534

R.I. McCHESNEY.
2. (centre aligned)
On the 4th December, 1940 F/Lt. Chesney was posted to No. 255 Squadron, first at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, later at Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire and later still at Coltishall, Norfolk, and High Ercall, Shropshire. With No. 255 Squadron F/Lt. McChesney carried out a further 63 operational flights, mainly offensive patrols, but including 1 sector reconnaissance and 1 convoy patrol. On the 26th July 1942, F/Lt. McChesney was posted to No. 488 (NZ) Squadron, Church Fenton, Yorkshire.

On the 6th December 1942, F/Lt. McChesney was a member of the crew of a Beaufighte aircraft which collided in mid-air with another aircraft close to Heathfield and both F/Lt. Chesney and the pilot were killed. F/Lt. McChesney was buried on the 10th December in the Cemetery at Ayr, Scotland.

The pilot of F/Lt. McChesney's aircraft was also a New Zealander F/Lt. A.C. McKinnon of Hamilton.

Find a Grave link with a photo of F/Lt. McChesney: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190292484/robert-ian-mcchesney

5/2/730 AS2
602 hrs. as aircrew.

Mrs. E.M. McChesney (M) (right aligned)
9 Rarangi Road (right aligned)
St. Helier's Bay (right aligned)
AUCKLAND (right aligned & underlined)