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414570 : Flying Officer Clifford Wilmore ABBOTT.
MOTHER : Mrs L. B. Doig of Trentham.
WIFE : Mrs. A. J. Abbott of Lyall Bay, Wellington.

Clifford Abbott was born at Wellington on 1st September, 1917 and
received his secondary education at the Hutt Valley Memorial
Technical College, playing in the 1st XV at rugby and the 1st XI
at Cricket. ^From 1938 he had been employed by on the
perminent staff of the Wellington Harbour Board.^

He applied for enlistment in the RNZAF on the 12th December, 1940
being then married and with one daughter. From 1938 he had been
employed on the permanent staff of the Wellington Harbour Board.
He was attested in the RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force at Wellington on the 20th May, 1941
and commenced flying training at Harewood on the 29th September,
1941. After over 18 hours ^flying^ training flying, his training was
terminated, but on reconsideration, due in a measure to his
exceptional keenness, he was given another opporunity to continue
flying and posted to the Elementary Flying Training School at
Whenuapai. There he was rcorded as of average flying ability
and from then onwards made normal progress, gaining his Flying
Badge on 4/3/42. 4th March, 1942. He left for the United Kingdom on ^in^ May 1942 in with
the rank of Sergeant.

Flying Officer Abbott commenced flying in Great Britain at No. 12
Advanced Flying Unit, Spitalgate, Grantham, Lincolnshire in July
1942. He completed his advanced course on Airspeed Oxford aircraft
the following October, when he was posted to No. 2 Flying Instructors'
School, Montrose, Scotland for a further course on Miles, Magisters
and Oxfords, at the completion of which he returned to No. 12
A. F. U. Advanced Flying Unit at Spitalgate as a Flying Instructor. Apart from a short
period during February and March, 1943 when he was attached to
No. 51 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit at Twinwood Farm,
Bedford, for a conversion course to Bisley and Bristol Blenheim
aircraft, Flying Officer Abbott remained at No. 12 Advanced Flying Unit as an
instructor until the time of his death.