Service Persons Area G, Row 3, Plot 19

1/10/1940
FATE UNKNOWN.
MISSING AIRMEN.
PLANE FORCED DOWN?
SEARCH PLANS HAMPERED.
Believed to have been forced down in the Mokau district, north of New Plymouth, or in country in the vicinity of New Plymouth, three members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force who left Auckland yesterday In an Airspeed Oxford monoplane have been missing since yesterday afternoon. A machine presumed to be the missing one was last seen flying in heavy rain and mist near the coast, but a later report suggests the presence of a 'plane in the vicinity of Patea, on the south Taranaki coast.
Plans for a search for the missing 'plane were brought into operation at daylight to-day; but up to the present heavy rain and low visibility made it impossible to make a thorough search from the air of the dificult country in which it was thought the machine had landed.
From New Plymouth north the search was conducted by aeroplanes based on Hobsonville, while other areas were patrolled by machines from Ohakea. Three Airspeed Oxfords set off from Auckland at 6 a.m., but one returned later in the morning. The other two continued on and landed at New Plymouth, where they are awaiting an improvement in the conditions.
The members of the crew are: -
Flying-Officer Harry Nalder Major, single, aged 29, son of the late Mr. C. T. Major, former headmaster of King's College, Auckland.
Flight-Sergeant Sheldon Benton Smith, aged 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smith of 41, Grange Road, Mount Eden, Auckland.
Corporal Raymond Bernard Smith, single, aged 23, whose sister is Mrs. C. T. Morgan, of 118, Miraniar Avenue, Miramar, Wellington.
The pilot of the machine was Flying-Officer Major who is an instructor at the Ohakea aerodrome, where his companions are members of the ground staff. They spent the week-end at Auckland and left the Hobsonville Air Base yesterday at 11.45 a.m.
Setting out together for Ohakea, two aeroplanes encountered bad weather and restricted visibility along the west coast as they flew south. Flying-Officer Major's machine was some distance ahead when the other turned back and returned in safety to Auckland. Residents' Reports. What happened to the missing plane after this is based on reports from residents over a wide area. An aeroplane answering the description was seen at Mokau, on the coast north-east of New Plymouth, at about 1 p.m. It was flying south at a low altitude and according to a young man in the district it was apparently experiencing engine trouble, as the engine appeared to cut out.
A later report states that an aeroplane was observed flying northward, and shortly afterwards again making south. Apparently it was the same machine, and it was last seen at about 1.30 p.m. just south of Tongaporutu, on the coast midway between Mokau and New Plymouth. It was stated that the machine was low, flying near the coast and toward the White Cliffs at Pukearuhe.
Subsequently, a, report was received in Auckland that a machine, which might be the missing one, had been seen at Patea, on the coast south of Hawera.
Wide Flying Experience.
Flying-Officer Major is a pilot of wide experience, having engaged in civil aviation for many years before the outbreak of war. He made numerous cross-country flights, on one occasion turning up in the South Island to visit relatives and landing in a paddock near the house.
He was educated at King's College, Auckland, and, later took up farming, first with Mr George Murray in the Mackenzie country, South Canterbury, then on his own account at the back of Tuakau. He has an excellent farm there, but at the outbreak of war left it to join the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where his flying experience has been of considerable value.
Two sisters, Mrs. F. P. deL. Willis, wife of the Rev. Mr. Willis, vicar of St. Andrew's Church, Epsom, and Mrs. J. R. Morris, whose husband is headmaster of King's School, Reriiuera, live in Auckland, while a younger, brother, Mr. Fred Major, at present visiting South Canterbury, is farming at Tuakau.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19401001.2.65

Fliers Missing:
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19401001.2.37

Storm Hinders Search
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19401002.2.62

An image of Raymond:
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19401004.2.37.1

