“PILOT-OFFICER G. W. SUTTON – FORMER GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOY – Pilot-Officer Gordon William Sutton, 26, of the Royal Air Force, son of Mr D. W. Sutton of Ararimu. who was reported as ‘‘missing, believed killed in Wednesday's Times, left for England on December i. 1937. Prior to his departure be was air craftsman at the Hobsonville air base. His first flying experience in England was with land machines, but about eight months ago he was transferred to large flying boats. Just before the war he flew to Malta, Alexandria and Cairo with a high officer of the Air Ministry as a passenger. According lo letters received this week he was just before the accident carrying out reconnaissance duties in the anti-submarine convoy system and was engaged scouting for these deadly vessels of war. Pilot Officer Sutton had made great strides in aviation in England and had jusl been promoted to day captain of a big four-engined flying boat, and had complete charge of the crew. Just, before the war started he was in the Sunderland squadron. He was stated to have been a particularly clever officer in navigation.

Pilot-Officer Sutton was educated at the Mt. Albert Grammar School where he matriculated and represented his school at fullback in Rugby football in 1932. He also played for Eden in 1933, and will be remembered locally as a fine fullback in the Ararimu club. He continued playing Rugby in the Old Country and was captain of the Calshot Air Force team. Another of his hobbies was rowing, and at a regatta held at Calshot, Southampton, his boat come home in third position in a race at the Air Force Regatta there.” [Franklin Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 108, 22 September 1939, Page 8]