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391412 Sergeant John Joseph MCALEER.
Father: Mr. J. McAleer of Morven, SOUTH CANTERBURY.

John McAleer was born at Waimate on the 23rd September 1920 and received his secondary education at the Waimate High School. When applying for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the outbreak of war, he was employed as a store assistant at Morven.

Sergeant McAleer was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 21st November 1939 and employed at Blenheim and Rongotai on ground duties until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, on the 16th May 1942. He proceeded to the Training School at Ohakea on the 27th August, where he was awarded the Air Gunner badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 8th November 1942, afterwards serving with No. 22 Army Co-operation Flight at Motueka and Woodbourne.

Sergeant McAleer was a member of the crew of a Vincent aircraft which crashed in the Wairu Valley on the 3rd February 1943, Sergeant McAleer losing his life. He was buried in the Cemetery at Morven, South Canterbury.

Find a Grave link with a photo of Sergeant McAleer: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121209266/john_joseph-mcaleer

4/2/1831 A.S.2.
No Log Book.

Mr. J. McAleer (F) (right aligned)
Morven, (right aligned)
SOUTH CANTERBURY (right aligned & underlined)