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NZ421331 Warrant Officer Donald Meldrum MATHEWSON (surname underlined)
Widow Mr. V.J. Mathewson of Kokonga Central Otago

Donald Mathewson was born at Dunedin on the 13th May 1908. He received his secondary education at the Otago Boys' High School. Afterwards taking a course in farm mechanics with the International Correspondence School. From the time of leaving school in 1921 until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 14th Decemeber, 1940, he was employed in farming at Kokonga, Central Otago.

Warrant Officer Mathewson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 26th February 1942, and embarked for Canada, on the 27th April, to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He arrived in Canada on the 17th May and was posted on the 7th June to No. 6 Air Observers School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, then on the 13th September to No. 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba. On the 10th October he proceeded to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba, where on the 20th November he was awarded the Air Navigator's Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Later while in the United Kingdom, he was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st June, 1943 and to Warrant Officer on the 1st June 1944. Meanwhile on the 5th December 1942 he was posted to No. 34 Operational Training Unit, first at Penfield Ridge, New Brunswick and then at Yarmouth, for crewing up and completion of training on Ventura Aircraft. On the 27th March, 1943, he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Warrant Officer Mathewson arrived at No. 11 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Brighton on the 18th April, and was posted to No. 42 Operational Training Unit, Andover, Hampshire on the 8th June, where he converted to Whitley Aircraft. On the 13th July 1943 their aircraft crashed off Lundy, Island, Devon. All the crew escaped from the wrecked aircraft and eventually reached shore on the 15th July, in a dinghy. They were all slightly injured, but resumed duty within a few days. During October he flew with No. 297 Squadron at