317

MRP/NF

402170 : Sergeant Clive Alan Gillons DALE.
PARENTS. : Mr. & Mrs. D. S. Dale of Palmerston North.

Clive Dale was born in Dunedin on the 25th August, 1921
and received his secondary education at the Wanganui Technical College,
Taumarunui District High School, and the Wellington Boys' College.
He gained his School Certificate in 1938, and at the time of his
application for a short service commission - on September 4, 1939 -
he was still attending Wellington Boys' College. As a sportsman
he was interested in tennis, cricket, rowing, rugby, swimming
and running. He was a member of the Wellington College 1st XV.

As no appointments to short service commissions were made
after the outbreak of war Sgt. Dale applied, on September 16, 1939,
for war service training as an airman pilot, and eventually was
enlisted at the Ground Training School, Levin, on the 28th July,
1940. The following month he was posted to No. 2 Elementary Flying
Training School, New Plymouth and towards the end of October to No. 3 Flying Training School, Ohakea. On the 15th January, 1941, he was awarded his flying badge and a month later promoted to Sergeant.
He sailed from Auckland on the "Awatea", travelling by way of Canada for the United Kingdom, on the 27th February, 1941.

Sgt. Dale, on arrival in England was posted, on the 27th May, 1941, to No. 59 Operational Training Unit, Crosby-on-Eden, Cumberland, where he flew Miles Master and Hurricane aircraft. On the 13th July, he proceeded to No. 125 (Newfoundland) Squadron, and during the next few months served with the Squadron at Colerne; Charmy Down, Somersetshire; and Fairwood Common, South Wales, carrying out patrol duties and a number of reconnaissance flights.

On the 25th October, 1941, Sgt. Dale was the pilot of a Boulton Paul Defiant aircraft which took off on a patrol flight from