368

JN/NF
412530 : Flying Officer Lancelot Vernon DAVIDSON.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. A. J. Davidson of Rangiora.
WIFE: : Mrs. M. M. Davidson of Napier.

Lance Davidson was born at Waipawa on the 24th
September, 1914. He received his secondary education at
Waipawa District High School. At school he played football
for the first fifteen and later played for the Cust Club for
four years. He was employed in various capacities on farm
work and as a taxi driver, and at the time of making application
for service in the R.N.Z.A.F. on the 18th March, 1940, was
engaged in operating his own taxi business.

Flying Officer Davidson was enlisted on the 12th
April, 1941, at the Initial Training Wing, Levin. He was posted
to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth, for
his elementary flying training late in May, and to No. 3 Service
Flying Training School, Ohakea, on the 5th July where - on the
8th November, 1941 - he was awarded his flying badge and promoted
to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant
on the 1st March, 1943, and received his commission in the rank
of Pilot Officer on the 15th July, 1943. He was promoted to
Flying Officer on the 15th January, 1944. Meanwhile he had
embarked for the United Kingdom on the 17th November, 1941,
proceeding via America and Canada.

F/O Davidson arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception
Centre, Bournemouth, on the 26th December, 1941, and was posted
to No. 1513 Beam Approach Training Flight, Honington, Suffolk,
on the 29th January, 1942, for a blind flying course. On the
9th February he proceeded to No. 3 Service Flying Training School,
South Cerney, Gloucesterchire, and, at the completion of his
training there, was posted, on the 17th March, 1942, to No. 15
Operational Training Unit, then at Mount Farm, Oxfordshire,
and later at the parent station, Harwell, Berkshire, where he