542

SB/NF

404994 : Sgt. Noel Hensley BLAIR.
PARENTS : Rev. & Mrs. C. Blair of Nelson.

Noel Blair was born at Kaponga on the 21st April, 1917.
He was educated at Lyttelton District High School, Wellington
Boys' College and Wellington Technical College. His favourite
sports were rugby, hockey, tennis and indoor basketball. He
was employed by J. R. McKenzie Ltd., Dunedin prior to enlisting
in the RNZAF on the 1st December, 1940. After completing his
initial training at Levin, he proceeded to No. 1 Elementary Flying
Training School, Taieri, where he carried out his elementary flying
training.

In March, 1941 he embarked for Canada, arriving at No. 6
Service Flying Training School, Dunneville, Ontario. He was
awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 3rd July,
1941. On the 23rd August he arrived at No. 20 Operational
Training Unit, Lossiemouth, Scotland to undergo operational training
in Vickers Wellington aircraft, being posted to No. 115 Squadron,
Marham, Norfolk on the 8th December, 1941. His Commanding Officer
was Wing Commander T. O. Freeman, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, the famous
New Zealand pilot who was killed on December 17, 1943. Sgt. Blair
participated in operations over Brest in France, and Essen, Koln
and Lubeck in Germany.

On the 13th April, Sgt. Blair was the 2nd pilot of a
Hampden bomber which was engaged on operations over Germany and failed
to return. The crew, including Sgt. Blair were classified as missing.
Information was later received from the International Red Cross that
Sgt. Blair was buried in grave No. 27, Section 85, East Cemetery
Amsterdam, having been killed when his aircraft crashed.

5/15/498 A. S. 2.
314 hrs. as pilot.

Rev. C. Blair (F)
Parsonage,
320 Hardy St., NELSON.