In Memory of

Mt Erebus Crash 1979

Died 28 Nov 1979

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  • Last Name:Mt Erebus Crash 1979
  • Country:New Zealand
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The 40th anniversary of the Air New Zealand DC10's Mt Erebus disaster is marked on the 28th November 2019. The 1979 sightseeing flight consisted of 257 passengers and crew destined for a 11 hour round trip to Antartica. The plane crashed into Mt Erebus and there were no survivors. Those that lost their lives included 200 New Zealanders, 24 Japanese, 22 Americans, 6 British, 2 Canadians, one Australian, one French and one Swiss.
The tragedy gripped the nation as searchers battled extreme weather conditions to retrieve the bodies and plane remenants. Over 60 people worked on the accident site, most in body recovery. 213 victims were eventually identified. The disaster is New Zealand's biggest single tragedy, followed closely by the Napier Earthquake in 1931.

Peter James ADDIS, Lleone Margaret AISENMAN, Alan Lawrence Malyon ALLAN, Jane Phillipa ALLAN, Marjorie Townley ALLAN, Margret Isabel ANDERSON, Audrey Gordon ANDERSON, Grant William ANGLESEY, Ethel Mary ARMITAGE, Melinda Maria ARNOLD, Valerie Ellen ARNOLD, Graham Mitford ASHTON, Mr BAGNALL, Mrs BAGNALL, Thomas Eric BAINBRIDGE, Llewellyn Arnold BALDWIN, Kay Marion BARNICK, Marion Ruth BARNICK, Earl Aubrey BEAUMONT, Desmond William BECKETT, David John BENNETT, Patricia Adele BLAIR, Marilyn Alma BOND, Robin Melville BOND, Ronald Thomas BREHAUT, Jon Philip BROAD, Phillipa Margaret BROAD, Gordon Barrett BROOKS, Geraldine Kay BROOKS, Aubrey Conroy BROUGH, Geoffrey BUCHANAN, Lucille Clark BURCKHALTER, Lindsay Robert BURGESS, Rose Ellen BURGESS, Heinz BURGI, Lorraine Eileen BURTON, Rae Jeanne BUTLER, Rangiaho CAMERON, Stuart Donald CAMPBELL, John Barrie CARLETON, Marion Rennie CARLETON, Margaret Bell CARR, Elizabeth Mary CARR-SMITH, Graham Ronald CATER, Bryan Harry CHADDERTON, Valerie Enid CHADDERTON, Alla CHRISTIANSEN, Hugh Francis CHRISTMAS, David CLARK, Irene Alice CLARK, Iris CLARK, William Henry CLARK, Joan Audrey COCKRILL, Cyril Bernard COLBRAN, Yvonne Louise COLBRAN, John Wright COLE, Thomas James COLLINS, Martin John COLLINS, Jean Ann Barnett COPAS, Susan Elaine COPLEY, Audrey Joy COPSEY, Constance COREY, Mary Alison CRABTREE, Norman David CRABTREE, Marie Patricia DAHL, June DAVIES, Kay DEAN, Florence Daisy DEBBAGE, Nora Violet DEMAGE, Helen Dora DUFF, Athol David DUKE, Hermanus Adrianus Johannes Maria Douglas DYKZUEL, Johannes Cabrini Maria DYKZUEL, Gwen Louise EAGLES, Edna Miriam EDWARDS, Elizabeth Jane EDWARDS, Cecillia Campbell EMMETT, John Barnham EMMETT, Jean FERRELL, Michael James FINLAY, Katherine Edith Janet FROST, Kuniyasu FURUKAWA, Alfred James GALLAGHER, Elsie Thelma GALLAGHER, Brucie GIBBS, Richard GILLIVER, Violet Iris GOSLING, Norio GOTO, Pamela Margaret GULLAND, Florence Lee HANCE, Marlene Anne HANSEN, Hazel Phoebe HARRIS, Annie HARRISON, Muriel Florence Rose HARRISON, James Follett HARTLEY, Myra Pearl HARTY, Kathleen HAWORTH, Peter HAWORTH, Mitsuo HIGUCHI, Eileen Elsie HILL, Gordon Alexander