3/3/1941
AIRCRAFT FOUND
HUNTERS' DISCOVERY
SKELETON NEAR BY
MISSING FIVE MONTHS
(0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday
A Royal New Zealand Air Force Airspeed Oxford aeroplane which disappeared on September 30 last year while on a flight from Hobsonville to Ohakea was discovered to-day by two pig-hunters in the bush near the coast some miles north of Pukearuhe. A skeleton was found near the machine.
The locality where the machine had crashed is very difficult of access, but before dark Constable F. Lemin, of Waitara, had visited the scene. Officials from the Roval New Zealand Air Force station at Hell Block will visit the scene to-morrow.
The machine was last seen flying low in heavy mist and rain near the coast at Pukearuha. The crew comprised:—
Flying-Officer Harry Nalder Major, single, aged 25, son of the late Air. C. T. Major, former headmaster of King's College.
Flight Sergeant Sheldon Benton Smith, single, aged 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smith, -11 Grange Road, Mount Fden. Auckland.
Corporal Raymond Bernard Smith, single, aged 23. A sister is Mrs. C. 1. Morgan, Miramar, Wellington.
Flying-Officer Major, who was piloting the machine, was an instructor stationed at Ohakea. His companions were members of the ground stall. A widespread search in the Mount Messenger district for some time after the disappearance was unsuccessful.
The discovery to-day revealed that the machine had failed by a small margin to clear a ridge running down from Mount Messenger to the sea.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19410303.2.45

7/3/1941
AIRMEN'S FUNERALS
THREE ACCIDENT VICTIMS
TRIBUTES BY AIR FORCE
The funerals of the three airmen who were killed in an air accident near Mount Messenger, Taranaki, on September 30 last year, took place yesterday. The victims were Flying-Officer Harry Nalder Major, whose father, Mr. C. T. Major, was formerly headmaster of Kings College; Flight-Sergeant Sheldon Benton Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Smith, of Grange Road, Mount Eden; and Corporal Raymond Bernard Smith, whose sister is Mrs. C. T. Morgan, of Wellington. Their machine disappeared while flying from Hobsonville to Ohakea, and was found last Sunday.
A service for Flying-Officer Major was held yesterday morning at King's College, Otahuhu, prior to cremation at Waikumete Cemetery. A large detachment of air trainees from Whenuapai provided the pallbearers, escort party and firing party, while an Air Force trumpeter sounded the "Last Post" at the cemetery. The service was conducted by the Rev. F. P. de L. Willis, of St. Andrew's Church. Epsom, brother-in-law of the deceased, assisted by the college chaplain, the Rev. A. R. Anderson. Official wreaths included those from the college and staff and from officers and men at Ohakea and Whenuapai.
The service for the other two victims, Flight-Sergeant Smith and Corporal Smith, was held at St. Barnabas' Church. Mount Eden, by the Rev. G. H. Monteith. Men from the Hobsonville Air Base formed the pallbearers, escort and firing parties.
The caskets were draped with the ensign of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and as the cortege left the church it was preceded by the band from Papakura military camp. It moved off at the slow march along Mount Eden Road and proceeded to Waikumete Cemetery. At the graveside an Air Force trumpeter sounded the "Last Post" and "Reveille." Among the official wreaths were those from the officers and men at Hobsonville, men of Wing 16. Hobsonville, and the searchers at Mokau.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19410307.2.88

Plot 19: Raymond Bernard Smith (23) 1940 – R.N.Z.A.F.

(Per Ardua Ad Astra)
16/100 Corpl
R. B. SMITH
R.N.Z.A.F.
Died 30th Sept. 1940
aged 22 years.
Plaque
Erected by his brothers
and sisters.

View and contribute to Raymond’s profile on the Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph data base:
www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/recor...

Some rights reserved

Taken on: January 21, 2018

Tags:

Waikumete Cemetery

aircraft accident

Accidental death « less

Sets appears in: • Service Persons Burial Area G Rows 1 - 7

Stats: 1,319 views

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: