548

413948 Flight Sergeant Neil James McCook (surname underlined)
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. J.G. McCook of Auckland.

Neil McCook was born at Greenlane, Auckland on the 13th January 1921. He received his secondary education at the Seddon Memorial Technical College, Auckland, gaining a senior free place and afterwards continuing with night classes at the same school. At school, he played football and tennis, later football for the Technical Old Boys' Club and badminton for the Ellerslie Parish Club. He was an apprentice motor mechanic employed by Mr. V.S. Crocombe of Auckland when making application for enlistment in aircrew.

Flight Sergeant McCook was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 6th July 1941 and proceeded to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood on the 17th August for his elementary flying training; thence to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram on the 27th September. Here on the 8th November he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 20th December. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st April 1943 in the United Kingdom, Meanwhile on the 20th January 1942 he had embarked for overseas.

Flight Sergeant McCook proceeded by way of Canada and arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 10th March 1942. He was posted to No. 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Ternhill, Shropshire, on the 21st April for conversion to Hurricane fighter aircraft. This training was continued at No. 59 Operational Training Unit, first at Crosby-on-Eden, Cumberland and Longtown also in Cumberland, until posting on the 14th July 1942 to No. 3 Squadron, at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire. With this squadron as pilot of Hurricane aircraft he took part in nine operational flights being dusk and dawn patrols. During February 1943 he converted to Typhoon aircraft. During May the squadron moved to West Malling, Kent and in June to Manston, also in Kent. As pilot of Typhoon aircraft from this