Operation: Training

Date: 11th December 1940 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 1 Service Flying Training School

Type: Fairey Gordon II

Serial: NZ632

Code: 14

Base: RNZAF Wigram, New Zealand

Location: Beaconfield Beach Road, Christchurch

Pilot: LAC. Basil Rawdon Hastings Sharp NZ/401785 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

Pilot: LAC. Leslie Wright NZ/401799 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off in the morning on a cross country instrument training exercise.

Eye witness, 22 year oldMr. Frederick Herbert James a farmer from Leithfield, who was working on the land belonging to a Mr. Allan McLean reported that he observed the aircraft flying tow, ard the beach. It ■ turned hack inland, flying low over trees around Mr. James’ homo, at a height estimated at 150 feet. Mr. James and his companion, Mr. Henry Helms, then heard a crash and an explosion at around 10:00 hrs. followed by clouds of smoke.

They raced to the scene, but though they were only half a mile away from the crash, the aircraft was already reduced to a skeleton, with only the nose burning when. they got there. With water brought in milk cans, Mr Janies and Mr Helms attempted to extinguish the fire, hut it w&s not until Mr George Giles, of Sefton, sent down a truck with a large tank of water that it was put out.

The aircraft was badly wrecked and completely burned out. It is considered by those who were quickly on the scene that the victims were killed instantly. Coming down in a small paddock on the property of Mr A. McLean, on ,the northern side of the Leitlifield Beach road, the aeroplane crashed through a gorse hedge growing over a wire fence and set fire to it. The plane came to rest 45 yards further on in the next paddock, leaving a trail of scorched and flattened grass, littered.with parts of the machine. Tho engine, breaking away from the fuselage, was catapulted another 45 yards, although the propeller was left in tho mass of wreckage at the nose of the plane. A landing-wheel was found near the road, about 50 yards away, at right-angles to the aircraft’s course.

The Coroner returned a‘ verdict that Sharp and Wright died at Leithfield on December 11 from burns accidentaly. received when the Royal Air Force aircraft in which they were training as pilots burst into flames on coming in contact with the ground.

Burial details:

(Shown left)

LAC. Basil Rawdon Hastings Sharp. Gisborne Cemetery (Taruheru). 2. 13. WW 2 Soldiers' Area. Born on the 4 June 1918 at Gisborne, New Zealand. Educated at Gisborne High School. Enlisted on the 22nd July 1940 at Levin. Awarded his wings in October 1940 at Wigram. Son of Francis Granville Sharp (died 12th November 1944, age 65) and Louise Margaret Sharp (née U'Ren - died 20th February 1964, age 84) of 87 Lytton Road, Gisborne, New Zealand.

(Shown right)

LAC. Leslie Wright. Hamilton East Public Cemetery. Public Area B6, Row K, Grave 11. Born on the 29th March 1918 in Haura. Educated at Hamilton Technical High School. Enlisted on the 02nd July 1940 at Levin. Awarded his wings in October 1940 at Wigram. Son of Leonard W. Wright and Elizabeth Esther Wright, of 44 Weka Street, Frankton Junction Claudelands, Hamilton, , New Zealand. His brother, Sq/Ldr. John Leonard Wright DFC. DSO. died in tragic circumstances on the 05th April 1956.

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 sources as quoted below:

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