Alps on a "war-load climb to 15,000 feet" training mission. The aircraft entered a spin above the Southern Alps and the crew prepared to bail out, but the aircraft recovered. Moments later it hit trees on top of a ridge on Mount White and flipped backwards down the side of the steep slope, leaving the aircraft hanging in the trees and both Raphael and Everist unconscious. When Raphael regained consciousness he feared the plane would soon catch fire, so he pulled Everist, who was still unconscious, out of the wreckage. Raphael walked to a shearers' hut, carrying Everist who was badly injured. The airframe, minus instruments, guns and engine, was left suspended in trees at the crash site, which is part of a large sheep station. In 1976 it was relocated – still largely suspended from trees – by Charles Darby, with assistance from Walter Raphael. (Everist had been killed in action over France.) NZ629 was recovered by Aerospatiale Lama. It was stored for more than 20 years before restoration began. In February 1988 the civil registration ZK-TLA was reserved and as of 2005 the restorers were looking for an engine. In 2014 they were struggling to raise the funds to get the plane restored. Variants Fairey IIIF Mk V : Prototype. Fairey Gordon Mk I : Two-seat day bomber and general purpose aircraft. Fairey Gordon Mk II : Two-seat training version. Operators Brazil bought 20 Gordons, comprising 15 land planes and five float planes Brazilian Air Force Brazilian Naval Aviation Royal Egyptian Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force Royal Air Force No. 6 Squadron RAF No. 14 Squadron RAF No. 29 Squadron RAF No. 35 Squadron RAF No. 40 Squadron RAF No. 45 Squadron RAF No. 47 Squadron RAF No. 207 Squadron RAF No. 223 Squadron RAF Specifications (Mark I) See also References External links Fairey Gordon Fairey Gordon – British Aircraft Directory Fairey Gordon – British Aircraft of World War II Biplanes 1930s British bomber aircraft Gordon Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1931