By Scott MacLeod
STRATFORD - Fighter-pilot mates Stan Saleman and Terry Litt met and died through their 55-year love of flying.
Their microlight plane ripped apart in mid-air and dived into a muddy creek just west of the Taranaki town of Stratford on Sunday.
Albert Stanley Saleman, aged 73, of New Plymouth and
Terrence Litt, 73, of Taupiri, near Huntly, died instantly.
The men flew their first sortie together at Wigram air base in Christchurch while training to fight the Japanese in 1944. They flew Tiger Moths and Harvards before earning their wings in the last day of the war.
"They were both mad keen on flying," said Stan's son Clive. "I'm not grieving that much for dad. He lived a full life and went out with a bang."
Mr Litt had flown his microlight down to Stratford on Saturday for an unofficial meet. He stayed overnight with Mr Saleman and his partner, Joyce Lobb.
The next day, at 11.30 am, the pair soared aloft in the microlight for their last joyride. There would have been a little of the old wartime thrill in their small plane, with its camouflage paint and Royal Air Force markings.
Minutes later, woodcutters John Fryer and Steven Walker heard a noise like a falling tree. They looked up and saw the tail of the plane dropping to earth.
They ran to the crash site, but there was nothing they could do for the two veterans.
Relatives yesterday gathered at the crash scene to figure out how the pair died.
Joyce Lobb said the men were great mates who loved getting into mischief together. She and Mr Saleman had been childhood sweethearts, and got together 20 years ago after their previous partners died.
Mr Saleman had spent more than a year in Japan in the post-war occupation force. He later worked as a carpenter and mechanic.
Mr Litt's family said he had been passionate about planes since childhood, when he hung small models from the ceiling of his bedroom. He crash-landed a floatplane south of Auckland two years ago when the engine failed.
Mr Litt had recently parasailed and was planning to take a parachute jump.
"He was just Mr Nice-Guy," said his only relative, brother Barry.
Air accident inspector Harvey Ritchie was probing wreckage strewn over several paddocks yesterday. It was unclear whether the plane hit nearby power lines or had a structural failure.
Stratford Aero Club president Wayne Richmond said microlights were usually safer than cars.
By Scott MacLeod
STRATFORD - Fighter-pilot mates Stan Saleman and Terry Litt met and died through their 55-year love of flying.
Their microlight plane ripped apart in mid-air and dived into a muddy creek just west of the Taranaki town of Stratford on Sunday.
Albert Stanley Saleman, aged 73, of New Plymouth and
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