Memory of air crash loss set in stone

A special memorial to seven men killed in the worst Royal New Zealand Air Force crash in history has been unveiled in Wigram.

Sixty-five years after the fatal air collision, a plaque – inset into a boulder – featuring the names of the flight crew has been placed next to a memorial seat in a reserve at the end of Edwin Ebbett Place.

Flight Lieutenant Ebbett – along with Squadron Leader Sholto Duncan, Flight Lieutenant Erling Ziesler and Aircraftmen 1st Class Brian Keogh, Eric Melrose and William Sharman and Aircraftman 2nd Class Russell Woodcock – died when two De Havilland Devon aircraft from RNZAF Station Wigram collided over Wigram Aerodrome.

Ron Fensom acknowledges the seven servicemen at a special ceremony.

Both planes had been preparing to land at the aerodrome on October 15, 1953.

The aircraft had been part of a 27-aircraft flypast over Harewood International Airport (now Christchurch International Airport). The fly-past signalled the end of celebrations following the 19,756-kilometre London to Christchurch International Air Race.

The Halswell Residents’ Association – led by member Ron Fensom – has driven the project, with funding support from the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board.

Community Board Chairperson Mike Mora says “it’s important to acknowledge the history of our area and the sad loss of seven men”.

“With the rapid development of Wigram, we all wanted to take the opportunity to secure a special spot in memory of those crewmen,” Mr Mora says.

All seven crew members are remembered by street names in the area, along with Air Race Lane.