ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 68916
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| Date: | Wednesday 29 June 1938 |
| Time: | 09:00 LT |
| Type: | Gloster Gladiator Mk I |
| Owner/operator: | 72 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | K6139 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Brayton, 2 miles south of Selby, North Yorkshire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Gloster Gladiator Mk.I K6139 of 72 Squadron, RAF: Written off (destroyed) 29/6/38 when collided with Gladiator K6138 & crashed near a railway line, at Brayton, 2 miles south of Selby, North Yorkshire. Crew: Flight Lt. William Forster Pharazyn (pilot, aged 35 and a New Zealander) was killed. According to the following official Air Ministry announcement in "Flight" magazine (July 7 1938 page 21 - see link #7)
"FLYING ACCIDENTS
Flt. Lt. William Forster Pharazyn lost his life in a collision in the air which occurred near Selby on June 29 between two aircraft of No. 72 (F) Sqn., Church Fenton, Yorkshire. Flt. Lt. Pharazyn was the pilot and sole occupant of one aircraft. The occupant of the other aircraft was not injured."
The following is an excerpt from Volume One (Fates: 1915-1942) of "For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915":
"Wed 29 Jun 1938
Fighter Command
Fighter attack practice formation
72 Squadron, RAF (Church Fenton, Yorkshire - 12 Group)
Gloster Gladiator I K6139 - collided at 09:00 with another of the Squadrons Gladiators (K6138) in rough air conditions over Brayton, near Selby. The latter, flown by Pilot Officer R.J. Walker, although damaged, made a successful emergency landing. Rather than bale out, the formation leader evidently tried to regain control of K6139 and make a forced landing, but crashed and was killed.
Pilot: Flight Lt William Forster PHARAZYN, RAF - Age 35. 703 hours total flying time.
Eight days later, Pharazyn's widow, Stella Margaret, gave birth to a daughter. His brother, Peter Walter Johnston Pharazyn, died on 27 July 1932 while flying with 501 Sqn, RAF."
The funeral of Flight-Lieutenant William Foster Pharazyn, was held at the Roman Catholic Church at Godalming, Surrey, on July 2 [1938]. The interment was at Hascombe Parish Church, three miles away. The Royal Air Force Central Band and a firing party from the Royal Air Force depot at Uxbridge were in attendance. Squadron-Loader S Wallingford, New Zealand Air Force Liaison Officer, represented the High Commissioner. (New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23096, 22 July 1938, Page 8)
Sources:
1. Air-Britain The K File The RAF of the 1930s
2. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1939.htm
3. http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/05710.php
4. https://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/548561-No-72-Sqdn-at-Tangmere-and-Church-Fenton-(Yorkshire)-circa-1937-1938-Forums
5. http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gladiator_raf_72.htm
6. https://www.sooty.nz/miscairdeaths.html
7. https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1938/1938%20-%201967.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Oct-2009 22:53 | JINX | Added |
| 12-Oct-2009 23:26 | JINX | Updated |
| 15-Jan-2012 02:43 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Jul-2013 18:31 | JINX | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Aug-2013 16:30 | Nepa | Updated [Operator] |
| 04-Aug-2013 15:06 | JINX | Updated [Operator, Narrative] |
| 04-Jun-2015 21:24 | Angel dick one | Updated [Operator, Narrative] |
| 27-Feb-2018 12:45 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 13-Mar-2018 20:25 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 13-Mar-2018 20:25 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 14-Apr-2020 16:00 | Reno Raines | Updated [Operator, Location, Operator] |
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