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428820 Flying Officer Ernest Owen Walter McCONNELL (surname underlined)
Widow: Mrs. M.E. Wilson (re-married) of HAMILTON (town underlined)
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. E.W. McCONNELL of HAMILTON (town underlined)

Ernest McConnell was born at Ngaruawahia on the 25th August 1918 and received his secondary education at the Hamilton Technical College. He played tennis and football. After leaving school he was employed for two years as a mechanic and afterwards in farming on his own account. He served as a volunteer territorial for four years in the Waikato Mounted Rifles.

Flying Officer McConnell was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 27th July 1942 and proceeded to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood on the 4th September for his elementary flying training. On the 28th November he was posted to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram, where on the 13th February 1943 he was awarded the flying badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 10th April. He was further promoted to Flying Officer on the 10th October 1943. Meanwhile on the 23rd April 1943 he had proceeded to the Central Flying School, Tauranga for an Instructors Course, after which he embarked on the 19th June for the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer McConnell arrived at No. 12 R.N.Z.A.F. Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Brighton on the 1st August 1943 and proceeded to No. 3 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit first at Lulsgate Bottom, Somerset and afterwards at Southrop, Gloucestershire on the 27th September. During October he completed a beam approach course at Cranage, Cheshire. After a short period at South Cerney, Gloucestershire he was posted on the 11th January to No. 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell, Berkshire where he crewed up and completed his training as pilot of Wellington bomber aircraft. During April he was held in reserve at No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire and proceeded by sea to India during May, arriving at Bombay on the 1st June 1944. On the 25th of this month he was posted to No. 1673 Heavy Conversion Unit, Kolar, Mysore, for conversion to Liberator aircraft.

Flying Officer McConnell was the pilot of a Liberator