509

AJM/NF (right aligned)
425586 : Flight Sergeant Eric Donald McCALLUM.
PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. K.B. McCallum of Porangahau, Hawkes Bay.

Eric McCallum was born at Dannevirke on the 20th June, 1923. He received his primary education at Porangahau Primary School. He played football and tennis. He was employed in the Post and Telegraph Department at Porangahau at the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 20th June 1941.

Flight Sergeant McCallum was enlisted at Levin on the 30th May 1942 and employed there on ground duties until he proceeded to the Initial Training Wing, at Rotorua on the 15th June. He embarked for Canada on the 20th July, 1942 under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

F/Sgt. McCallum arrived in Canada on the 19th August and on the 30th of the same month proceeded to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. On the 15th May 1943 he was posted to the Composite Training School, Trenton, where his wireless operator training was terminated and he was remustered to air gunner and posted to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba on the 27th June. Here on the 6th August 1943 he was awarded the air gunner's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 6th February 1944. Meanwhile on the 18th August 1943 he proceeded to No. 1 "Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

F/Sgt. McCallum arrived at No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre, Brighton, on the 2nd September 1943 and on the 21st of the same month was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit at Westcott, and the satellite airfield at Oakley, both in Buckinghamshire. Here he crewed up and completed his training as air gunner on Wellington bomber aircraft before proceeding to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Wratting Common,