517

JN/NF (right aligned)
404641 : Flight Sergeant Gordon Graham Mark McCARTHY.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. J.F. McCarthy of Waipukurau.

Gordon McCarthy was born at Hastings on the 28th April, 1921. He attended the Convent School, Waipukurau and afterwards took a commercial course at the same school. His sports were football and cricket. His civilian occupation was that of a grocery assistant employed by the Hawkes Bay Farmers' Co-op of Waipukurau. His application for War Service in the R.N.Z.A.F was made in December 1939.

Flight Sergeant McCarthy was enlisted on the 23rd November 1940 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin for training as aircrew, and on the 27th February 1941 he embarked for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada F/Sgt. McCarthy was, on the 16th March 1941 posted to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. On the 4th August 1941 he was posted to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, Ontario, where on the 1st September he was awarded his flying badge as a wireless operator air gunner and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. On the 1st September 1943 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant. Meanwhile on the 6th December 1941 he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

F/Sgt. McCarthy arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 29th September 1941 and on the 31st October was posted to No. 2 Signals School, Yatesbury, Wiltshire. He was posted to No. 4 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, Invergordon, Ross-shire on the 6th January 1942 where he crewed up and completed his training on Sunderland flying boats. Late in May 1942 he was posted to No. 230 Squadron, Pembroke Dock, awaiting posting to Gibraltar. On the 6th June 1942 he proceeded by air to Gibraltar and on arrival was posted to No. 202 Squadron,