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429027: Flying Officer Eric George BLAKE

Parents: Mr. & Mrs. G.S. Blake of Ruawaro, Huntly.

Eric Blake was born at Wellington on the
4th June, 1919. At school he obtained his Standard VI
Proficiency Certificate. His sports included cricket,
football and swimming. After leaving school he was employed
for a number of years by Mr. J.H. Furniss, farmer, of Ruawaro,
and was still so employed when he made application on the
30th April, 1941 for service with the Royal New Zealand Air
Force. He was enlisted at R.N.Z.A.F Station, Rukuhia, on
the 5th August, 1942 and employed there, and later at R.N.Z.A.F.
Station, Gisborne, on ground duties before being posted to
the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, on the 30th October, 1942,
to commence his aircrew training. He embarked for Canada on
the 9th January, 1943 to continue his training under the Empire
Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, F/O Blake was
posted, on the 7th February, 1943 to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery
School, Paulson, Manitoba. On the 1st May, 1943 he proceeded
to No. 1 Air Observers' School, Malton, Ontario where, on the
11th June he was awarded his air bomber's badge and promoted
to the rank of Sergeant, but this was superseded by his
commisioning in the rank of Pilot Officer with effect from
the same date. He was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer
on the 11th December, 1943. Meanwhile, on the 27th June
he had proceeded to the R.A.F Transit Pool, and embarked at
New York on the 30th June for the United Kingdom.

F/O Blake arrived at No. 12 R.N.Z.A.F Personnel
Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 8th July, 1943 and was
posted to No. 1 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, Wigtown,
Wigtownshire, on the 2nd August. He was again posted to No. 28
Operational Training Unit, Castle Donington, Derbyshire, on
the 31st August. Here, he crewed up and completed his training
on Wellington bomber aircraft, before posting to No. 1660