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Description

Ernest (Ernie) Vilhelm West (1885-1961) was a Palmerston North architect and member of the Middle Districts Aero Club. His first flight was in 1909, when visiting the Crystal Palace, London, he flew in a Farman box kite. However, West did not learn to fly until 1935, at the age of 51, when he trained in a DH 60. Two of his sons lost their lives in the airforce during the Second World War. Darby West was killed in a flying accident in 1942 and Squadron-Leader Peter West, D.F.C., was shot down while on a loan reconaissance in 1942. A third son, Murray West joined the airforce in 1943. Ernie was reportedly the oldest active pilot in the world and earned the nickname 'Pop' West.

Identification

Object type
Image
Identifier
2022P_ManawatuAeroClub_S6-F1_039231
Archive
Manawatū District Aero Club
Relation
CA: Manawatū District Aero Club, Series 6, Folder 1
Date
February 1938
Digitisation ID
2022P_ManawatuAeroClub_S6-F1_039231
Format
B&W print
Held In
"Community Archives"

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Taxonomy

Tags
aeroplanes,
aviation,
Community Tags

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Related items

'Aviation - Life and Times'
Opening of the First International Agricutural Aviation Show, Milson Airport
First aeroplane to fly into Nelson area
Resealing Milson Airport runway
First aeroplane to fly into Nelson area
First International Agricultural Aviation Show, Milson Airport
Tiger Moth ZK-AFU
McCleod, Laura Stannard and Ernest V. 'Pop' West with a Middle Districts Aero Club aircraft
A group of school children inspecting an aeroplane
Opening day at the Milson Aerodrome
CJK Bolkow aircraft in front of the Palmerston North Flying school building
People inspecting an aeroplane