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402741 Sergeant Lewis Edgar MAWSON.
Mother: Mrs. M.M. Mawson of GISBORNE.

Lewis Mawson was born at Christchurch on the 12th May 1919. He received his secondary education at the Gisborne Technical College, reaching matriculation standard. He also studied the motor engineering course, and afterwards accepted employment as a Motor Mechanic with Ormond Motors Limited at Gisborne. He was still employed there at the time of applying for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 20th May 1940.

Sergeant Mawson was enlisted at Harewood on the 23rd August 1940 for training as a flight Mechanic. He proceeded to Rongotai on the 5th October 1940 for his technical training. After completing the course he was posted to Hobsonville for duty, serving there and later at Hamilton as a flight mechanic and then as an Engine Fitter until posted overseas on the 28th February 1944. He was promoted to Corporal on the 1st February 1942, and to Sergeant on the 15th December 1944, the latter while serving overseas.

Meantime, he served at Espiritu Santos, Bougainville, and Emirau Island, as a fitter with No. 10 Servcing Unit.

Sergeant Mawson was a member of the crew of a Ventura aircraft engaged in a transit flight from Bougainville to Emirau on the 6th January 1945. The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and all the crew were classified a missing. Later wreckage of the aircraft was located by surface vessel approximately twenty-five miles north west of Fiva on the Island of Bougainville, but there was no trace of the occupants. In due course the death of Sergeant Mawson was presumed to have occurred at sea without trace on the 6th January 1945.

Find a Grave link with photo of deceased: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249393622/lewis-edgar-mawson

4/2/4492 A.S.2.

Mrs. M.M. Mawson (M), (right aligned)
116 Stafford Street, (right aligned)
GISBORNE. (right aligned & underlined)