"When the Harvard aircraft they were flying crashed at Ohakea at 2.30 p.m., yesterday two sergeant-pilots were killed. They were: Sergeant Gerald Michael Friel. Mrs. M. J. Friel, 50 Belt Street, Waimate (m.). Sergeant Peter Charles Brown. Mr. C. E. Brown, 128 Cashmere Avenue, Khandallah, Wellington . Before the crash occurred, they were instrument flying above 2000 feet, west of Ohakea. Sergeant Friel was transferred from the Army to the R.N.Z.A.F. in August, 1943. He was educated at the Waimate High School and St. Bede's College, Christchurch. Sergeant Brown joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in June, 1943. He received his secondary education at the Wellington Boys' College." 

[Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 14, 17 January 1945, Page 4]