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405293 Sergeant Jack Nock McCONNELL.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. T. McConnell of DUNEDIN.

Jack McConnell was born at Gisborne on the 5th January 1921 and received his secondary education at the Gisborne High School, passing the Post and Telegraph entrance examination. When applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 22nd November 1939, he was employed by the Post and Telegraph Department at Gisborne.

Sergeant McConnell was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 22nd December 1940 and posted to Taieri on the 8th February 1941 for his elementary flying training, afterwards embarking for Canada on the 29th April to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival there, he proceeded on the 16th May to No. 32 Service Flying Training School, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 8th August. On the same day he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Sergeant McConnell arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 16th September and proceeded later the same month to No. 61 Operational Training Unit, Redual, Shropshire, for completion of his training as pilot of Spitfire fighter aircraft. On the 12th November he joined No. 609 Squadron at Manston, Kent, and commenced operational flying. Early in April 1942 he was posted to No. 601 Squadron and proceeded with the Squadron to Luqa, Malta.

Sergeant McConnell was the pilot of a Spitfire fighter aircraft engaged during the 15th June 1942 in an offensive patrol from Luqa. The aircraft failed to return to its base and he was classified as missing. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred at sea without trace.

Auckland Museum link with a photo of Sergeant McConnell: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C29266?n=405293&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0

5/15/96 A.S.2.
No Log Book.

Mrs. I.N McConnell (M), (right aligned)
3 Temple Street (right aligned)
GISBORNE (right aligned & underlined)