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437316 Sergeant James Horne McCLAFFERTY
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. J.L McClafferty of PLIMMERTON.

James McClafferty was born at Timaru on the 19th October 1924 and received his secondary education at St. Patrick's High School, Timaru. He afterwards joined the Technical College Air Training Corps, and was employed by the Railway Department at Owaka when applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 29th January, 1943.

Sergeant McClafferty was enlisted at Omaka, Blenheim, on the 15th May, 1943 and employed at the Delta, and Taieri, on ground duties, until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 12th November 1943. He proceeded to Ashburton on the 7th January 1944, for his elementary flying training, and then on the 11th March to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim. Here, on the 7th July he was awarded his flying badge, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant, before posting to No. 4 Operational Training Unit at Ohakea on the 10th September.

Sergeant McClafferty was the pilot of a Kittyhawk aircraft engaged during the 5th October 1944 in a training flight, and which crashed near Bulls, Sergeant McClafferty losing his life. He was buried in the Cemetery at Timaru.

5/2/18596 A.S.2.
No Log Book.

Mr. J.L. McClafferty (F), (right aligned)
8 Climie Terrace (right aligned)
TIMARU. (right aligned & underlined)