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NZ413453 Flying Officer Douglas Bernhardt MOLLGAARD (surname underlined)
Parents Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Mollgaard of Dannevirke.

Douglas Mollgaard was born at Dannevirke on the 27th February 1922 and received his secondary education at the Dannevirke High School. He played football and cricket at school, afterwards being an active member of the Dannevirke Boxing Club. From the time of leaving school in 1937 until applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 13th July, 1940, he was employed as a carpentry apprentice by Johnson and Mollgaard of Dannevirke.

Flying Officer Mollgaard was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 14th June, 1941, and promoted to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth on the 26th July, to commence his flying training, afterwards embarking on the 22nd September for Canada, to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada he was posted on the 11th October to No. 12 Service Flying Training School, Brandon, Manitoba, where on the 16th January, 1942, he was awarded his flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant, but this was superseded by his commissioning in the rank of Pilot Officer, as from the same date. While in the United Kingdom, on the 6th January 1943 he was further promoted to Flying Officer. Meantim on the 24th February 1942, he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer Mollgaard arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth during March and on the 4th May was posted to No. 12 Advanced Flying Unit Grantham, Lincolnshire, for his advanced and night flying, then on the 7th July to No. 42 Operational Training Unit, Andover, Hampshire. Here he converted to and flew Blenheim aircraft. Early in October he completed a beam approach course at No. 1526 Beam Approach Training Flight, Thruxton, Hampshire. And on the 7th of the same month was posted to No. 296 Squadron at Netheravon. During December he converted to Bisley aircraft at West Raynham, Norfolk, and in January 1943 to Boston aircraft at Swanton Morley Norfolk, when he joined No. 226 Squadron. From this base as