550

MRP/NF (right aligned)
413264 : Sergeant Edward Alexander McCORD.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. J. McCord of Longford, County Longford, Ireland (country underlined)

Edward McCord was born in County Longford, Ireland on the 15th November 1915 and came to New Zealand at the age of 22. He received his secondary education at the St. Mel's College, Longford, Ireland. His main interests in sport was association football. After he arrived in New Zealand he was employed for a time in farm duties, at Patea and at the time of his entry into the R.N.Z.A.F. he was employed by the New Zealand Railways, Wellington.

Sergeant McCord applied for enlistment in aircrew in January 1941 and was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 8th June 1941 as an air gunner. On the 22nd of the following month he embarked for Canada to continue training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

After arrival in Canada Sgt. McCord was posted - on the 18th August 1941 - to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. On the 1st March 1942 he proceeded to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, Saskatchewan, where he qualified on the 30th March 1942 as a wireless operator air gunner and was awarded his wireless operator air gunner's badge. He was also promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the same date. He embarked from No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the United Kingdom early in May.

Sgt. McCord arrived in England on the 13th May 1942 and was posted to No. 10 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Dumfries, Dumfries-shire on the 6th July. Early in August, he proceeded to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire, where he trained on Wellington aircraft.