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432216 F/Sgt. Leo P. MARSHALL.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. F.J. Marshall, Raurimu, KING COUNTRY.

Leo Marshall was born at New Plymouth on the 5th July, 1924 and received his education at Raurimu Public School and Raurimu District High School. He was a member of the 1st XV and also played cricket and tennis. After leaving school, he was employed by a farmer on mixed work, and prior to enlisting in the RNZAF was a nurseryman in the State Forest Service, Raurimu. Leo was barely 18 when he applied ofr enlistment as a pilot, and on the 19th February, 1943 reported at the Air Defence Unit at Omaka. After some six months on ground duties at Omaka, Woodbourne, Gisborne and New Plymouth, he commenced his aircrew training at Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 16th September, 1943 where he underwent training as Wireless Operator Air Gunner, to which he had been re-selected.

He embarked for Canada on 15th January, 1944 and did his training at No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta and No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School at Fingal, Ontario. He qualified as Wireless Operator Air Gunner and received his badge on 6th October, 1944. He spent a short period at an Air Observers' School before leaving for New Zealand, arriving on 5th December, 1944.

Leo Marshall then went on a Wireless Telegraphy refresher course at Ohakea, followed by a crew training course at No. 1 (Bomber) Overseas Training Unit at the same station. He was posted to No. 4 Squadron at Whenuapai on 19th March, 1945 and proceeded overseas when his squadron was sent to the forward Pacific areas. He flew in a Ventura aircraft as Wireless Operator piloted by Flying Officer Graham, of whose crew he had been a member of since he first arrived at Overseas Training Unit in February 1945. F/Sgt. Marshall was Wireless Operator of a Ventura aircraft which took off on a dawn sweep on the 28th May, 1945.