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413876 Flying Officer Murray METCALFE.
Mother Mrs. E.M. Metcalfe of Hastings

Murray Metcalfe was born at Wellington on the 17th March 1923 and received his secondary education at Wellington College, completing th Matriculation Course in 1940. He played football for his College 1st XV and also cricket for the 1st XI, also being lightweight boxing champion. He applied for enlistment in aircrew on the 23rd September, 1940 while still attending College.

Flying Officer Metcalfe was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 6th July, 1941 and proceeded to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood on the 7th September to commence his flying training, then to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim. Here he trained on Harvard aircraft and was awarded the Flying Badge on the 9th December and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 10th January, 1942. While overseas he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 6th October, 1942 and promoted to Flying Officer on the 6th April, 1943. Meantime on the 30th January, 1942 he had embarked for the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer Metcalfe arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 14th March, and was posted to No. 17 (Pilots') Advanced Flying Unit, Watton, Norfolk on the 28th of the same month and trained on Miles Master aircraft. On the 19th May he proceeded to No. 53 Operational Training Unit, Llandow, Wales where he converted to and completed his training on Spitfire fighter aircraft, before posting on the 21st July to No. 485 (N.Z). Squadron. The Squadron was then stationed at Wansford, Northamptonshire and later at West Malling, Kent; Hawarden in Northern Ireland; West Hampnett in Sussex; Merston also in Sussex and Biggin Hill in Kent. From these Stations, he took part in one hundred and nine operational flights being twelve convoy patrols, two patrols over south eastern England, three low level straffing sorties over enemy occupied Europe, forty two flights providing cover to our bombers on attacks over enemy territory, six scrambles, sixteen sweeps, four reconnaissance flights and four and four air sea rescue flights.