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NZ415002 Flying Officer Ian Robert MENZIES.
MOTHER: Mrs. V.M. Menzies of GISBORNE.

Ian Menzies was born at Tolaga Bay on the 25th February 1922. He received his secondary education at the Gisborne High School. At School he played football and hockey; and afterwards football for the High School Old Boys' Club, also rowing with the Gisborne Rowing Club. From the time of leaving school in 1938 until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 27th November, 1940, he was employed by R. Meyrick Ltd., Automotive electrician of Gisborne.

Flying Officer Menzies was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 6th September, 1941 and proceeded to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth on the 18th October, to commence his flying training afterwards embarking on the 17th December for Canada, to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, he was posted on the 5th January, 1942 (note error 9142) to No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Calgary, Alberta. Here on the 24th April he was awarded the flying badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer, afterward proceeding on the 18th May to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, Ontario, for instructor duties. On the 24th October he was promoted to Flying Officer, and on the 11th January, 1943 proceeded to No. "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer Menzies arrived at No. 3 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 4th February and was posted to No. 15 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Greenham Common, Berkshire, on the 15th March. During April he completed a beam approach course at No. 1 Beam Approach Training School, Wachfield, Wiltshire, and on the 18th May proceeded to No. 11 Operational Training Unit at Westcott and the satellite airfield of Oakley, both in Buckinghamshire. Here he crewed up and completed his training as pilot of Wellington bomber aircraft. During August he converted to Stirling bomber aircraft at No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk, and on the 20th of the month was posted to No. 75 New Zealand Squadron at Mepal, Cambridge. From this base as pilot of Stirling aircraft he took part in five operational flights to targets in Nurenberg, Gladbach, and Mannheim in Germany, and two minelaying sorties to the Frisian Islands.

Flying Officer Menzies was the pilot of a Stirling aircraft which crashed on take off from Mepal on the 8th September 1943, Flying Officer Menzies losing his life. He was buried in the Borough Cemetery, Cambridge, England.

5/2/7111 AS2.
802 hours as Pilot.

Mrs. V.M. Menzies (Mother) (right aligned)
Bon Accord Lounge, (right aligned)
GISBORNE. (right aligned)