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41925 Flight Sergeant Richard George MILES.
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. H. Miles of Ashburton.

Richard Miles was born at Ashburton, on the 15th April, 1922 and received his secondary education at the Ashburton High School, passing the Matriculation examination. He played football for his school 1st XV, and also took part in swimming, tennis and athletics. He was still attending school at the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 17th April, 1940.

Flight Sergeant Miles was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 9th February, 1941, and posted to Taieri on the 22nd March, for his elementary flying training. After completing this, he embarked for Canada on the 20th May, for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival there, he was posted on the 16th June, to No. 10 Service Flying Training School, Dauphin, Manitoba, where he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 1st September. Later while serving overseas in the Middle East, he was reported to Flight Sergeant on the 1st August 1942. Meantime, on the 7th September, 1941 he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant Miles arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, late in September, and was posted on the 6th October, to No. 58 Operational Training Unit, Grangemouth, Scotland. Late in November, he proceeded to Colerne, Wiltshire, for embarkation by air overseas.

Flight Sergeant Miles arrived in the Middle East on the 21st, December, and remained there, and ont he Levant until joining No. 14 Squadron in North West Africa on the 11th November, 1942. The squadron was stationed at Bone, in Algeria.