HILL, Jean Marie HOLLOWAY, Bryan Ernest HOLTHAM, Roy Henry HOTSON, John Greenleaf HOUGHTON, Ralph Brenton HOWARTH, Steven William HUGHES, Mildred Alice HUMPHREY, Thomas William Noel HYNDMAN, Akira IMAI, Hisao IMAI, Ernest Adalbert JAHN, Isabel JAHN, Nicholas Dunstan JARVIS, Evelyn Lois JENKINS, Charles Ivory JENNINGS, Kathleen Florence KARL, Dennis Frances KEARNEY, Dianne KEENAN, John Edgar KEITH, Nancy Phyllis KENDON, Betty KERR, Francis Ronald KERR, Geoffrey Ian Hamilton KERR, Anthony John KILSBY, Geoffrey Michael KILSBY, Nancy KING, Donald Clive KIRK, Asako KITAGAWA, Paul Anthony KLASSOVITY, Carl Robert KLENSCH, Mary Louise LAKE, William Olaf LARSEN, James Francis LAVIN, Yves LEPINE, James Charles LEWIS, Michael Ralph LIES, Alison Louise LING, Urs LOCHER, William Brian LOMAX, Charles Henry Devenish LOUGHNAN, Patrick Louis LOUGHNAN, Graham Neville LUCAS, John Alexander MACKENZIE, Margaret Joyce MACKENZIE, Stella Vonomerie MACKENZIE, Eudora Emily MADGWICK, Muriel MAGNELL, David Victor MANLEY, Dorothy Maude MANN, Suzanne Margaret MARINOVIC, Dorothy MARSDEN, Joseph Alan MARSDEN, Sarah Jane MARTIN, Trevor John MASKELYNE, Robert MASON, Barbara Dawn MATTHEWS, Bruce Rhodes MAXWELL, Olive Mrytle MAYNARD, William George MAYNARD, Shirley Jane MCDONALD, Richard John MCKENDRY, John Bruce MCMILLAN, Melba Pearl MCMILLAN, Eric Albert Dunbar MCNEIL, Roy William MCPHERSON, Jurg MEIER, Mark Geoffrey MITCHELL, Junichi MITSUHASHI, Nicholas John MOLONEY, Katrina Mary June MORRISON, Peter David MULGREW, Ross MUNRO, Owen John MURRAY, Christine Margaret NICHOLSON, Shigeru NODA, Ian John O'CONNOR, Hiroko ODANI, Morihiko ODANI, Mervyn John OLIVER, Tetsuro ONO, Juhei OSAWA, Masa OSAWA, Norio OZAWA, David Lloyd PALMER, Edward James PALMER, Gary Kent PALMER, Eija Kylli Marjatta PARKKARI, Ethel Mary PATERSON, Linda Jan PATERSON, Nola Minchin PAYKEL, Alfred Murray PAYNE, Majorie Ethel Isabella PEACOCKE, Carla PETHERS, Alexander Francis PLUMMER, Hilda Francis PLUMMER, Michael Arthur Edwin POTTER, Robert John PRESTON, Beverley PRICE, Joy Anges PRIDMORE, Beatrice Irene PROCE, Valerie Mary RAWLINS, Basil Halvor REVELL, Eileen Geraldine REVELL, Pamela Gayl RICHMOND, Helen Lady ROBB, Alison Meryl ROBERTS, Michael Seaver ROBERTS, Betty Estelle ROBINSON, Karl RUDEN, Hisako SATO, Russell Morrison SCOTT, Marie Theresa SCOTT, Michi SEKI, Toshiro SEKI, George M SHEPPARD, Seishrio SHIGETA, Ryoichi SHINONOYA, Stephen George SIMMONS, Betty Louise SMITH, Henry Howard SMYTHE, Ralph Augustus STEEL, Anthony James Leonard STEVENSON, Donald Matthew STEWART, Alan Maxwell STOKES, Phyllis May STOREY, Masaaki TAKADA, Peter Alex TANTON, Douglas Clement Frank TAYLOR, Roy Pearce THOMAS, Walter Daniel THOMAS, Billlie Tadlock THOMPSON, Henry Ford THOMPSON, Watson THOMPSON, Florence Anne TREMAINE, Robert David TREMAINE, Elaine Frances TRINDER, Henry WARD, Valerie WARD, Isobel WATSON, Katherine WATSON, Alfred William WEBB, Janet Challis WILLIAMS, Janet Mary WILLIAMS, Leonard Heathcote WILLIAMS, Marie-Therese WOLFERT, Barbara Annie WOOD, Irvine Kirkham WOOD, Linda WORTH, Hamako YANAGISAWA, Nobuyoshi YANAGISAWA, Ryoji YOKOYAMA, Otmar ZOLL

