Son of Isaac and Florence Baxter (nee Harrison), Temuka. Source: Martyn, For Your Tomorrow, vol.3. p.81.

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a formation flying exercise flying at between 300 - 400 ft one of 3 aircraft he unexpectedly broke away, thought to have had engine trouble and started to lose height. Descending through haze he hit two high tension cables stretched across a valley, some 98 ft above the ground causing him to fly into a hillside at 14:45 hrs - killing the pilot.

Burial details:

P/O. Merton Vivian Baxter. Tangmere Churchyard (Saint Andrew). Born on the 11th January 1916, the son of Mr and Mrs J.W.T. Baxter of Temuka, Timaru, New Zealand. Probably also his fiancée, Joan, of Sussex who attended the funeral. Had a total of 364 flying hours logged. Received his commission on the 04th August 1936.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot. Aircrew Remembered (www.aircrewremembered.com) AWMM