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NZ411087 Sergeant Ernest Francis Sydney MONCRIEF.
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. E.G. Moncrief, West Street, Pukekohe.

Sergeant Moncrief was born at Morrinsville on the 24th September 1916 and received his secondary education at the Pukekohe Technical School. He played football and cricket, also taking part in swimming. On leaving school he was employed in farm work for three years, then by the Franklin Electric Power Board, as a fitter and wireman. At the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 27th December 1939 he was a porter in the employ of the New Zealand Railways.

Sergeant Moncrief was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 16th February, 1941 and on completion of his Ground Training Course there, embarked on the "Aorangi" for Canada on the 27th March, to continue his flying training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

He arrived at No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba on the 17th April, then proceeded to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba, on the 1st September, where on the 29th of the same month he was awarded the Wireless Operator Air Gunner Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Shortly after his promotion he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

On the 24th October, Sergeant Moncrief arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth where he remained attached until his posting for a course on the 3rd December to No. 1 Signals School, Cranwell, Lincolnshire, prior to proceeding on the 20th January, 1942 to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, for crewing up and training on Wellington bomber aircraft. While at this Unit, he took part, as a member of the crew of Wellington aircraft, in two operational flights, the targets being Cologne and Essen in Germany. He then continued his operational flying on the 14th June as a member of No. 75 Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk, and from this base as the Wireless Operator Air Gunner of bomber aircraft, he took part in a further eight operational flights, bringing his total to ten.

On the night of 29/30th June, 1942 Sergeant Moncrief was the Wireless Operator Air Gunner of a Wellington bomber which took off on