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421956 F/O. Sydney Phillip ALDRIDGE.
Parents : Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Aldridge of
Wife : Mrs S. A. Aldridge of Mt. Roskill
(Married April 28th 1943)
Born at Te Kuiti on June 16th 1920.
Sydney Aldridge was born at Te Kuiti in June 16th. 1920 and educated at the Mokauiki School. He served
for 2½ years in the army and was attested in the R.N.Z.A.F. on
April 12th. 1941. After preliminary training at Rotorua, he went
to Canada, where he gained his Air Gunner's badge and commission
on April 1st, 1943. He returned to New Zealand in July, and was
attached to No, 1 Squadron, being promoted Flying Officer in
August.

F/O Aldridge flew many sorties in the Munda area with P/O. Ayson,
and on December 24th 1943 was slightly wounded in the foot, when
their Ventura was attacked by Zeros.

In May 1944 he was transferred to No. 4 B.R. Squadron, Nausori,
and then flew with F/Lt. Lange on Hudson patrols.

F/O. Aldridge went missing on a transit flight from Nausori to
Whenuapai on August 20th 1944. It is suspected that one
aircraft had a mid-air collision with another Hudson which
disappeared at the same time.

Although extensive searches were carried out, no trace was found
of either aircraft.

5/2/8543 Mrs. S. A. Aldridge, (Wife)
Log seen 4, Somerset Road,
Mt. Roskill, AUCKLAND.