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404029 FLIGHT SERGEANT Bert Gordon HIBELL
MOTHER Mrs. M.M. Hibell of PALMERSTON NORTH.

Bert Hibell was born at Palmerston North on the 1st March, 1920. He received his secondary education at the Palmerston North Technical College. His principal sport was football. He joined the Territorial Forces and served for four years with the 8th Battery, New Zealand Artillery. His civilian occupation was that of a shop assistant and he was so employed with W.T. Norman and Company of Palmerston North, when in November, 1939, he applied for a war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Flight Sergeant Hibell was enlisted for training as aircrew on the 27th October, 1940 at the Inital Training Wing, Levin, and on the 5th December he embarked on the "Aorangi" for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Flight Sergeant Hibell was posted on the 23rd December, 1940 to No. 4 Air Observers' School, London, Ontario. In March, 1941 he proceeded to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, Ontario, where on the 26th April, 1941, he was awarded his flying badge as an air observer and promoted to Sergeant. His promotion to Flight Sergeant was made on the 1st November, 1941. Meanwhile on the 27th April, 1941 he had been posted to No. 1 Air Navigators School, Rivers, Manitoba, where on the 1st June 1941 he proceeeded to No. 1 "M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia to await embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant Hibell arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 17th July 1941 and on the 21st July was posted to No. 19 Operational Training Unit, Kinloss, Morayshire, Scotland, where he completed his training on Whitley bomber aircraft. On the 7th October 1941 he was posted to No. 77 Squadron, Leeming, Yorkshire. With this Squadron as a member