"N.Z. PLANE CRASHES IN MALAYA
Nine Men Believed Killed (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 11. Nine men are believed to have been killed when a Royal New Zealand Air Force Bristol Freighter crashed into the Malayan jungle yesterday and burned. The aircraft was carrying supplies to be parachuted to security troops fighting Communist terrorists. Those aboard the aircraft have been officially posted as “missing, believed killed,” by the R.N.Z.A.F. The aircrew of three were New Zealanders. Four Royal Army Service Corps men were aboard to dispatch the supply parachutes, and two Malayan Film Unit men were being carried to photograph the operation.
The aircrew believed killed are:—
Squadron Leader Alexander Stuart Tie, aged 32, married, with four children. of 63 Hatton street extension, Karori, Wellington. Squadron Leader Tie, who was piloting the plane, was the commander of No. 41 (Transport) Squadron in Malaya.
Flying Officer William Anthony Devescovi, navigator, aged 29, single, of Wellington.
Flying Officer Douglas Errol Nelson, signaller, aged 40, married, with three children, of Masterton. His next-of-kin is his wife, Mrs R. O. Nelson, at present living on the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Whenuapai.
Air Force Headquarters this afternoon described the crash as the first fatal aircraft accident within the R.N.Z.A.F. during its post-war operations in the Malayan and Cyprus theatres.
The Bristol Freighter crashed yesterday afternoon 28 miles south-east of Ipoh.
An Army observation Auster which yesterday evening flew over the wreckage reported it was burning and there were no signs of survivors.
Formerly a member of the Directorate of Postings and Personal Services at the Air Department, Wellington, Squadron Leader Tie left New Zealand only a little over a year ago to take over command of New Zealand’s Singapore - based transport squadron from Squadron Leader R. A. Manners (Auckland).
Squadron Leader Tie was educated at the Christchurch Boys’ High School. He joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1943, and served in the Pacific as a fighter pilot with No. 16 Squadron. After the war he became adjutant of No. 14 (Fighter) Squadron of the R.N.Z.A.F. He served with this unit when it was attached to the British Commonwealth occupation forces in Japan.
Flying Officer Devescovi was born in Greymouth and was a clerk in the Internal Affairs Department before he joined the R.N.Z.A.F.
Flying Officer Nelson joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1940 and served as a wireless operator air gunner in Britain. Egypt and Palestine during World War II. After the war he served for some years with the R.A.F. and rejoined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1953." [Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28149, 12 December 1956, Page 13]