  • Linda Paterson

    My friend at Teachers Training College from 1976-1978.
    First met at the traffic lights on Epsom Ave on the first day of our 3 year course.
    Even visited your home and met your mother.
    You were a lovely young lady, gone way too soon.

    Graham Banks. Auckland, New Zealand.

    Monday, Nov 14, 2022

  • Susan Copley

    Miss Copley as I knew her was my teacher for a year when I attended Thrybergh Junior Mixed School as it was then known. She made lessons interesting and regularly taught by having us build or create things to enhance our learning. One lesson on early clocks using water and other materials as timers I remember to this day. She also said something to us that was so profound I reflect on it each time I turn on a tap. What she said was "how lucky we were to be able to get clean fresh water whenever we want to when so many people around the world cannot." I have said the same thing to my children and as I became a teacher myself I pointed this out to many of my own pupils. The last time I saw Miss Copley was when I was at university and working part time in a newsagents. She told me and my sister, who I was working alongside at the time, about her upcoming trip to New Zealand. We were so happy for her and wished be well. When the devastating news came through that one of our own was amongst those who perished, our village was in shock. A memorial service was held for her at the school in Thrybergh where past pupils colleagues and friends came together to remember her with fondness.

    Avril Williams. STONEHAVEN, United Kingdom.

    Friday, Nov 29, 2019

  • Sue Elaine COPLEY

    Every year I remember this Sue COPLEY who came to the Air NZ ticket office on the corner of Queen & Victoria St, Auckland to buy her ticket for her special present to herself for completing her year teaching in NZ. Ticketing rules for that TE901 meant everyone seemed to come in on Friday 12 Oct to finalise payment. We were open late every Friday and Sue came in around 7pm. While I was issuing the ticket she told me she was a teacher and would be heading home to the UK after a year’s working holiday in NZ. She said this was her farewell to NZ gift to herself. My wife who is a teacher & I were thinking of heading to the UK for a year & Sue kindly gave me addresses my wife could write to for work. She was so happy & excited about the trip to the ice and I wished her an enjoyable trip. As she left the office she and another lady coming in had a tussle with the door. The lady walked up to me & said she wanted to buy her ticket on the 28 Nov Antarctic flight. I said, ”oh that lady you were laughing with at the door will be on the same flight. You might see one another again.” While I can’t recall her name I’ve remembered her and Sue every year at this time and hope their last moments were happy and that they now rest in peace. My prayers go to them and also to their families.

    Francis Mortimer. Auckland, New Zealand.

