487

405801 Flight Lieutenant John William Anthony MYERS.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Myers of INVERCARGILL.

John Myers was born at Invercargill on the 19th May 1919. He received his secondary education at the Southland Technical High School, and passed the Senior Free Place examination. At school he played cricket and football, and afterwards both these games for the Waikiwi Club. From the time of leaving school until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 8th July 1940, he was employed in the grocery trade by A.L. Dalgarno of Invercargill.

Flight Lieutenant Myers was enlisted at Wigram on the 21st December 1940 and employed there on ground duties until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 9th November, 1941. He moved with the wing to Rotorua on the 23rd February 1942 and proceeded to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, on the 13th June to commence his flying training, then to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram on the 6th September. Here on the 24th November 1942 he was awarded the flying badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 6th February 1943. While overseas on the 6th August 1943 he was promoted to Flying Officer and to the acting rank of Flight Lieutenant on the 11th June 1944. Meantime on the 7th February 1943 he was posted to the Officers' School of Instruction at Levin for a short course and then on the 20th of the same month to the Chief Flying School, Tauranga, completing the course there late in March. He embarked on the 29th May for the United Kingdom.

Flight Lieutenant Myers arrived at No. 12 Royal New Zealand Air Force Personnel Despatch Reception Centre, Brighton, on the 9th July 1943 and proceeded to No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit Banff and the satellite airfield of Fraserburgh both in Scotland on the 3rd August for his advanced and night flying. On the 2nd November he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit at Westcott and Oakley, both in Buckinghamshire for crewing up and completion of his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. During April 1944 he converted to Stirling aircraft at No. 1651 H.C.U. Wratling Common, Cambridge and in May to Lancaster aircraft at