Flight Lieutenant, New Zealand Air Force
Born: March 21st 1912
Died: June 25th 1943
Age at Death: 31
Killed, June 25th 1943
Arthur Hyams was born on 21 March 1912 to Elias Hyams, an importer and distributor, and Iris (née Mandel), of Wellington, New Zealand. He arrived at Brighton College in 1927.
Hyams enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in December 1939, after first writing to the Head Master of Brighton College, asking for a copy of his School Certificate, which he needed before applying. On 25 June 1943 Hyams was flying a Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft near Tutuba Island, Espiritu Santo, in the South Pacific. He requested permission to return and land as his instruments did not appear to be working properly. However, before he could reach the airstrip, the plane started to dive. An extract from the Court of Inquiry documents states:
The machine hit the water and exploded with a bright flash.
Three years earlier, in July 1940, Hyams had married Joan Ryan at Sacred Heart Basilica, Wellington. Their daughter, Robin, was born after his death. He is commemorated at the Bourail Memorial in New Caledonia.