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42349 Flight Sergeant Robert James Ian MELVILLE.
Widow: Mrs. W.M.T. Melville of Finsbury, London.
Mother: Mrs. V.M. Melville of PIHA.

Robert Melville was born at Auckland on the 12th July 1917. He received his secondary education at the Kowhai Junior High School. When applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 27th May 1940, he was employed as a linesman by the Railway Department at Auckland.

Flight Sergeant Melville was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 25th January, 1942, and embarked for Canada on the 2nd March, for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival there, he was posted on the 12th April, to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, and then on the 28th December, to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba. Here on the 19th March 1943, he was awarded the Air Gunner badge, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While serving in the United Kingdom, he was further promoted to Flight Sergeant, on the 19th September 1943. Meantime, on the 31st March, he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant Melville arrived at No. 12 R.N.Z.A.F. Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Brighton, on the 18th April, 1943, and was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire, on the 5th May, for crewing up and completion of his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. He proceeded to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach, Cambridge, on the 29th July for conversion to Stirling four-engined aircraft, and then joined No. 75 New Zealand Squadron at Mepal, Cambridge, on the 4th September for operational flying.

Flight Sergeant Melville was a member of the crew of a Stirling aircraft engaged during the night of the 4/5th March 1944 in a special operation supply dropping in Central France, and which failed to return to its base. All the crew, including Flight Sergeant Melville were classified as missing. Later, information was received that he had lost his life. This was reported from