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404522 : Pilot Officer Alexander Richard ABBOTT.
WIFE : Mrs H. J. Abbott of Wellington.
PARENTS : Mr & Mrs R. V. Abbott also of Wellington.

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Alexander Abbott was born on the 18th December, 1918. at
Wellington, and received his secondary education at Wellington Technical
College, where he won the "Callender Memorial" engineering scholarship.
On leaving school he furthered his education at Wellington
Technical College evening classes, and at the Stuart Tutorial College
and Banks College, gaining his University Entrance. His sporting
interests included cricket, tennis and athletics; and he was a member
of the Wellington Technical College 1st XV and later the Athletic
Football Club. At the time of his making application for aircrew
training in the RNZAF ^Royal New Zealand Air Force^ - on the 10th January. 1940 - he was employed
by the Post & Telegraph Dept. as a clerk. He had also served for
a short time in the Territorials.

P/O Abbott enlisted at Levin on the 24th November, 1940, and
having satisfactorily completed his initial training, embarked for
Canada on board the "Aorangi" on the 30th January, 1941.

On arrival in Canada P/O Abbott was - on the 16th February,
1941 - posted to No. 4 Air Observers School, London, Ontario. On
completion of his course at this school he proceeded to No. 1 Bombing
and Gunnery School, Jarvis, Ontario, where on the 21st June he was awarded
the air observer's badge and, two days later, promoted to Sergeant.
He was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 23rd of the
following month. In continuation of his training he was - on the
23rd June, 1941 - posted to No. 1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers,
Manitoba.

On the 31st July, ^1941^ P/O Abbott was attached to the Atlantic
Ferry and on the 3rd August set out, as 1st navigator of an "Atferro"
Hudson, on the first stage of a flight from Canada to the United
Kingdom, arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth,
on the 6th August.