    Saturday, Nov 23, 2019

  • Geraldine Kay Brooks

    Fond memories of working with Geraldine in Auckland. I was on a working holiday in New Zealand in 1972. Waitressed at Railton hotel in Auckland and met Geraldine. We wrote often after I returned home to Australia. I received a letter on 29th November 1979 wishing me a happy birthday for that day. In the letter she was so excited to tell me that she was going on a trip to Antartica. I then realised sadly that she was on the Mt Erebus plane that had crashed the day before.
    Geraldine looked after me in Auckland as I was a naive 17 year old who had just left home. I will always remember her as she had achieved so much on her own. I remember she was so proud to have her own apartment and had saved for this trip
    R.i.p. Geraldine. Xx

    Angela Roper (King). Mandurah, Australia .

    Sunday, Oct 21, 2018

  • Roy Pearce Thomas

    My Grandad was never found. I was only 10 at the time. He was a lovely man. Left behind 6 daughters and his wife. Sooo sad. Have only been able to watch the documentry now. My mum can't watch. RIP Grandad xoxox

    Lisa Hoeta. Hastings, New Zealand.

    Monday, May 07, 2018

  • Miss Copley

    A message for Miss Copley and her family

    You were my teacher at Thrybergh Junior and Infant School, England, and you took me and my friends to music lessons every Saturday morning on a rickerty old red bus. Thank you. We were all devestated when you went, you were due to come back home to us and went on a sight seeing tour as part of your adventure. We all missed you and we still think of you. God Bless Miss Copley
    X

    Helen Walker. Rotherham, United Kingdom.

    Monday, Feb 13, 2017

  • Henry and Val Ward

    I first met Henry (Harry) and Val when they lived in Monaco in Nelson NZ many years ago shortly after they emigrated to NZ from the UK, if I remember right my father Cyril built their house at Monaco.

    We spent a lot of time with them socially before they moved up to Auckland, and we missed their company.

    I have a photo of them taken at Monaco.

    Colin Wilkin. Richmond Nelson, New Zealand.

    Monday, Jan 11, 2016

  • Valerie Enid CHADDERTON

    Remembering my dear school friend Valerie (nee THOMAS). Val was my best friend at E.G.G.S. and we kept in touch over the years. I often spent weekends with her and Bryan at Papatoetoe before my marriage and am godmother to her eldest daughter Viccy. We had a few days in Sydney together and spoke of another in the summer of 1980 but it wasn't to be.

    Pat Adair (nee Stallard). Beachhaven, Auckland, New Zealand.

    Tuesday, Mar 10, 2015

  • Who was that young man from Waitara?

    Today 15.2.15, I watched Erebus Air Crash on SBS. I have always remembered that day, when I was a young girl working in the local chemist shop (Peter Budden Chemist) in Waitara, NZ. This young man who I had seen a few times in the shop, came in and bought loads of 35mm Kodak colour film. I asked him why he was buying so many and he told me about an exciting trip he was planning to go on, to fly over the Antarctic. I, of course being a young girl, wasn't sure what all the fuss was about? He told me with much excitement in his voice about the beauty of it and how he loved photography and was planning to take loads of shots, hence why he was buying so much film. As he left, I told him to have a great time.... and off he went. I didn't know him, I didn't know his name, but today looking at this site having been watching the documentary, brought the memories back. I remember feeling very sad and upset that I had sold this young man his last film, heard his excitement on going on this trip and sad that nobody would ever see the shots he had taken. When I looked at the names of those that died on that flight, I saw a name that could fit the age and location of this man at the time. It may of been Grant William Anglesey, Waitara? RIP Grant and I'm sorry I never got to see those wonderful photos.....

    Karen Donaghy. Brisbane, Australia .

    Monday, Feb 16, 2015

  • Sue Elaine Copley

    Dear Sue
    Just came across this site having watched a program about your terrible tragedy. I thank you for inspiring me going into teaching, first college, then teaching, then teacher education. I hope you are at peace. I was with your best friend Liz in the UK a few weeks ago and your name came up as a fond memory. We thought back to the many cups of coffee, your enthusiasm and ever sharp wit. How they are missed.
    God Bless
    Ed

    Edward Errington. Townsville, Australia .

    Monday, Feb 16, 2015

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