16

413100 : Sgt. Albert Patrick MAHONY.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. W.G. Mahony of Christchurch.
WIFE : Mrs. I.L. Mahony of Avonside.

Albert Mahony was born at Christchurch on September 7th, 1916. He was educated at Chirstchurch West High School where he gained his University Entrance in 1934 and where he was prominent in the School 1st fifteen. He was also keenly interested in rowing, being a member of the Avon Rowing Club and his hobbies were books and woodwork.

From January 1939 he was employed on clerical and accountant duties at the Apex Ice Cream Co. in Christchurch and at the same time studied for his Accountancy with Harle's College.

He applied for aircrew enlistment in June 1940 and after completing the pre-entry course, commenced his flying training at Taieri in July 1941. Going on to Wigram, he qualified for his Flying Badge and became a service pilot of Oxford aircraft on September 28th, 1941. Having been selected for further training as a bomber pilot, he went on to the Advanced Training Squadron at Wigram until November, when he sailed for the Far East. Arriving at Singapore, he went to the transit camp at Seletar, but was evacuated before he did any flying and return to N.Z. having lost all his personal belongings.

In April 1942 he was posted to No. 10 Bomber Operational Training School at Levin where he spent three months on navigational and cross country flying and became a pilot of Hudson medium bombers. In August 1942, he became a member of No. 2 General Reconnaissance Squadron at Nelson and after six weeks proceeded on to No. 3 General Reconnaissance Squadron at Whenuapai where he became second pilot in a crew captained by F/Sgt. N.J. Newall with Sgt. R.T. Andrew, Sgt. Downard and Sgt. D. Newlands.