Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William and Alice Hamilton, of Stockton.

Man Dies From
Injuries
When an aircraft struck a tender at a drome near Deniliquin the driver of the tender, William Hamilton, received injuries from which he died soon afterwards. At an inquiry held by  the Coroner (Mr. M. Wyse) Dr: Miller stated that when brought to the hospital Hamilton was suffering from cerebral injuries from which he died two days later. Flight/Lt. K. A.  McCaul, stated that when at a 'drome at about 3.15 a.m. his attention was drawn to a signal light, and on investigation he saw a tender had been rolled on to its back apparently  having been struck by an aircraft. The tender was apparently crossing the flare path, and did not go to the taxi point to get permission to go on the flare path. Flight/Sgt. G. D.  Vallance said that about 3.15 a,m. he noticed one light was out and another weak, and he signalled to the tender. The tender started to move, and about the same time an aircraft was signalled to land. He expected the driver of the tender to go to the taxi post, as he had done earlier in evening, to get permission to cross the flare path, but instead  he drove towards the beam of a chance light which had been turned to bright for the aircraft to land. As the tender approached he seized a red signal lamp to stop, but the lamp  failed to work. When examined later it was found a wire was frayed and broken. He then picked a signalling pistol and fired just before the collision. The aircraft seemed to strike the tender amidship and it turned over. He went over and found the driver pinned in the cabin of the tender from which he was removed by a crash party.
L.A.C. Mark J. Whitby stated he was flying solo, and about 3.15 a.m. received a signal to land. He was about to touch down at the second flare when he struck an obstacle he had  not seen. The aircraft came to rest on its fuselage and central section. He was not using landing lights and his attention was concentrated over the left side watching the lights of  the flare path. He did not at any stage see the tender and when he struck it it would be 75 yards between the second flare and taxi post. That meant it was within 35 yards to  the point where it should have been stationed. Constable Griffin stated that from inquiries he had made the collision was purely accidental. Deceased's father resided at 102  Dunbar street, Stockton. A finding of accidental death was recorded.

Emergency MT Driver Aircraftman William McKenzie Hamilton 61077 was killed when the crash tender he was driving was hit by Wirraway  aircraft A20-339 which was landing during night flying practice at Bradley's Field runway near Deniliquin - LAC Whitby 413056 (Pilot) was injured in the incident