131

42783 Flight Lieutenant Clive Hugh MASTERS. D.F.C. (surname underlined)
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Masters of Onga Onga, Hawkes Bay.

Clive Masters was born at Onga Onga on the 15th March 1919. His secondary education was received at the Waipawa District High School and at Napier Boys' High School. The games he played were football, cricket, tennis and golf. After leaving school he took over the management of his late father's sheep farm at Onga Onga and he was still engaged in this when in August 1941 he applied for war service in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Flight Lieutenant Masters was enlisted for aircrew training on the 18th April, 1942 at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, and on the 22nd June 1942 embarked for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after his arrival in Canada, Flight Lieutenant Masters was posted on the 20th July, to No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mountain View, Ontario. At the conclusion of this course he proceeded on the 14th September to No. 10 Air Observer School, Chatham, New Brunswick, and while here on the 23rd October was awarded his air bomber's badge and promoted to Sergeant. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 22nd November, 1942, and promoted to Flying Officer on the 23rd April, 1943, and to Flight Lieutenant on the 1st February 1944. Meanwhile, on the 2nd November 1942 he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Having arrived in England on the 30th November 1942 Flight Lieutenant Masters was held at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, until posted on the 20th January 1943 to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire, to crew-up and complete his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. Following this he was posted to Ferry Flight, Harwell, Berkshire, preparatory to proceeding by air to the Middle East on posting to No. 70 Squadron.