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414321 Flying Officer Mervyn Jack Mills. (surname underlined)
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. G.W.A. Mills of Auckland. (city underlined)

Born at Auckland on the 19th February, 1923, Mervyn Mills received his secondary education at the Seddon Memorial Technical College. His principal sports were shooting and swimming. He was employed as a warehouseman by J. Wiseman and Sons Ltd., Auckalnd. When applying in June, 1940 for war service in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Flying Officer Mills was enlisted for aircrew training on the 27th July, 1941 at the Ground Training School, Levin, and was posted on the 8th September to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai, to commence his flying training. On the 17th November, 1941 he embarked for Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Flying Officer Mills was posted on the 7th November, 1941 to No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Dunnville, Ontario. While here on the 27th March, 1942 he was awarded his flying badge and promoted to Sergeant but this was superseded by his being commissioned as a Pilot Officer with effect from the same date. Later, when in Wales on the 1st October, 1942 he was promoted to Flying Officer. Meanwhile, on the 5th April, 1942 he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Having arrived in England in Mid-May, 1942, Flying Officer Mills was held at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, until posted on the 3rd July, 1942 to No. 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Ternhill, Shropshire. From here he was posted on the 22nd July, 1942 to No. 53 Operational Training Unit, first at Llandow, and later at Rhoose, both in Glamorganshire, Wales. With this unit he completed his training on Spitfire fighter aircraft prior to being posted on the 14th October, 1942 to No. 132 Squadron, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, to commence operational flying.