"The inquest into the death of three airmen who were killed when a Baffin bomber crashed into the sea at Waimairi on February 5 was held before the coroner, Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M. The victims were: Flight Lieutenant Arthur Darvall Poulton, aged 40, of West Eyreton; Air Gunner William James Reynold Strachan, of Roxburgh; and Aircraftsman (first class) Douglas Haig Birbeck, of Barbadoes St., Christchurch.An open verdict, in accordance with the medical evidence, was returned in each case by the coroner, who stated that the men had died as the result of injuries received when the aeroplane in which they were flying crashed into the sea."

[Northern Advocate, 20 February 1940, Page 7]