John Clutha Casey was born in 1917, the eldest child of John Patrick and Florence (nee Townsley) Casey. He had one sister, June (1919-1994) and a younger brother Richard Trevor (1921-2000) Casey.
He spent eight years at New Plymouth Boy’s High School (three years in the prep school and five in the upper school) where he enjoyed boxing, rugby, running and cadets and began working on his professional accountant’s examination. He was also a school prefect.
In 1938 he was selected for a Short Service Commission in the Royal Air Force. After some flying tuition at Bell Block and in Auckland, John then made his own way to England in September 1938 to take up his commission.
Not long after taking his commission with the RAF he decided the Fleet Air Arm held more appeal and applied to transfer to the Air Branch of Royal Navy, the Fleet Air Arm. He completed his preliminary training and as aircrew under training he served a short time on Fleet Aircraft Carriers HMS Hermes and Courageous.
On 23 September 1939 John was flying a Harvard on formation practice when it collided with another Harvard and crashed at Collingbourne Kingston, near Netheravon Airfield. The crash killed John and two other airmen. War had been declared with Germany just 20 days earlier.
He was buried at All Saints Church, Netheravon, Wiltshire, England. He was 21 years old and was the first New Zealand member of the Fleet Air Arm to lose his life in World War Two.
Documents
Aviator Old Boys, Taranaki Daily News 13 Nov 1939
Books
Lest We Forget, Jack West p. 66
Flying Navy: New Zealanders who flew in the Fleet Air Arm, David Allison p.68
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