"The discovery of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Airspeed Oxford aeroplane, which disappeared on September 30 last year while on a flight from Hobsonville to Ohakea is reported from New Plymouth. The machine was last seen flying low in heavy mist and rain near the coast at Pukearuhe. The crew comprised:— Flying-Officer Harry Nalder Major, single, aged 29, son of the late Mr C. T. Major, former headmaster of King’s College. Flight-Sergeant Sheldon Benton Smith, single, aged 25, son of Mr and Mrs Henry Smith. 41 Grange Road, Mount Eden, Auckland. Corporal Raymond Bernard Smith, single, aged 23. A sister is Mrs C. T. Morgan, Miramar, Wellington. Flying-Officer Major, who was piloting the machine, was an instructor stationed at Ohakea. His companions were members of the ground staff. When the machine was missing a widespread search in the Mount Messenger district was conducted for some time without avail. The machine was found yesterday by two pig-hunters. It was in the bush near the coast some miles north of Pukearuhe. The locality is difficult of access. A skeleton was found near the machine. The aircraft had apparently failed, by a small margin, to clear a ridge running down from Mount Messenger to the sea."

[Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21360, 3 March 1941, Page 4]