I am trying to find any record of a car accident in Christchurch New Zealand in
which an American (Sailor?) serving with Operation Deep Freeze was killed at a
railway crossing car accident in early 1960 (January to May).
Specifically the name of the victim or the escort who returned to the
USA with the body.

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 07 May 2003 02:10 PDT

Hello blue49,

I located a list of deaths of American personnel when the Navy was in
operational control of Operation Deep Freeze from 1955-1999.

This list includes the following details for each death:

Title                 
Name                    
Acty             
Date             
Details/Comments 


There is only one death listed for 1960 which was on November 2nd.
SW1 
"Orlan F. John, USN"
ASA 
2 Nov 60 
Accidential explosion at McMurdo.

 
There is nothing on the list about a railway crossing car accident. 

Would any other information from this list interest you?


Thanks 
Bobbie7

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Clarification of Question by blue49-ga on 07 May 2003 18:05 PDT

No other info from the list is of interest thank you.

Hi,

The web-site of the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society Inc 
is probably a good place to start from. I have e-mailed Mr Graeme 
McClare, the Assistant Secretary of the organisation. Here is the 
reply that he has given me.

--------

A Mr Anton Blanken of Papanui was killed at the Annex Road crossing on
2 July 1960 when his car collided with a Christchurch to Springfield
train.

On 8 May 1963 a Christchurch to Picton mixed train collided with a car
at a crossing at Riccarton.  The driver of the car "abandoned ship"
before the collision and walked away.

On 10 November 1963 The Christchurch to Dunedin railcar collided with
a car a Weedons.  The two occupants of the car, both locals, were
killed.

On 17 January 1964 a northbound express collided with a car at
Islington.  I am unable to locate any details of this incident.

--------

You might want to contact him directly at the e-mail address 
listed on his web-site (http://www.railsoc.org.nz). He should 
be able to assist you in your search as he has access to the 
relevant records.

All the best.