556

AJM/NF (right aligned)
39069 : Flight Sergeant Albert Edward McCORMICK.
FATHER : Mr. E. McCormick of Wanganui East.

Albert McCormick was born at Wanganui on the 24th June 1915. He received his secondary education at Wanganui Technical College where he passed the Public Service Entrance examination. He later continued his studies by night classese in commercial subjects at the same school. He played rugby, cricket and basketball and represented Wanganui at rugby. After leaving school he was employed for a number of years by the Wanganui aerated water and Ice Cream Company in a clerical and travelling capacity. He applied for enlistment in ground staff on the 1st August 1939, and was enlisted on the 20th September 1939 at Ohakea for clerical duties. On the 20th October he was posted to Wigram and on the 27th November commenced a stores accounting course at the Technical Training Wing at Christchurch, where on the 16th January 1940 he passed his trade test and was reclassified to L.A.C. He was promoted to Corporal on the 1st May, 1941 and to Sergeant on the 1st February 1942. Meanwhile he was posted to Levin on the 8th October 1941 for stores accounting duties.

In October 1940 F/Sgt. McCormick applied for transfer to aircrew, but this was not effected until the beginning of March, 1942, when he was reverted to L.A.C. and posted to the Initial Training Wing, at Rotorua, for his initial training. He was posted to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood, on the 4th September for his elementary flying training, and embarked for Canada on the 24th December under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

F/Sgt. McCormick arrived in Canada on the 7th January 1943 and on the 25th of the same month was posted to No. 7 Service Flying Training School, Macleod, Alberta where - on the 14th May - he was awarded his flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 14th November 1943. Meanwhile on the 29th May he proceeded to No. 31 General Reconnaissance School, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, for a general reconnaissance