date: 25th August 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School

Type: Tiger Moth II

Serial: NZ784 / NZ789

Base: RNZAF Taieri, New Zealand

Location: Momona

NZ784 Crew

Pilot (Inst): F/O. Frank Waymouth NZ/412606 RNZAF Age 34. Killed

Pilot (U/T): LAC. Lewis Howard Ireland NZ/429761 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

NZ789 Crew

Pilot (Inst): F/O. Robert Dallas Joseph Campbell NZ/415817 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

Pilot (U/T): LAC. Brian Eric Hall NZ/4213975 RNZAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On a duel instruction training flight an whilst practising forced landings at Momona collided mid air with Tiger Moth II NZ789 at 11:10 hrs. Both aircraft crashed 3/4 mile east of the airfield killing both crews.

The aircraft DH82a Tiger Moth MSN 83382/83387. Fuselage built at Cowley and shipped to New Zealand unassembled and without engine. Assembled in New Zealand as DHNZ.34/DHN.39 and taken on charge by RNZAF as NZ784/NZ784 at Rongotai 18th November 1940 and to 1 EFTS February 1942.

F/O. Frank Waymouth. Timaru Cemetery. Grave 291 M. Born on the 18th June 1909 in Melbourne, Australia. Moved to New Zealand in around 1921. Educated at Southland Boys High School. An accountant for H. Gould and Company in Timaru. Otago Aero Club around 1937 'A' Licence 04th July 1938. Served 4 years in the territorial army. Enlisted in Taieri as an aircraft hand/maintenance on the 15th July 1941. With Initial Training Wing 21st December 1941. Re-mustered as a pilot under training on the 22nd December 1941. With No. 1 1 Elementary Flying Training School. nO. 1 Service Flying Training School 07th April 1941. Awarded his pilot badge on the 15th June 1941 and commissioned on the 05th September 1941. With Central Flying School on the 12th September 1941. Joined No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School as flying instructor on the 10th November 1941. A total of 1172 solo flying hours with 923 on the Tiger Moth.

Son of Joshua Henry and Catherine Waymouth of Dunedin. Husband of Marjorie Waymouth (nee Appleby - later Peterson), father of a son, of Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand.

LAC. Lewis Howard Ireland. Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium. Block G, Row 7, Grave 23. Born on the 13th November 1921 in Hamilton. Educated at Seddon Memorial Technical Collage. A salesman/clerk for Milne and Choyce Limited in Auckland. Served a brief period in the territorial army reaching the rank of sergeant. Enlisted at Waipapakauri as aircraft hand on the 22nd August 1942. Re-mustered as aircrew under training on the 04th March 1943. Re-mustered as a pilot under training on the 22nd July 1943 when he joined No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School.

Son of David and Bertha Ireland (née Curtis - died 03rd March 1973, of Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.

F/O. Robert Dallas Joseph Campbell. Havelock North Cemetery. Grave 79.0. Born on the 12th May 1916 in Havelock North. Educated at St. Patrick's Collage. Worked as a silver stream air photographer for New Zealand Airial Mapping in Hastings. Hawkes Bay and East Coast Aero Club for training as a pilot around May 1937'A' Licence awarded on the 14th March 1939. Enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on the 18th October 1941. With No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School on the 29th October 1941. With No. 3 Service Flying Training School. No. 3 Service Flying Training School on the 10th January 1942. Nav. 1 Service Flying Training School on the 08th March 1942. His pilot badge awarded on the 04th March 1942 and commissioned on the 24th April 1942. To Levin on an officers course on the 06th May 1942. Flying Instructor School on the 25th May 1942. To No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School as flying instructor on the 22nd July 1942. A total of 1280 solo flying hours with 1040 on the Tiger Moth.

Son of Arthur Gore Campbell (died 07th February 1920, age 46) and Mary Agnes Ethel Campbell (née Smith, of Havelock North, Hawke's Bay. Husband of Mary Aadelia Campbell (née McFarlane, later Kennedy), father of a son of Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

LAC. Brian Eric Hall. Old Levin Cemetery (Tiro Tiro Road). General Row 44 Plot 66. Born on the 09th September 1922 in Napier. Educated ay Napier Boys High School. A clerk for Acetone Illuminating and Welding Company in Napier. Served 5 months in territorial army. Enlisted at Levin as aircraft hand on the 31st October 1942. Re-mustered as a pilot under training on the 22nd July 1943. With No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School on the 24th July 1943. His brother, 25 year old, F/O. Wilfred Cleland Hall NZ/4212752 RNZAF was killed on the 22nd April 1945 when coming into land on Hudson III NZ2012 - all 3 crew lost their lives at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

Son of Eric Cleland Hall and Adela Hall (née Miller), of Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, Joe Grossman, Pamela McBride for grave photographs, other sources as quoted below:

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