514

A. McCARTHY.
2. (centre aligned)

Shortly after arrival in the United Kingdom, Pilot Officer McCarthy was posted to No. 1 Signals School, Cranwell, Lincolnshire, and thence - on the 21st January 1942 - to No. 2 Signals School, Yatesbury, Wiltshire, where he continued his training. On completion of the course he proceeded - on the 3rd March - to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, where he carried out air exercises on Anson and Wellington aircraft. At this unit he took part in one operational flight against the German city of Essen. On the 8th July he was posted to No. 214 Squadron, Stradishall, Suffolk.

P/O McCarthy was a member of the crew of a Stirling aircraft which took off from Stradishall early on the morning of the 5th September, 1942, on air operations. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all the members of the crew, including P/O McCarthy were reported missing. Later information received from Air Ministry through the International Red Cross Committee, revealed that four members of the crew escaped from the aircraft and were taken prisoners. The remaining three, including P/O McCarthy, lost their lives. In consequence of this he was reclassified to missing, believed killed. Subsequently his death was officially presumed. P/O McCarthy was buried in the Rouveen General Cemetery, Holland.

Find a Grave link with a photo of P/O McCarthy: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18879121/arthur-mccarthy

5/3/361 AS2
78 hrs. as WO/AG.

Mr. F.H. McCarthy, (right aligned)
No. 6 Mount Hobson (right aligned)
Transit Camp (right aligned)
Market Road, Remuera, (right aligned)
AUCKLAND. (right aligned & underlined)