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Graham Alexander Gunn
Description
TitleGraham Alexander Gunn
SummaryWW2 airmanDescriptionGraham was educated at St. Andrews College in Christchurch. He was a farm-hand on his father's farm, and a member of the Darfield Gliding Club. He served for 14 months in the territorial army before enlisting in Ashburton as an aircraft hand on 1 April 1943. He became a pilot under training that September and was being trained in Elementary Flying Training School no.2.
On October 28th, 1943 23-year-old Pilot Officer Brian Levet was Gunn's instructor on a training flight on a Tiger Moth II. While flying over Gunn's home, their plane crashed at Racehorse Hill near Darfield at 11am. Levet was killed and Gunn was seriously injured. He died from his injuries 3 days later, on October 31st 1943, aged 20, in Christchurch Hospital.First NameGrahamMiddle NameAlexanderLast NameGunnOccupationFarm-hand and AirmanDate of Birth15 July 1923Place of BirthChristchurchDate of Death31 October 1943Place of DeathChristchurchCause of DeathInjuries sustained by a plane crashAge at Death20Parents or Next of KinSon of Robert Sutherland Gunn (died 13th March 1974, age 88), and of Myra Cecilia Gunn (née Jarman - died 01st February 1984, age 87), of Darfield, Canterbury.Other Biographical InformationGraham had two brothers - Donald Sutherland Gunn (1932 - 2019) and Robert Errol Gunn (1924-2015).
SummaryWW2 airmanDescriptionGraham was educated at St. Andrews College in Christchurch. He was a farm-hand on his father's farm, and a member of the Darfield Gliding Club. He served for 14 months in the territorial army before enlisting in Ashburton as an aircraft hand on 1 April 1943. He became a pilot under training that September and was being trained in Elementary Flying Training School no.2.On October 28th, 1943 23-year-old Pilot Officer Brian Levet was Gunn's instructor on a training flight on a Tiger Moth II. While flying over Gunn's home, their plane crashed at Racehorse Hill near Darfield at 11am. Levet was killed and Gunn was seriously injured. He died from his injuries 3 days later, on October 31st 1943, aged 20, in Christchurch Hospital.
First NameGrahamMiddle NameAlexanderLast NameGunnOccupationFarm-hand and AirmanDate of Birth15 July 1923Place of BirthChristchurchDate of Death31 October 1943Place of DeathChristchurchCause of DeathInjuries sustained by a plane crashAge at Death20Parents or Next of KinSon of Robert Sutherland Gunn (died 13th March 1974, age 88), and of Myra Cecilia Gunn (née Jarman - died 01st February 1984, age 87), of Darfield, Canterbury.Other Biographical InformationGraham had two brothers - Donald Sutherland Gunn (1932 - 2019) and Robert Errol Gunn (1924-2015).Image
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn PlaceWhenua Kura Darfield More InformationRead Graham Gunn's military record on the Cenotaph websiteRead a report of the accident
PlaceWhenua Kura Darfield More InformationRead Graham Gunn's military record on the Cenotaph websiteRead a report of the accidentMilitary Service
Memorial or CemeteryKimberley CemeteryService NumberNZ433751
Service NumberNZ433751Graham Alexander Gunn. Selwyn Stories, accessed 23/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6602
