Gordon Barrett Brooks

My dad Gordon was the Air New Zealand flight engineer on deck at the time of the crash. His words are on the black box recording and show his professional dedication. His career followed the development of NZ aviation. As a teen he trained with the Air Force at Whenuapai, then started with TEAL (which grew into Air New Zealand) as an engine mechanic for planes. TEAL expanded and dad became a flight engineer. He loved flying. Dad had a warm and caring personality, a sense of humour and a beautiful singing voice. Family was important to him, yet we had a complex family life. My parents had recently divorced and dad remarried. When he died, both our families were heartbroken. It seemed unthinkable that he wasn’t coming home, that we wouldn’t see him again. Sadly missed by his children, Virginia, Kirsten and Charles, and all who loved and knew him. Source: Virginia Brooks (daughter) via https://insights.nzherald.co.nz/apps/2019/erebus/

On the morning of 28 November 1979, Air New Zealand Flight TE901 left Mangere airport, Auckland, for an 11-hour return sightseeing flight to Antarctica. At 12.49 p.m. (NZST), the aircraft crashed into the lower slopes of Mt Erebus killing all 237 passengers and 20 crew on board. It was the worst civil disaster in New Zealand's history. Source: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/erebus-disaster