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4212586 : Flying Officer Victor Jack MORTENSEN.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. V. Mortensen of Kaukapakapa.
WIFE : Mrs. M.R. Mortensen of Avondale.

Victor Mortensen was born at Cambridge on October 11th, 1920. He was interested in rugby, being a member of the Takapuna Club and was also a member of the Beach Haven cycling club. After leaving school, he spent five years with his father on his farm at Kaukapakapa and then took a position with Motor Specialists Ltd., in Auckland in the Motor Spare Parts service. As soon as he was twenty-one, Victor Mortensen applied for aircrew enlistment, but served for a year in the 2nd Battalion of the Auckland Territorial Regiment before being transferred to the RNZAF.

He went into the Air Force camp at Waipapakauri in October 1942 and after passing through Initial Training Wing at Rotorua commenced flying training at Taieri in May, 1943, doing his first solo in a Tiger Moth after less than 7 ½ hours instruction. Passing on to service flying in Harvard aircraft at Woodbourne, he was assessed as an Above Average pilot, especially on instrument flying, was awarded the Flying Badge on September 27th, 1943. On November 20th he was commissioned as Pilot Officer and having been selected as a Flying Instructor, went to the Central Flying School at Tauranga for a course of instruction.

From January until November 1944, Flying Officer Mortensen was employed as a Flying Instructor at Taieri and his instruction, his instrument flying and his aerobatics were "Above Average." In November 1944, Flying Officer Mortensen was posted to Ardmore for a conversion course on Corsair fighter aircraft and the following February went forward with No. 23 Fighter Squadron to Guadalcanal and then to Emirau, where he took part in fighter sweeps and dawn patrols.