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40612 Pilot Officer Lloyd Henry Roper McCARTHY (surname underlined)
Father: Mr. H.D. McCarthy of TE AROHA (town underlined)

Lloyd McCarthy was born at Wellington on the 13th November 1912. He received his secondary education at the Marist Brothers School, Tuakau. At the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 5th July 1940 he was employed as an electrical linesman by the New Plymouth Borough Council.

Pilot Officer McCarthy was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 23rd November 1940 and posted to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai, Auckland on the 9th February 1941 for his elementary flying training, thence on the 24th March to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram. Here on the 14th June 1941 he was awarded his flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st May 1942 and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 28th July 1942. Meanwhile on the 22nd July 1941 he had embarked for the United Kingdom.

Pilot Officer McCarthy arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 2nd September 1941 and on the 16th of the same month proceeded to No. 56 Operational Training Unit, Sutton Bridge, Lincolshire where he converted to and completed his training on Hurrican fighter aircraft. On the 5th November 1941 he was posted to No. 253 Squadron, at Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire. From this base and later at Friston, Sussex, he took part in ten operational flights, being convoy patrols, dusk and dawn patrols, and scrambles over southern England.

Pilot Officer McCarthy was the pilot of a Hurricane aircraft engaged in a training flight on the 14th August 1942. The aircraft failed to recover from a spin and crashed near Grimsby, Pilot Officer McCarthy losing his life. He was buried in the Kirton Cemetery, Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

Find a Grave link with a photo of Pilot Officer McCarthy: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127855301/lloyd_henry_roper-mccarthy

5/15/528 A.S.2.
384 hours as Pilot.

Mr. H.D. McCarthy (F) (right aligned)
Whitaker Street (right aligned)
TE AROHA (right aligned & underlined)