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NZ404925 Flying Officer Thomas Donald Gordon MURRAY.
MOTHER: Mrs. F.A.M. Murray of Auckland.

Born at Whangarei on the 1st June, 1913, Thomas Murray received his secondary education at Auckland Grammar School where he passed the Matriculation examination. He afterwards proceeded to Auckland University College and passed the Accountants Professional examination. The sports in which he took part were rugby, cricket, tennis, golf and gymnastics. He was employed in a clerical capacity by the Shell Co. Ltd., Auckland. In November, 1939 he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Flying Officer Murray was enlisted for aircrew training on the 1st December, 1940 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin and was posted on the 19th January 1941 to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai to commence his flying training. This completed, on the 27th March he embarked on the "Aorangi" at Auckland to proceed to Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Flying Officer Murray was posted on the 23rd April to No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Dunnville, Ontario, and while here on the 3rd July he was awarded his flying badge and received his promotion to sergeant but this was superseded by his being commissioned as a Pilot Officer with effect from the same date. Later when in England n the 4th July, 1942 he was promoted to Flying Officer. Meanwhile, on the 17th April, 1941 he had proceeded to No. 1 "M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

The journey was made by way of Iceland and Flying Officer Murray arrived at No. 3 P.R.C. Bournemouth on the 15th August 1941. On the 23rd August, he was posted to No. 3 School of General Reconnaissance, Squires Gate, Lancashire and on the 23rd November to No. 489 Squadron, Leuchars, Fife, Scotland. During March 1942 he attended a course with No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, Catfoss, Yorkshire, and on completing this course he returned to No. 489 Squadron now at Thorney Island, Hampshire. The squadron subsequently moved to St. Eval, Cornwall, ABBOTSINCH, Tain and Skitten, the last three all in Scotland. With this squadron as pilot of a Hampden bomber aircraft he took part in three operational flights comprising a shipping patrol off the French coast, a