Personnel Index - Detail

Name
JOHNSTONE
First Names
Melville
Nationality
New Zealand
Rank
2nd Lieutenant
Service
RFC
Crew Position
Flying Instructor
Posting In
21st November 1916
Posting Out
10th January 1917 (to 27Sqn)

 

Melville Johnstone is list as a "Flying Officer Martinsydes"  involved with training aircrew at Swingate Down, Dover in 1916.





Following his posting to 27Sqn, Melville Johnstone lost his life on the 16th July 1917.

Details of the accident are shown below:

Capt Melville Johnstone from 27 Squadron RFC, a New Zealander from Motuotaraia, Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay, was killed when returning from a bomb raid.
Unfortunately one of his bombs had not released properly and was caught in the landing gear of his aircraft.

It’s not known if he was manoeuvring to try and release the bomb but the aircraft crashed into a lake near Arques just south of 27 Squadron’s aerodrome at Clairmarais North. 
Captain Johnstone was drowned and the aircraft completely written off.

Captain Johnstone is buried in the Longuenese (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery.

Research courtesy of Ashley Hales.