5

426083, Flight Sergeant Patton Mason East.

Mother: Mrs. R. East of Dunedin.

Patton East was born at Christchurch on the 14th November, 1913.
He received his secondary education at the Otago Boys' High School,
gaining a Senior Free Place. He was employed as a Factory Manager by
Whitecombe and Tombs Limited at Dunedin, when applying for enlistment
in aircrew on the 22nd January, 1942.

Flight Sergeant East was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing,
Levin, on the 29th May, 1942, moving with the Unit to Rotorua on the
16th June. After completing the course, he embarked on the 2nd
October for Canada to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival there, he was posted, on the 8th November,
to No. 7 Air Observer School, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, where on
the 5th March, 1943, he was awarded the Air Navigator badge and
promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While in the United Kingdom, on
the 5th September, 1943, he was further promoted to Flight Sergeant.
Meantime, on the 17th March, he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant East arrived at No. 11 Personnel Despatch and
Reception Centre, Brighton, on the 5th April, and proceeded on the
10th May to No. 2 (O) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland; then
on the 15th June, to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott,
Buckinghamshire. Here he crewed up and completed his raining as
navigator of Wellington bomber aircraft. During September, he con-
verted to Stirling four-engined aircraft at Stradishall, Suffolk,
before posting on the 21st October to No. 75 N.Z. Squadron at Mepal,
Cambridge, for operational flying.

Flight Sergeant East was a member of a crew of a Stirling air-
craft which crashed at Mepal on return from an operational flight to
a target in enemy territory, on the 24th October, 1943, Flight
Sergeant East losing his life. He was buried in the Borough
Cemetery, Cambridge.

52/14498 A. S. 2.

No log book.

Mrs R. East (W),
163 Maitland Street,
DUNEDIN.